Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-09-01
Mayor Plippin on Funding Bonds
and the Collection Of Back
Taxls.
The Hon and Foreign BOndhOlders
In Favor of Funding on the
Terms Proposed by
the City.
The city Attorney shows what
Work Has Been Done 90 Col
Iect tho two millions
Of Rack Taxes.

AO9NetenSf ~ luat uliNNtVus Ahhihk
one hot afternoon a day or two since
as the time to make the inquiries, our
mar entered the city hall and found the
X seated in his municipal chair. In
=. ech which had carefully been com.
milted to memory, our commissioner in
formed the mayor that be had i've ques-
tons 10 PROFOUND on the question Of
funding aud the collection tf city back
taxes, the answers to which questions
would be most interesting, not only to
non.tax.payers but to tax payers, that
the public would like to see the facts and
figures in print, aud that the LEDGER
would take pleasure in publishing such
answers, or any other facts of interest
concerning the debt of the city and the
measures taken or being taken for its
eYi;7guishment.
Oar commissioner presented his ques
tions in writing, and after reading them,
the mayor asked for time to answer,
which request was unanimously granted.
Since that time we have received the an
swers, and we are certain that the pub.
be pleased with the result the
presenting a most hopeful and
aattering prospect looking toward the
easy settlement Of tho financial troubles
of the city. Below will be found the
questions and answers:
QvEsTIoX-How much Of the city debt
is in condition to be funded, aud of
what ehsracter2
ANswER-All is in a condition to be
funded and of every character. (See
financial statement Of the city of Mem
phis Of date July /, 1879 This state.
ment shows the total bonded debt of the
city TO be $3, ,49l ,5OO total due debt, 81,
l52,9l5l5; total liabilities, IS 5.6l4 475 l5
QUEsroN-How much Of the city debt
has been funded, and of what character2
ASswER-About S66O,OOO up to date,
exclusive of what has been funded in
New York. Lynchburg and Baltimore
within the last ten days. These amounts
I Dc know at present.
~ .oN-How much Of the city debt
h-- , an lupded by citizens Of Memphis,
by whom and the character of the debt
so funded2
ANswER-About $4,000; M. P. Jar
uigan. $40, 1884 &c. through German Ma
tional Bank; NJ W. Mentry, SIS Az so;
Thomas Boyle, $4,000; Elmwood Gene
va sl4,a4O 81; b. NJ. Estes, S5,II124;
w m. I'M, S6O6Oi Jacob Thompson,
.IIes a.. G Nicely, s4,76OsO;
Brooks, l,Fcei, 66l5. "a; Young 4
Bro, $l6,36H7O; ]. !. NJ. Roberts, s2l,
25O.5O; Mrs. Mary Ewing, s742 o.;
Planters Insurane . Company, s7,l74 so
Manhattan Bank, $4,000. Forty OF
fifty thousand dollars more have beer
funded here, but by non,re'idents. Will
the exception of about fifteen Thousand
dollars the above amounts have beer
funded in bonds, coupons and judgments
the other in paving scrip
QUESTION - How much OF the city
debt have you positive assurance will b.
funded other than that already funded
4 the character thereof
swER-More than what has alread,
cd bNro ~
coupons for the most part; some pay
ments. L have positive assurances L
this effect. | am Satisfied we will lunC
Joy the first OF January next somewhef,
between one aud two millions Of our in
'debiedness, the great bulk of which will
be in bonds and coupons
ffON--WhRt has the city atlor
and his assistant done toward en-
forcing the collection OF past due taxes;
how many bills have been fled and whA
steps have been TAKEN etc
ASswER--l have consulted with tht
city attorney, and he reports that
liuds the total number tf tax suits Cleo
in Chancery Court 431; " which ther,
Nad been dismissed prior to jane 20
leaving cases pendiI & at saiC
.4,--- -.-,.
The s,e,es vr' r7pr'si date
was M follows: U,. mo 10. 2G
on reiei ence to clerk and master 10 TAX,
account, 20; on report OF clerk and
master as 10 amount due the city, liz on
answer of defendants rs; fully sery I'd
and before the court tawaiting further
steps,, 92 cases returned by the sheriff
not TO he found and publication neces
'sary, 100; cases in which the sheriff re-
aurns that the defendants are dead
theirs must be hunted. 45 mixed c .ses
combining both OF above features, pub
lleatlon and heirS necessary in each, Gl
Total, 3S2
Fiity'eight (5S) Of tho above Sc, eral
cases had also been demurred to aud the
demurrer was pending at said date
hut 1t was oyerruled in favor of the city
at the last term of the court by order. OF
date July q 1877, leaving the cases az
above classified.
Under instructions of the city attorney
have perfected the city docket of said
cases by transcript from the dockets of
% the cOuft and from the papers them
selves. ] entered the necessary motions
and in connection with the said demur-
rers and overrulings thereof, have had
Judgments pro eoniesso entered in 36
cases, and have 35 more ready to be en-.
tered by the next sale day, being as
early as we are entitled TO it, There are
q other cases in which, as appears from
ihe record, we are entitled to judgment,
pro confesso, by publication as to non
recidents, which publication seems to
.neSsSeen made. (Sinoe the foregoing
have pssn proof Of publication in said
was WLl's zen made The 35, 30 and
S SG'es ea.as nss oO Oe the 92 cases named iu the
~ eases. cases cUye. I've. as fully served Alias
sobpoSas have ordered rd; ednSs in 10 cases 4
heretofore returnd nUs m.oSahiS iUIIS' On IA nnt
great number Of CASE PiU's in = Few ", Avs avs
lication will be made M nm T" ;n,o NJ" conrs uny =
non-residents to get the,i No maSe an,
New delinquent lists are beEk new % hills
preparatory to the fling ofsnrred on
Where delpqueneies have occSe flinc
same property subsequerilv :. oessa