Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-04-11
LETTER OF THE MAYOR.

| eHC HODSSIuCHl ScLlO0 Vi the CON-
sioners are as follows, and explain them
| selves:
LETTER OF THE MAYOR.
MAYORS OFFICE, MEMPHIS, TENN, /
| April s, 1876,
| To the Honorable Police and Fire Commits
stoners. Memphis, Tennessee;
| NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. COMPLAINTS
have reached me Of late as to the non.
execution of certain ordinances Of the
| city, to some Of which desire to call
! your attention. It is claimed that SUBJ
! section l Of section 379, Bridges Digest,
is habituslly violated. The prohibition
is against keeping one's place Of busi.
ness open on Sunday. This, of course,
applies to all kinds Of business places
open for business purposes on that day,
the object designed being come profit to
the owner Of the business place. The
section embraces certain exceptions.
Particular mention is also made of the
violation OF sub.sectiOns /, q and 8, of
section 37S. Frequent complaints are
made that into gambling saloons the
young and unwary are inveigled and
victimiZed. Subsection 8, referred to, it
is said, is nOtoriously violated by per-
mitting the most disre putable houses to
remain unmolested almost in the heart
Of the city, and upon our principal
streets, kept even in some instances by
the most abandoned men to the great
prejudice of public morals and the
shame of the city. Subsection s re-
feried to is said to be almost universally
violated, and general complaints are
heard that even the front doors of drink
ing saloons are kept wide open on Sum-
day, around which are cOngregated
plumbers Of men, at times, much to the
annoyance of church-going people in
particular, and to the Injury OF public
morals. Again, subsection 3, of section
379, is unObserved. 1t is made misde-
meanoY by said sub section "to play on
Sunday in any licensed house at bill
lizards, ten pins, cards or other games"
The foregoing ordinances are those
which are said to bs broken almost with
out restraint. write to make inquiry
how these things are, and il correctly
reported. 1t is made my duty (sectiOn
35, charter to have a general super
vision of all the officers of the city, and
to see that the ordinances and pro-
visions of the charter are enforced. 1
was required and took an cath TO exc
cute these provisions. They mean
something or they mean nothing.
Whether they are wise or uDwise, poll
tic or impolitic, it is not for US to de-
bate. Our duty, sworn duty, from
which we cannot and sh9uld not shrink,
is to execute ordinances until they are
repealed by the general council. We
have no discretion in the matter so long
as they stand, d,unrepealed. Once more,
minors are said to be permitted to go,
without let or hindrance, to places of
fho ofS 10
the painful anxiety of parents, and
exciting for their children the keenest
apprehensions for their moral welfare.
Our duty is undischarged if we permit
their moral safety thus to be jeopardiZed
without taking some steps to arrest
their downward career. ask you most
respectfully to look immediately into
these matters, and issue the proper or
dsrs for the enforcement of the Ordi-
nenees referred to. In this way, and
only in this way, conceive can we, as
conscientious public servants, discharge
the high trusts with which a partial
public has clothed us. Very respect
fully, J. R. FLIPPIN, mayor.
ACTION OF THE COMMISSIONERS.
The board of commissioners held
meeting yesterday afternoon to take
cognizance Of the mayors letter, and
adopted the following resolution:
ResOLUed, That the communication
from the honorable mayor to the board
OF commissioners be referred to the gen.
eraI council to determine the following
point to wit: Has the general council
and the city charter devolved the whole
responsibility of policing the city on the
police and fire commissioners? And II
so, shall tbs commissioners manage the
police forcs according to what they may
conceive to be an exercise of wise dis
cretion in reference to the ordinances
and sections specified in the honorable
mayors letter? Or shall they under
take to fully and literally enforce them?
The following letter was also directed
to Recorder Duff:
MEMPHIS, April 10, 1876.
Hon. VIM. L. Duff, City Recorder:
DEAR SIR-At meeting of the board
Of police and fire commissioners held
this afternoon, the following resolution
was adopted:
Resolved, That the recorders court,
from and after the twelfth instant, shall
convene at eight o'clock in the morning
every day Sunday excepted), and only
one court shall be held during the day
unless by special permission Of this
board, as court held more than once per
day impairs the efficiency Ofthe police
force. Respectfully, J. T. LEATH,
Ch'mn Beard Police and Fire Com'rs,