Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-01-20
rHE 1ncon1Na CRY eoVRRRMRNr.


rHR IHCoMING CITY GOVERNMENT.
Hon. John R Flippin. Mayor elect,
and, members elect to the Board of AL
dermeR and Common Council will be
installed into office to night. Mayor
Flippiu fnds already that he has oner-
GUS and delicate duties to perform, and
the pathway before him is hedged in with
thorns and brsmbles as well IS roses.
Already he is beset by hosts OF mutual
friends, all equally worthy. perhaps. for
appointments The word is passed along
the line, where is Flippin 2" and an
extra mail carrier is suggested to deliver
bis mail. In q day or two, when the
nominations are made, n happy man
will step up to claim each position, and
a smothered ejaculation of disgust will
burst from the whole line. Thus lie hu
man nature, and the very men who say
chat they will be satisfied with whatever
Flippin does will, perhaps, be the loud
est to rail out against him when the
nominations are made. This, how
ever. will be only m~omeutary. The
distribution Of patronage is n Of the
least important duties to be performed;
other and greater questions will soon
have 10 be met, and the manner Of their
disposal will greatly determine the pub
ic estimate Of the administration. The
Mayor goes in this time as Mr.. League
did-with the support Of the General
Council and will most likely retain it.
The members serve without pay, and the
fact that they are willing to give their
time and services to the public grstuit-
ously is an earnest, we trust, OF an ability
and a determination to enforce sll poss'-
bic economy. Men who are working for
nothing themselves will not be likely TO
waste much time in useless debate or to
vote extravagsut pay to any Of the Off
cers and employees of the city. There is
much business experience and talent in
the General Council, both among the old
and the new members. The city is to be
congratulated upon this fact, apd we
think it bespeaks a careful, judici us
management Of city affairs under
Mayor Flippin's administration. The
advantages as we'll al defects Of the new
city charter will be realised in a few
months, nov that it goes fully into eHt ct.
Il has been sssailed with unusual viru'
lence by those who had their own petu'
liar motives, but time and experiei &c
alone will determine these qaesnons,
There are many conceded improve,
ments in it over the old charter which
have already saved Ehe tax pay era
thousands of dollars. The defects will
show themselves to the Mayor and
Council, who have practical tense and
whether these be glsring or mere TT HeS
they can be corrected q year from nov
without changing the ,iu features Of
the instrument. There ia more economy
possible under this charter than any We
have had before, and this is what n g
people are demanding all over the c, un-
try. IL is either that or universal bsnt-
fupicy. Mayor Flippin will have need
Of the best advice aud the wisest coun-
sells he can command ia the outset.
There is a difference Of opipion ss
TO the best course to pursue with rsfer,
snce to our enormous city debt. This is
che most difficult question of all. Tax
alton is limited 10 a certain amount by
the charter. The least. therefore, that
3 be expected of the ney administra.
don will be q rigid application Of all
revenues collected to the purposes desis.
mated By law. The transfer Of moneys
from one fund TO another is neye JUST
fable. and we do not expect to hear sny
such complaint. Let the Wharfage tar
80 to keep the wharf in repair, the in.
tetest tax to h einterest fund, aud so on.
1t hes been demonstrated that the city
can be run as well as formerly at a saving
of ten or fifteen thousand dollars pei
month, and there is room for still further
economy, as the new Council will. nc
doubt, prove in a short time. Bat with
all this and every possible advantage, /
will require years Of the NEST carefu
management to extricste cur city from
its unhappy financial plight.