Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-06-13
COMMON COuNCIE..

The common council met in adjourned
session at the city hall yesterday after
noon, Mr. Williamson in the chair, and
a quorum present. The absentees were
Messrs. Boyle, Neeley, Hardin, Weller,
Bates, Seessel, benson, Karr and Hutch
inson.
The proposed ordinance to accord with
the recommendation of the city attor.
ney regarding the so cents tax, imposed
on the tenth of December last, to pay
the T.. E. Brown debt of $l25, 900; also,
the subsequent ordinance of the twenty
seventh OF December, imposing so cents
to pay judgments, mandamuses, etc
came up for consideration on its second
reading. Mr.. Donovan made talk on
the subject, to the effect that it will COM
plicSte matters amazingly to pass the Or
dinsnee. He said the assessment of De-
cember 10th last, was made on basis of
$23, 900, 600 Of property. Now the city
legislstes to include the merchants cap
ital of Sc 000, 900 more, making a total of
$29, ,000, 900 of taxable values; this will
be likely to create endless litigation.
Large interests are involved, and it will
be better, he, believes, to let the matter
he pushed through the courts for final
solution. Mr.. Donovan, therefore, Offer
ed the following resolution, it being
serious matter to the city and property
owners:
ReSOlued, That the communication of
the city attorney In relation TO the lia-
bility of merchants to pay the fifty cents
sundry mandsmUs tax was not so In.
tended by our predecessors in office, but
contemplated only to apply to real and
personal property: Messrs. Lee and
Brinkley have eDjoined the city from
collecting their taxes unless the mer-
chants are held responsible for their pro
rata of tax; the city Is anxious to settle
the matter on sn equitable basis, and as
procee dings have already been COM
menced in the courts, that the city at
torney be and he is hereby directed, as
soon as possible, to get the rulings of the
court in the premises so as to enable the
! city to act by sanction OF law, to avoid
further complication.
The resolution WAS adopted in lieu, or
as an amendment, TO the ordinance
which passed first reading at the pre-
vious meeting of the council. The al
deTmen sent their amendment back to
the council for further explanation. A
committee of conference was then ap-
pointed to ventilate ard eluciiate,
Messrs. Donovan Kelly and Scheibler to
be the explanatory body.
The Main-street paving ordinance
| passed its second and final reading. 1t
was amended 50 as to read; "That the
city engineer shall advertise for bids for
delivering twenty-one thousand square
yards Of paving stone, according to
specifications, at the public landing or
at either railroad depot in the city, and
for transferring the same to the street
where wanted"
An ordinance to purchase three hum
dred and fifty carloads of paving stone,
to repair the Nicolson and street-gut-
| ters, passed on its first reading in con-
currence with the sction of the board Of
aldermen. A hitch occurred between
the boards about the proper time TO ad-
vertiss for stoBe. The council wished
ten days, the aldermen fifty days. AZ
terwRrd the council agreed to twenty
days, and the aldermen assented. Sew
ersl members contended that, il so lorg
a time is required, the river may become
shoal, and no stone could be perhaps
procured to repair the streets in time for
the fall trade.
The petition of Jones, Brown & Co.,
| asking to be permitted to pay their taxes
on an assessment OF thirty.five thousand
dollars was granted, and the action OF
| the board was referred to the committee
on assessment.
An ordinance to collect rents from oc-
cupants Of the property Of the city, and
making it the duty Of the assistant city
engineer to act as rental agent, at to-
tai salary of 800 per month as passed
by the board, was concurrrd in by the
council. The object of this ordinance is
to hunt up various squatters now occu
pying tax-payers' property, and cause
them to come to headquarters to settle.
The petition Of ]. 8. Leath for $48 over
| paid taxes, the assessment on his Main
street property having been collected in
at q valuation of 1888, 600 instead of
$4,000, its real worth, was referred for
further ventilation.
| The council adjourned until its next
regular meeting.