Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1878-07-06
POLITICAL.


Questions for the Candidates to An
swer.
To Messrs. R. j. Black Owen DWyer, C. n. Perkins,
A. j. Vaughan; Ed WorSham, j. Uni, Felix Joaes,
T. b. Crenshaw, j. j. Rawlings, George b. Fleece,
/ c. L. Anderson, J. W. Anderson, q. W. Gordon;
w. B. Waldran:
Some years ago the people of Shelby coun-
ty sought legislative relief from the terrible
burdens of taxation which Cypress them, and
among other measures looking to that object
the following bill was introduced in the legis-
lature:
AN ACT TO Jr the compensation Of certIiH officers.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State
of Tennessee.
SECTION 1. That the maximum compensation of
the officers enumerated below, whose compensation
is now derived from fees OF Office or commissions,
shall be limited as follows, viz:
Clerks of the supreme court $1,000 per annum.
Clerks of the chancery courts. $500 per annum.
Clerks OF the circuit courts, $500 per annum.
Clerks Of the county courts, $500 p per an mum
Clerks of the criminal courts, $500 per annum.
Clerks of the special courts, $500 per annum:
In all where the same person serves as clerk
of two courts he shall only be entitled to the maxi
mum compensation allowed as clerk of one OF the
courts In addition to the above, each OF said clerks
shall be allowed comps nsation for as many deputies
as the Judge of the may certify to be absolutely
necessary, in addition 70 the constant labor OF the
clerk to discharge the duties of the Office not ex
ceeding one Thousand dollars per annum to each,
and not exceeding the sum actually paid 10 sucn
The district attorneys shall be limited to $500
The tax-collectors, including all deputies and
other expenses, and all compensation as county
Justices OF the peace, to $1,000 per annum.
Sherfs shall be limited to 5000 per ahnuH M
and In addition shall be allo.ed compensation Ior
as many deputies as the judges OF the courts may
certify to be absolutely necessary in addition to the
the duties of the Office efficiently but not at greater
rate than $1,000 per annum Tor eacn deputy, nor at
Ndge of tbe said ocefs snail be entitled to receive
the compensation above fixed for themselves or
unless B the lees OF he Sdd
amount to so much; and whenever the fees or com,
m t these ne see thai
received by clerks of the supreme court which shall
be paid into the treasury of the state.
Sec 2 Be IL enacted, That all of said officers, ex-
cept the clerks OF the supreme court and clerks OF
Mondays in January April July and october of each
year, to the clerk OF the county court, detailed
fees and commissions aecruing from the business OF
their office for the preceding quarter, the TOTAL
amount actually collected and the total amount &C
tuay paid to deputies. and thesamount paid to each
deputy the receipt OF the deputy for the same ana
the certificate OF the Judge, showing the deputies 10
be necessary The officer shall swear to the truth of
the report and that the money reported as Iaid 10
without any collision between them; and the excess
if any, over the prescribed maximum, snail then De
COUNTY These reports shall be preserved in the Of
fee OF the county court clerk, and be enrolled IN
book his office, and be open at all times to the In
spection of the Taxpayers.
The clerk of the county court shall report in the
same manner 10 Inc county trustee, anu iudAc lno
same oath to the report before the chairman OF the
county court and pay over the excess to the county
trustee.
The clerks of the supreme court shall make sim
liar report, sworn to I'm the same manner, TO the
treasurer of the State, and pay over the excess.
Sec. 3. Be enacted, That false report by any OF
the said officers shall subject the offender upon con-
viction to all the pains and penalties Of perjury.
This was defeated by the active efforts of
the office-holders. 1t was again tried in the
legislature in 1877, with the same result. 1t
is needless to dilate upon the sufferings of
the people growing out of the evils of costly
government. Hard times and detection are
written upon the face of nearly every man in
the community. The people are resolved to
rid themselves of these burdens. You solicit
our votes for the offices for which you are re-
spectively candidates at the August election
Now we ask, if the same, or an equivalent
measure is introduced in the next legislature,
will you not only abstain directly or indirect
ly from obstructing its passage, but give it
your active aid and encouragement in every
proper method.
Second-Will you not only abstain directly
and Indirectly from obstructlng the passage
of other measures of retrenchment and reform
looking to the relief of the people, that may
be proposed in the next legislature, but give
them your active aid and support in every
proper method? We ask each of you to an
swer these questions categorically and ex-