The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1876-11-24

been, il should be at once recon-
sidered and if need be modified
or repealed. The operation of
some hours can never be predict
ed with any great design of GER
tainty. What seems very feasible
will sometimes prove absolulute-
ly impracticable on trial. Such l
think is the case in the instance
of a recent ordinance passed by
| this board, now retiring, levying
the xfor 1876. We have given
ont our own due bills to the PEG
| pie with the assurance that we
would receive them back in pay
ment of taxes that might be lev
led by the city.
One year ago we appealed to
them in behalf Of our public
schools, requiring them by ordi-
nance to Gay the part of the tax
appropriated for the maintenance
of the schols in cash. The re-
spouse was generous, and the tax
was paid to the last dollar, and
we have the reason to believe that
should the '16 tax ordinance be
modified as to require the pay
ment of taxes in a kind and man
ner similar to that of rs that the
people would respond as prompt
ly. The OnlV iUdV TO act rid of the debt
Of the city is te pay Il. The only way
TO "retire" the so-called '"city
scrip" is to call it in, and this
should be done as rapidly as pos
sible. The floating debt of the
city, in round numbers, is about.
one hundred thousand dollars.
The bonded debt twenty-five
thousand. One half of this scrip
can be absorbed by the present
tax, if you so amend this ordi-
nance as to leave it optional with
the tax payers to pay in cash or
in our own due bills, allowing, if
you please, a rebate of a stated
kind in consideration of the pay
ment of the whole or any part Of
the tax in cash before a given
day. The school tax we must
maintain as a cash tax, for the
very existence of our public
schools depends upon it, and to
close the schools now would be a
calamity none of you would like
to contemplate. The legality of
making the changes suggested,
or any others, must, of course, be
well considered before action is
taken, if you conclude to make
any changes.
The place of finding q part of
this floating debt, making the
bonds small in denomination and
running but a short time, is w0r-
thy of careful consideration, and
should have your attenti on ut an
early day.
Imay here direct your notice
to the fact of the shortness of our
term of office, and the necessity
of taking at once the ~premilinaryI
steps toward the accomplishment
of such purposes as you may have
in view. 1t would be better in
my opinion if the organic law of
our municipality was so amended
as to make the term of Office for
Mayor and Aldermen, to begiIfl
with next year, two years instead
Of one; and so arranging the AL
dermanic term that one half the
board would retire each year.
This would take away the cause |
Of a greater part of thes.folly and
scramble of the annual election,
and would keep a board Of some
experience in city management
constantly on hand. Should this |
plan meet with your favor, after
consultation with other cities of
the State which will be SIMILARLY
to e~arlymemorialize the
General Assembly of the State,
at the approaching session, in
this interest. -f essy
An ordinance has recently been
passed providing for a Board oil
Commissioners OF police. If YOU
to delegate your powers in
matters, you will carefully
scrutinize this ordinance before
you proceed to fulfill its require
.ents. / have several objections
to make TO it, to two of which II
will here refer. The Mayor should
not be a member of the Board I'M
less appointed as other commits
are. The, number of com-
nissioners is; too large for the
Kind of work required.
! We shall be compelled by the
necessities Of our condition Of
to practice the most rigidI
economy throughout our whole
ERIN of Office, and we must bed.
;ure that we make no unnecessa-
y expenditures, however small,
" in whatever manner they may ;
,e urged. is
I find in looking over the presa =
mt manner Of carrying on the :
;ity very little room for reform 4
IS we are at present situated. Weitf
go Into any system Of i'm
Droyaments. We can barely keeptss
'unning for the next few monthslts
After that we will have the float, 4
ng debt so nearly absorbed that /
he tax of the approaching year, t
SIT, may be collected in a great Y
MEASURE in cash, and the city CAN'T
hen commence to buy property
md build sewers, street and newt