Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1875-01-13

1nls gossip lS lnat the DOHODOldefS,u ,upOl
the election of Hobbs and the passage o
the funding bill, deemed it best to spenC
ten thousand dollars in order to secure
comptroller who could adequately dis
charge the duties imposed by the new
law then going into effect. Among the
gentlemen desired for the position, anC
deemed able to attend to its duties, wa:
Mr.. Dempsey Weaver, of this city, 8
gentleman Of acknowledged financial
ability, and also Of honesty and iDteg
rity. i have heard that the bondhOlders
wished him to succeed to the Office oi
comptroller in the event that Hobbs,
who was deemed inefficient, not because
OF honesty-for have not heard his
honesty dOubted-but from his want Oi
financial talent and inability to COM
prehenc the great questions that natu-
rally enough appertained to the duties OF
the office of comptroller. This rumor
heard some time ago, but do not remem-
Der the person that gave it utterance.
have never heard it said that Mr.. Weav-
er was in any manner cOgnizant OF the
desire OF the bondholders to have him
| fill the Office, or that he was approached
upon the subject. II so, the plea of his
| personal fitness and financial ability to
| ill the office would have been sufficient
reasons for the gentlemen requesting
him to hold il. Certainly such reasons
would have been more prudent to have
| been given him than any which bond
ed interest on their part might have sug-
gested. Captain Hobbs, you know, re-
signed his position shortly after his elec-
! ton, but what induced him, other than
| ill-heaith and a consciousness Of
inability to properly and efficiently dis
charge the duties of the office, I do not
know. or course it has been said and
rumOred, and is even now gOssipped,
that he was induced to do so for and in
consideration OF a certain amount of
money-ten thousand dOllars-to him
rendered by those interested in securing
the appointment Of an excellent finsn-
cier to the ptrollership. However
this may be / know not, and do not in
dorse even the belief. give it merely
as gossip--gOssip which has been spread
all over the country, and perhaps worked
no little injury to the character of this
gentleman, who, so far as l know, has
never been accused OF dishonesty by
those who know him best.
WHY BURCH WAS APPOINTED.
1t is said that Governor Brown, being
apprised or hearing that the bondholders
would guard the bonded interest in their
behalf, determined to defeat the realiza-
ton OF such hopes, and prevent the con-
summation of the design, if such was
intended. He therefore appointed to
the comptrollership, Colonel John c..
Burcb, whom he deemed entirely free
from personal or financial obligations to
the bOndholders, and in whose integrity
as gentleman he could confide as upon
his ability as lawyer he could rely.
AS to this gentleman's ability for the
position no one can doubt, and as to bis
connection with any alleged sale or
purchase of the comptrollersbip,
think the public will soon agree with
me in disbelieving that such did exist
This Is all that / can hear concerning
the comptrollership scandal, from whose
taint, think, both Governor Brown
and Colonel Burch will be honorably re-
moved upon a full and fair investiga-
ton by the committee.
THE COMPTRoLLERsHIP.
Several members Of the house have !
been cOnscientiOusly annoyed by the |
ptrollership scandal, and although |
the inquisitOrisl committee has been ap- |
pointed to examine, aud is now, as l |
have said, examining into the alleged |
sale and purchase of the Office, there yet |
fingers desire to bring about the cleo |
ton as soon as possible, and before Col |
onel Burch can have an opportunity OF |
his innocence. 1t is we'll /
known that some of his enemies have |
eagerly sought this end, for such would
prejudice his chances of election. Mem
bers, actuated by a sense of duty, have
also favored an early election OF comp
troller. In this wish they have not been
by an unfriendly spirit toward
Colonel Burch $50 some OF them say).
Mr.. Cooper moved to recOD-
slider the vote postpOning the resolution
providing for the election of comptrOl-
Ter and treasurer until the eighteenth,
but after warm debate it was tabled.
THE EFFECT.
Whatever may be the real object Of
the members in their effort to precipitate
the election Of comptroller, the fact that
Colonel Burch is now undergoing inves-
5igatiOn, and the expressed desire on the
part of his friends to have the matter
fairly and thoroughly Investigated,
his candidacy for reelection, the preju-
lice that reports have aroused and the
endeavor Of unfriendIy persons to force
An election before he could have an Op-
oOrtunity OF vindicating himself, have
given rise tC grave suspicious as to the
purity OF the motives that prompted the
attempt at an immediate election.
However, think this attempt has done
but to accomplish the end
timed at, and has probably strengthened
3urch's chances for election as the re-
'ognized fact OF its primal object has
IrOused sympathy in his behalf
WHAT DOES 1T MEAN?
''See here, Noblitt," said your cor
to the gentleman from Lin
oln, "what does this mean? Do you
wish to have fair and impartial inves-
igatiOn, or did you offer the resolution
Ipon the suggestion of others, doubtless
lnfriendly to the present incumbent?u
No, sir" said he; "but in order to have
n impartial investigation and clear the
natter up. l did not offer the resolu-
ion as friend or an enemy Of Colonel
3urch, but as member of the IegisIa-
ure, with desire to have the matter
ettled, and give Colonel Burch, as v ell !
g the public, the benefit of his inno- I
ence, If he be innocent, and to punish ..
he guilty persons, if we find that the !
lleged sale and purchase and bribery
ave been made" Thus spoke the
member from Lincoln, DR.. Noblitt, who !
vas the author Of the original resolution !
o have the matter Investigated, and
ave no doubt as to the truth OF the
tatement which he made me the day !
be resolution was presented. !
LAM NO CONSPIRAToR.
Mr.. G. A. Leffingwell, Of Memphis, I
nfOrms me that the belief has been en-
endered that he was instrumental in
aving the resolution presented and sub. {
in having Mr.. Anderson move !
D have the matter re-Opened for dis
ussion. Leffingwell says he had moth :
lg to do with the opposition to the post
Onement of the election, but on the
Ontrary has proposed that the Shelby
Ounty representatives vote ten cOnsec- i
tive ballots for Colonel Burch, provided q
nat the election be proceeded with. l
Lis reason for not having it deferred t
'as to save himself time and money in i
aving to remain here. Your CORE C
Dondent has never heard the name of {
lis gentleman Mr.. Letting men, @
oned in connection with the opposition {
} the pOstponement OF the comptrol- d
RS election. No candidate has been i.
harged by your correspondent with the l
esire to prejudice the present cOmptrol. +
RS chances Of reelection by urging an @
Immediate election, and why Mr.. Lef- d
ngWelPs friends or opponents should b
ave sought to connect him with the v
latter, which he disclaims having had a
nythiDg TO do with, am at iOss to q
now, and care less, but give him the Fl
opa6f nf fbia onn oIYniaa tiOD on thot