The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1878-12-04
OUR KNOXVILLE LETTER.
Knoxville, Nov. 90, 1878.
To the Editor of the AIorristown Gazette:
SCHOOL TROUBLES


Council recently to repeal an old ord1n-
ance comforting unrestricted powers up
on the School Commission. The ordin-
ance offered for its repeal was passed up
on its second reading by the very decis-
i've vote of nine for and five against.
No one seems to doubt its final adop-
ton. On account of it, there is some
futtering in certain quarters The
Chronicle pitches into the City Council
and writes significant editorial, head
ed, $50 Slow, Gentlemen" As yet /
have heard no complaints from the
Commissioners. 1t is thought by some
that if they are forced to have their
official conduct supervised by the Coun-
Gil, they will resign. I presume there
is no foundation for such conviction.
It wonld seem childish to commit so
foolish an act. They should rather
court the supervision and scrutiny of
that body than ignore it. Modesty at
least would suggest this course. They
are but men, clever and honorable as
they may be. Any other course would
defiance. Hence it seems to me they
would prefer having all their official
acts looked into and carefully analysed
by the City Council. A contrary spirit
would indicate that a ''little brief au-
thority' had inflated them with enor-
nous ideas of their greatness and armed
thu =. It'll power which they intended
to viii to suit their own caprices.
NO DOUBT RIGHT.
The City Council, in its attempt to
bring the Commissioners under it's con-
troll and supervision, no doubt, did
right. While 10 one, so far as / know,
is disposed to question the fidelity and
ability of the latter, it is the settled
opinion of many of our best and most
! influential citizens that it is not judici-
Gus to confer absolute powers upon
them. 1t is not we'll to confer such pow
ers upon any class of men acting for the
public and having charge of important
public interests. This is vital princi-
pie to recognize in all matters of public
trust No matter how exemplary and
how efficient public servants may be,
we are obliged to give them their
''metes and bounds" and to hold them
in check. 1t is in this fair and equit-
able light that the City Council views
the matter under consideration, and not
| from any disposition to harrass and an
noy the Commissioners. Nor is there
any desire to cool their ardor or to re-
strain them from pushing ahead with a
work all hands admit they have done
well. All that is asked is, that they al
low their operations TO come under the
inspecting eye of the City Council, since
they are the creatures o.. it.
POATs ON THE TRIBUNE.
Your wiery, nervous, intelligent as
sociate, Poats, of the Hawkins County
Department, projects sharp pointed
javelin at the head of the editor of the
Tribune, which caused that editor to
dodge 1.-TWO ways for Sunday" 1t seems
that Poats conceived the idea that the
editor in question was not conducting
himself in becoming manner with re-
gard to the State debt question, and,
consequently was disposed to lampoon
him for his inconsistency. To all this
that editor demurred squared himself to
elaborate one of his ablest leaders and
proceeded to overhaul his files with the
view of showing up his consistency. /
could, were it fight of mine, whisper
q thing or two in the ears of Poats that
70
there is marked difference between the
editor of the Tribune and the late candi-
date for gubernatorial honors. The edi
tor of the Tribune has always taken the
ground that the bond-holders should re-
ceiVe at least fifty cents in the dollar
The candidate for Governor endorsed
and accepted the platform of the recent
Democratic Convention at Nashville
which left the adjustment of this ques-
ton an open one, so that the most favor
able terms could be secured at the hands
of our creditors. You see the differ
ence, don't you? Now to make the edi-
tor consistent with the record he made
when aspiring to the governorship, he
should avoid, in his editorials, fixing up
on any specific amount at present as the
basis of the adjustment / imagine that
this is what Poats alludes 10. If not,
the hint have given him may aid him
somewhat in his Forthcoming structures
upon the anomalous attitude of the Tn
6ene man on the State debt question.
THE TRIBUNE AND THE NEW REPUB-
LICAN PAPER.
The Tribune seems to take special de-
light in trying to worry the Chronicle
with malicious taunts about the new
Republican paper soon to be introduced
to the public Perhaps some of these
days the Chronicle will be in condition
to retaliate upon its vindictive neighbor
after the same fashion, for, as wrote
you not long since, the feeling is strong
in this city and elsewhere to have new
Democratic paper. The matter has
been frequently canvassed and its i'm
portance urged. Ipredict that a com
bination will be formed which win re-
suit as indicated Then will come the
Chronicles opportunity for ''sweet re-
venge." But why this community of
feeling" between the Tribune and the
new Republican organ? Time unfolds
some strange things May be it will do
it in this instancel DEMOCRAT.
THE ELECTION OF COL. JOHN II.
Sd HAGE
Colonel Savage's majority over Hon.
Asa Faulkner is 1922. He received, says
the Smithville Journal, more than three
to one in DeKalb; more than five to one
in Cannon, more than eight to one in