Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1879-02-15


Privilege tax equal to one-half
the tax imposed by the State on the
same privileges, to be. applied to
streets and construction Of
sewers and drainage. Fines and
forfeiture, market rents and inspec-
ton fees appropriated to the pay
ment of salaries, printing, sanitary
and other expenses, and poll tax
of 81 for hospital purposes.
The tax Is to be collected and held
by the County Trustee and disbursed
by him on joint order of two of the
Commissioners.
Section 10 specifies steamboat
taxes to be applied to construction
and repairs of wharf.
Sections IL and II. Appropria-
ton of funds otherwise than pro-
vided by law, or unlawfully pledg-
ing the credit of the district by the
issuance of bonds, warrants, ETC., is
made felony with Imprisonment in
the penitentiary at hard labor for
two years.
Section II transfers to the Com
missiOners all property ceded TO the
State by the late corporation, as
well as all taxes and other debls
due to said corporation, and enables
the employment of an attorney to
attend to the law affairs of said dis
trict.
eve fear section IA leaves an open
ing for some troublesome litigation
with the creditors of the late corpo-
ration.)
Other sections relating to the rou-
tine of business may be omitted, but
the following is very important and
shall be inserted entire. We read
it with regret; it looks too much
like a bankrupt act for delinquent
corporations, and will be at least a
temptation to any city burdened
with debt to shake off its liabilities
/ by having its charter repealed:
Section D. Be it further enacted, That
I whenever any community under the gov
eminent of a municipal corporation at the
I time this act takes effect, having popula-
/ tion OF 5000 inhabitants, according 10 the
( Federal census of 1870, may desire to be gov
/ erned by the provisions OF this act, the
! authorities of such corporation shall cause
an election of the qualified voters OF such
I municipal corporation 10 be held as oth9T
I popular elections are held, and If at such
/ election majority favor the form of local
government prescribed by this act, the ON
/ Ger holding the election shall give his OIL
/ cial certificate showing the fact, and II shall
! thereupOn be the duty of the authorities OF
such municipal corporation to tender IN
/ writing to the Governor proposal 10 SIR
J render to the State all corporate power
4 which shall he accompanied by the said GER
/ tificate OF election. 1t shall thereupon De
/ the duty of the Governor 20 accept on 0ehall
of the State the proposed surrender OF the
! charter, and the Governor shall cause the
/ said certificate of election, the proposal to
/ surrender the charter, and his acceptance ol
| the same TO be duly recorded by the S9creta'
! ~ Of State in the book kept by him, touch
| ing the organization of corporations, undei
/ the general law on that subject, and as soon
| IS such registration by the Secretary OF state
! is made, the said community snail De gov
| erned by the provisions of this act, ana Us
/ former organization shall wholly cease 70
| exist for any purpose whatever; provided
| that If the rate of taxation imposed by this
act should be in excess OF what the eonlnu
| nifty thus adopting the taxing district form
! of government needs for support of its lOca
affairs, or If the regulations provided by thli
act in regard to the fire and police anC
health service should be inapplicable to th'
| circumstances of such taxing district, theT
and in that case the Board of Fire and Po
[ lice Commissioners of Such district sinai
! have the power to suspend the collection o
/ so much of the taxes as may not be needed
for the support OF the local government, anC
! also to make such regulations on the SUB
ject OF fire, police and health services as VII
meet the wants OF such taxing district.
Upon the whole we think it prob
able that Memphis will, for a while
at least, be better governed unde
its new District Commissioners
than under its old Board of Mayo
and Aldermen. All other com
ment we reserve for the present.