Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-03-22
OUR NEW CITY CHARTER.

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We have received a rough draft of
the new charter for Memphis, which has
Just passed both Houses of the Legisla-
ture, to take effect Immediately. The
greater portion OF it is the same as the
one which was printed here and distrib-
uted three or four weeks ago. 1t abol
ishes the Offices of Comptroller, Treas
urer, Register, City Attorney, Wharf
master, Tax Collector, Sergeant alarms,
Inspector, City Recorder, Chief of Police,
Chief of Fire Department and Hospital
Physician, thus making a clean sweep
of everything except the present Mayor
AMI officers of the Board of Health.
Power is given to the Council
TO create such officers aud
AGENTS as may be provided by
ordinsnceto perform such duties as may
be provided By ordinauce." The police
force is cut down to sixty privates, re-
tanning the captains and sergeants as
now on duty, thus giving n policeman
to every one thousand population Of the
city. The police and Fire Department
are to be under the control of five
commissioners, nominated and elected
by the joint ballot Of both Boards oil
the municipal government, which com
missioners are to serve Eve years with
out pay, the term of one commissioner
to expire at the end of each twelve
months from date of first election, which
vacancy will be supplied by the Boards
as in the heginning. The tax to be
levied for the purpose of carrying
on the city government shall not
exceed one dollar on the hundred dol
lars worth Of propsrty-sinking fund
tax, twenty-five cents Cd the hundred
dollars; twenty cents On the hundred to
nav interest on the bonded debt of the
city; ten cents on the hundred dollars
for city school purposes, aud i've cents
on the hundred dollars for the sole
purpose Of paying judgments" Section
IL of article 3 Of the printed charter re
ferred to was altogether cut out. threads
as follows:
Section IL. Provision shall be made
by the city Of Memphis for the REIN
bursement of all sums, and the interest
thereon, paid by property holders fol
the construction of the NieoIson pave
ment, under the specific assessment
made on abutting property, which as
sessment was subsequently declared BY
the Supreme Court as unconstitutional
and the assessment so made and col
lected Of said property holders is hereby
declared a debt of the city If Memphis
In favor Of said property holders or any
person holding the same by assignment
The above special points we hav'
given constitute the only difference be
tween the new charter as passed and thu
one which was originally drafted anC
circulated for general reading through
out the city. 1t is extremely doubtful
whether placing the control OF the fir
aud police departments in the hands o
Eve commissioners will result benef
cially to the interests Of Memphis. ThosI
departments as now organized are verl
efficiently managed and give general SAT
~isfaction to the very best class Of on,
people. and it is extremely questionable
whether the city can find any five goo
citizens, property owners and taxpayers
who will surrender enough Of time to tn
proper management Of these department
"vithout compensation" We cay thi
is very doubtful. OF course five ne
cau be found in Memphis who will tax
the commission on the terms of the ne'
charter, but ten TO Que is the bet that til
city will very soon rsgret the day 1t tel
dered the appointment to such as ar
willing to take it on the terms. Ii GU
prediction does not come true, at leat
there is much danger it will. Our hear
bleeds for poor Pat Winters, the learne
Recorder Of the station-house court; CO
down in the prime OF his official usetu
ness and ia the hour which has deve
opSd his str INCEST love 70 hold a sol
place; turned out to grass before the tel
der herbage OF spring has put forth So
6%ciently to give him "a square meal.
OH that Andy johnson were Preaiden
60 that this bsdiy.treated patriot coul
he sent as special consul to Donnyoroo
Fair. Lei something be done for him,
be is only made a !" gauger."