Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1878-12-10

discharge their duties as tax payers NO TAX
law, however rigid, can force taxes out Of 4
people unable 90 pay taem. Prom this re-
vIew Of all tue resources from which revenue
can be expected. il is NANTES. tina. the total
sum collected each year is inadequate ~
more than one. halt to meet the total sum Of
estimated yearly expenditures.
The committee takes the emphatic Pcs,tion
that 1t is patent to ali that taxation must be re-
duced within the abili;yof the people to pay,
and tine city 10 collect and insist on sweeping
reduction in the expenses Of the city govern
meut Like Memphis, Mobile is beset with
mandamuses, which Is the ruin aud abomiua-
ton Of the honest taxpayer. The committee
says: MANY suits have been Instituted IN
the Federal courts, in some Of which judg-
rlents have been obtained, to enforce the COL
lection Of which writs Of mandamus have
been issued, by which our city and its people
are nov sorely harassed, for large amounts
Of property are advertised for sale on this ac-
count. Many more judgments will no doubt
follow, unless some remedy can be provided,
Under the combined pressure of those embar-
easements we find the present city govern
ment broken down" The committee rec
commended the funding Of the city debt at
the following rate of interest: For the first
ten years two per cent, for the second ten
years three per cent, then until the maturity
Of the debt four per cent. This proposition
Is reported as acceptable to the creditors.
In conclusion the committee says:
First-We recommend an absolute repeal
of the present city charter with It's amend
ments, and then the appointment of COM
mission OF three persons, into whose hands
shall pass all property and assets of the de-
funct corporation of every description. These
commissioners should be endowed with the
power to compromise and settle upon an
equitable basis, all taxes and claims due from
the taxpayers to the present corporation at
the time OF It's dissolution. Out OF the pro-
ceedS of such assets the commissioners should
be instructed to pay first, the floating debt of
the city before any other debts are paid,
and then to hold and administer the property
and assets as a trust for the benefit of the
creditors at large.
Second-We recommend that the legisla-
ture be then requested to create a new cor
poration, separate and distinct from the one
now existing, whose cardinal features shall
be as follows: We recommend
l. That the Legislative power of the new
corporation be vested in one body composed
Of eight members.
2. That the executive power of the new
corporation be vested in a mayor and such
officers as he may be authorized to
appoint; said mayor to be chosen as follows I:
The legislative body created by the new
charter shall select a presiding officer, who
shall be er ctficio the mayor.
3. That the judicial power of the new cor
poraton be vested In a recorder with the APP
propriate criminal jurisdiction.
rhok f,n ha
with the power aud instructed to assume the
debts of tha defunct corporation. upon such
terms, conditions and limitations as its re-
sources shall warrant
5. That the charter of the new corporation
contain limitation forbidding the new gov
eminent to expend In any one year, In adj
ministrative expenses, more than two hun
dred and twenty-five thousand dollars.
6. That the rate of taxation be so limited
IN the new charter SIS rot to exceed in any
one year one and one quarter per cent.
Z. That the new corporation be forbidden
10 contract any original debt IN excess of the
sum Of fifty thousand dollars.
s. Tha. the new charter contain the best
AK law that can be devised for the prompt
and uniform collection of taxes.
9. That the new corporation be required to
assume the basis Of assessment employed by
ne State and county, subject to revision by
me board.
10. That the charter of the new corporation
provide that certain sum be set apart each
7ear out Of the gross sum to be collected, suf-
icient for the payment of all interest that
nay become due Ia that year, and that such
Jro rata portion be deducted by the tax-col-
ector from every sum collected by him, and
It once be deposited in a special depository to
De named by the board, for the benefit Of the
lebt alone. And that special jurisdiction,
o be named in the new charter, be empow-
cred to enforce the execution of the provision
II. That the new corporation be endowed
rita ssit the municipal PvUUTs EUU0ss-IJ Tor
ts complete existence.
When this new organization is put into
operation, we think that all the great ends
which should be kept constantly in view for
he relief Of cur ever taxed people can be ac-
First-The Incubus Of back taxes, which
avs like pail upon nearly all property in
he city, can be removed by settlements
mon a just basis Of compromise within the
.bility of all.
Sstond-The cost of the debt will be SO
greatly reduced-so far as the yearly interest
3 concerned-as to be within cur ability to
,rovide for it. And at the same time the
principal will remain unimpaired.
ThiTd-The current expenses will be re-
Iuced within limited sum, so as to prevent
xtravagaace, but yet a sufficient sum will re-
main for an economical and effective govern
nent.
The result of these economies should enable
Is to conduct the new government, every ex
,enditure included, upon a yearly basis
which should not exceed one hundred and
evenly thousand dollars per annum.
This will make possible the great end to be
ttained, the reduction Of taxation. The
INIT beyond which the new corporation can
ot go will be enc and One-fourth
er cent. We adopted this limit
or the greater caution, but we
ave made our calculations upon the basis of
ne per cent. on the State and county assess
nent, which we hope will be sufficient to sup
y all the wants of the new government.
Jnder this moderate rate Of taxation we hope
nd think that the value of the property will
eturn to its normal state. In our dehbera-
ions the greatest harmony and unanimity
ave prevailed. Al the difficult questions of
lw and policy have been presented to US,
ave been patiently considered. and every
esult to which We have arrived, has been
dopted without one dissenting voice. We
incerely hope that we are about to begin a
lew life, in which improving prospects shall
axe the place of the general depression by
7hlch we are now surrounded.
These facts and figures viii be interesting
0 the people of Memphis, who, like those Of
Iobile, are about to be impoverished by
7rits of mandamus. The people of Memphis
re suffering and demanding relief. We
ecoil at the idea of repeating the city char
sr, and cannot yet favor a scheme SO radical
a its operations. But, if this be the only
means by which to cave the property of an
people from confscation, we
hall favor it. The situation Is APPALLING.
he taxes raised By the writs of mandamus
all with heavy hand upon prompt men. So
Don as they pay one, another takes its place.
Johing Is realized from the delinquent tax
ayers; and, if this quintessence of wrong,
his lever Of oppression and con6scation, is
D continue. the indebtedness of the
ity will be paid off by those who promptly
espond to every assessment and the call of
he .tax-gatherer. A people thus harassed
nd oppressed cannot long escape the poor
ouse. When a city-a great city with
right future, and Boosting of its ciyiliza-
its charter, it looks like lapsing
ack into barbarsm. But this dire evil is
to Il city of paupers, which our
roperty- holders will soon become, unless the
rindIng heel of the tax-gatherer be lifted
-om their necks. When the ship is sinking,
} save life, everything, however valuable, is
asst overheard, and the people OF Memphis |
ropose to save themselves, even if they have
, throw overheard the city charter, which !
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