Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1875-06-30
THE GENERAL COUNCIL.
Meeting Yesterday AfternOOn-hzessase
from mayor League In Reference
TO the City Attorneys Resig-
nation.
The Aldermen and Councilman Opposed
10 tha Mayors VieWs-mr. Var
AOn's Resignation Accepted
-ResOIattOns, Peu.
IiOns, Ete.
COHMOy COUNCIL

COMMON COUNCIL
The common council met yesterday
afternoon, something over an hour after
the time to which it adjourned. As
there was no quorum IN the board OF al
dermen the council TOOK recess and
! reassembled at five o'clock.
The board OF aldermen and common
! council were then convened
IN JOINT SESSION
| at the request Of the mayor.
The following communication was
/ read and referred to the special commit
| tee mentioned therein:
| MEMPHIS, Tenn June g, 1873.
! GENTLEMEN-YoU special commit
| tee Ito whom was referred cOmmunI-
/ cation OF miDe) made their report at the
| last meeting, and while l do not think
| that any of them intended it, it does me
! Injustice, in this, that while itstates that
| l applied for additional counsel IN the
| bond cases, it does not state that L with
| drew the application in few weeks
! after it was made on account OF the
seeming opposition in the board to
granting it. Such is the fact, and when
! assistant counsel was asked for you had
! instructed me to file bills against all de-
| linqueDt Taxpayers, which was labor
| of great magnitude; but when counsel
was afterward employed, which was in
! March, 1874, the bond suits had been de-
! cided against us, and l was opposed to
! further litigation, unless for delay, and
! the tsx-bills had all been filed; there
! fore the occasion for assistant counsel
| had passed with the ten months
| that had interviewed. The committees
| report makes it appear that I asked for.
assistance, and that it was granted;
whereas at the time it WIS wanted 1t
aUdS not granted; and when the time FOR
which assistance could have been of
! benefit had passed, and new phase had
| been put upon the litigation by decisions
| of our courts, then counsel was employ
| ed, and upon inquiry Of me as to the
| necessity for it, felt bound to say that
it was not needed. And because l did
not go into explanations Of what the
general council already knew, does not,
! | think, warrant the imputation that [
| first asked for if, and then changed my
mind and refused TO accept it. If it had
! been granted when first asked for l
should have accepted it, though | am
| frank to say that it would have been
useless waste of public money; but it
would have relieved me Ofthe labor and
responsibility which / sought to avoid,
and which it now seems everybody else
| is very anxious to avoid. | desire TO
! leave my position without any mis-
| understanding, and l hope that i'll fill
ing my place the mayor and general
council will find some one more jealous
and capable OF filling it than | have
been. l regret the necessity at this
time Of this explanation, but now is the
proper time TO correct the erroneous i'm.
preston mGde by the committees re-
port. Respectfully,
6. A. HANSON, tity Attorney.
RESIGNATION OF THE CITY ATTORNEY.
The following communication from
Mayor League, in connection with the.
accompanying message, explains itself:
GENTLEMEN-YOu are doubtless we'll
aware that there is, and for some time
has been, q great want of harmony be-
tween myself and the mayor, growing
cut OF b difference OF opinion in relation
to my official duties, and opinions in re-
gard to city affairs, which has now taken
such shape as to render it absolutely
necessary that my connection with the
city government cease. Ny relations
with the general council have always
been Of pleasant character; SO much
so that | shall remember them with
pleasure in the future. Unfortunately
for our city We have reached q point
when to serve 1t is buTdensome, END well
calculated to place the best of us in an
unpleasant attitude toward the public,
who, with their grievances, expect more
Of their representatives. than human
ability can accomplish. The public are
well aware th&t this administration has
4 F,-k I,,,o az -
they have gone further IN staying the
extravaganza that has been the cause Of
our present troubles than any former adj |
ministration. But your limited means
prevents you from doing all that is de-
manded or expected, a. d the pity is that |
legislative ability without money cannot |
pay corporate debts. Neither can legal !
ability turn back the current of judicial |
decision that settles the extent of cOrpO- |
Availability for debts on bonds like ours,
and on our debt hinges all cur troubles. |
l may have fallen short of your eXpecta- |
tons; but l have never bent to the !
power that appointed me, nor departed |
from what | considered my bOunden |
duty under the law and the oath of my |
office. What | have done l have |
done with honest intent, and !
with all the industry and |
energy that l possess. [ now tender |
back to you my trust and the office that |
has rested SO heavily upon me for year |
past. Desiring that you shall have an |
opportunity, in connection with HIS |
honor, the mayor, to appoint suitable |
successor, | tender you my resignation, !
to take effect as soon SIS my successor is |
duly elected nnd qualified, which, / |
hope, will be by the first Of July at fur. |
thest. Trusting that in future no such |
clashing of opinions may arise between |
the executive and the legal departments |
of the city government, and that the |
best Of feeling and most perfect success
may attend your future efforts, / am, |
with great respect, yours, etc,
6, A. HANSON, City Attorney.
MAYORS OFFICE, CITY HALL
MEMPHIS, June %, 1875. |
Honorable Board of General Council:
GENTLEMEN-Herewi l lay before
you the resignation Of Mr.. Hanson as
city attorney. l did not have an OppOr-
tunity of reading it before ten O'Clock
to-day. have heard, Of course, that he
had resigned, and several reasons were
talked of, but really 1 vas not prepared
to see that the principal reason given is
for want of harmony with the mayer. !
This has been to ma astonishing, for !
had supposed that our official relation
ship was OF the most cordial and respect
full nature. l certainly do not now re-
member single instance when / could
notice in his actions toward me any
thing but what was courteous and dig
nified in every particular; and on the
other hand you will pardon me for say
ing that I supposed had exceeded my
self in politeness toward him, For this
/ had many reasons. First, he was not
the one originally intended as counsel
for the city. Believing that changes in
the attorneys office are not beneficial TO
the city, l wished the former attorney
to continue, but the salary was reduced
one thousand dollars per annum, and ne
would not hold the position any longer.
/ then, from a long simultaneously
with Mr.. Hanson, confiding in his abili-
ty and knowing his answering honesty,
requested him to take the position;
and il | have, ever since he entered on
his duties, been discOurteous, lacking in
civility, or seemingly exhibited the least
distrust in the advice or opinions given
by him, l sincerely apologize to him,
and assure him that it was not, at any
time, my intention to offend him; for
he is, and has been, eminenty deserving
of respect and esteem. Having said so
much, l now decline to accept his resig-
nation, and will ask him to withdraw it;
and IN VOL gentlemen OF the general !