The Daily clarion., 1876-02-06
THE CITY CHARTER.


i, the Senate by Judge Johnston are COO
sweeping, we propose to suggest what we
rb;nt will be fair and just to all, ana WHAT
we believe will satisfy large MAJORITY ot
the x-paying citizens of jackson. buV
the legislature should fix by law the sala-
ries. and not leave it to the Board oi ~ Aluel
mon who might reduce to-day and increase
to-morrow. The question should De per-
settled, not subject to change, eA-
cept by the Legislature.
Thai A reduction Of salaries, and reduc-
tion of taxes. is called for, and reform IN
city affairs actually demanded Dy all go0u
citizens. no one can deny.
The office of Mayor has, for forty years,
been filled for salary not exceeding > ,uoo,
and one year the office was hlieo oy oaines
H. Boyd, Esq, for 5000 and fees, ana curing
that administration there was universal SAT
isfaction in regard TO the economical inan-
agement of city affairs.
The present Mayors salary was raised 10
ST. 800. besides his fees, after ne aeas etected,
very much to the surprise, and against Tue
wishes of the taxpayers OF the clIy. Ape
present Impoverished condition OF the coun-
trv, and especially of the city, does not JUS
tify the payment of more than $500 or 81, ,OO0
salary and fees for the Mayor, We think
the latter SUN would be ample, especially
as $4,000 has been paid the present Mayor
for the last two years services, heslues ices
In times past the CITY Clerkship was held
by the late Mr.. T. A. Whiting, formerly In
the Auditors office, and as competent a
clerk as ever lived, for the sum of SO per
annum, and by G. Fl. Manship, Esq, after
wards Mavor. for 500 per year. and no one
will saw that these gentlemen did not per-
form their dutes.as well as any one has since
done $3.50 or $500 is enough for this office.
The office of City Treasurer was, for many
wears, filled by Thomas Green, Esq, with
out compensation, and by the late Q. A.
Moore, Esq. for many years, and by ID. n.
Barrows, Esq. for several years, for 500
per annum and no one will question the
ability of these gentlemen, or assert that.
they did not discharge their duties in a
busness-like manner. We hesitate not to
say that many competent and faithful men
can be found who will gladly perform the
duties of City Treasurer tor 500 per annum.
But few years since, and imm edately
preceding the election ofthe present incum-
bent, the office of City Physician was filled
by that accom- plished gentleman and dis
tinguished physician, DR.. VIM. s. Langley,
at "a salary of $500 in city warrants. Why
pay more now?
I'VE think $500, with the fees, is full COM
pensation for the City Marshal, who, by
law, can act as constable for Kinds county
Thirty dollars per month Is fair COM
pensatiOn for policemen and there will al
ways be numerous applicants for the place
at that price.
The Collector now receives six and a
quarter per cent. on all collections. The
assessment roll for last year amounted to
over $2l, ,000 The Mayor should attend to
| the collection of licenses as formerly. The
principal deputy OF the Sheriff, Col. VIM
FL. Taylor, was formerly Mayor for many
! years, and the Chief Collecting Clerk OF the
| Sheriff, Mr.. A q. Kerr was once Collect
or for the city, and they are both well ac.
| quainted with city business. Now does
any one undertake to say that the city
faxy NIL hn al
these efficient officials, under the direction
and con frol of the Sheriff, and thereby a
large sum be saved ; and would it not be
more convenient for taxpayers TO have to
| 60 to but one place where they could pay
all their taxes at one and the same time.
The assessment of the city property has
been nothing but farce for some time pasr :,
for the book returned by the Assessor has
been so changed by the Board of Aldermen
that il could hardly be recognized by the
Assessor. The State law requires the As
| SCISSOR to make a separate assessment of the
property in cities and towns, and why the
necessity of paying $400, when it can be
as well, If not better done, for nothing !?
Let us save this expense.
We are sCrongly in favor of abolishing the
office OF City Assessor, and making the
Sheriff City Collector. 1t will be great
saving, and give greater satisfaction to oar
people.
Have not the Alderme patriotism enough
to serve for 81 90 for each meeting, i'm these
times of distress and universal retrenchment
| and reform?
The provisions of the bill of Judge John
ston in relation to the jail, should be
adopted. As 1t now stands, the responsible
ity is divided, and there is at all times great
cause for complaints, which, when made.
are shifted from one 10 another. Let the
Sheriff OF the county control the Jail, and
let the city Jailor be dispensed with, there
Is no earthl y necessity for him, then
let a contract be made with the Sher-
III for keeping and subsisting the city
prisoners. This course, as you say in
your paper OF yesterday, was one our
sued for several years, and worked well.
1t VIII save the city a large sum of
money, and the responsibility for the safe
keeping of the prisoners will not be subject
to doubt and uncertainty
Inc argument that the salaries are paid in
appreciated warrants is not good one
what makes them so, if it is not the amount
issued for large salaries and thrown unon
the marketF When Mayor Barrows went
INTO once the warrants were worth hut Fl
ty cents; when he was removed bv Cen
GliIem, warrants were selling readily for 40
ana w cents, and the city debt had been re-
duced to $4,000, and the Jail and market
house had been built, fence around the
graVey ard, and many other improvements
were made. Let adj tha city officials talo
their chances for pay as all Others have done
before them. and as the mem bers of the leo
.Siature have to do, and if they can keep np
tne price OF warrants by reducing expenses
| they will be the gamers
| The provision of the bill IN relation to
| think is good one 0'''' VIC
Let the nlli introduced by Judge Johnston
oe amended In conformity with the foreoo-
ing M suggestions, and we believe it will meet
tue M approoatlon OF all good citizens: then
| let it become law. 'ho''
IN regard TO restoring the city boundaries
we care but little. We think THE CLARIoN
Is mistaken in supposipg that the limits
were extended on petition of parties then
pHg reHslding outside the corporation. Our rec
that The white citizens then outside strons,lr,