The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-01-20
LEXINGTON, KY.
A Loud Call for Municipal Reform
People Indignant, and for Good

Special Correspondence OF the Star
LEXINGTON, KY, Jan. 10.
Ten years ago, when the negroes were
given the right Of suffrage, the old politi-
cal managers of this city were seized with
a sudden fear that, unless a preventive
was speedily adopted, the municipal con-
troll of the city would pass into the
hands of the colored people. A petition
largely signed was Immediately sent to
the city's representative in the Legisla-
ture at Frankfort, directing him to pre-
pare bill making the City Councila a
sELF-PERPETUATING BODY
for eight years. The bill was passed by
the Legislature The time Of this bill
expired in 1878, and the people again
elected Councilmen. In the meantime,
however, the Legislature made the pay
ment Of capitation tax Of 81 so for
every voter as . qualification for voting.
This law is still in force. There
have been for eighteen months
past rumors Of a "looseness" in the gov
erning powers Of the city, and the people
have become disguised with the powers
that be. In the present Council is also
vested the authority to elect every city
officer, from Mayor to Keeper Of Potters
Field. All fear Of the negroes obtaining
control of the city has now passed away,
and the people have asked Council to
throw the election into their hands. This
they have refused to do, and last Thurs
day ten Of them held star chamber eau
Gus and announced their purpose Of again
electing officers
OF THEIR OWN CHOOSING.
This action seems to have thoroughly
aroused the people, irrespective Of party,
and call for an indignation meeting, to
be held at the Courthouse, was responded
to by crowd of people that literally
jammed the building. Hon. Madison G.
johnson was selected as President, and a
committee Of five, with Col. Frank w.
Waters as Chairman, was appointed to
draft and report resolutions, which are as
follows:
"Whereas, At period when tho best
interests Of the city were in danger, as a
means of averting threatened and greater
evils, the people consented to delegate to
the members of the City Council the
power of electing their officials, under
the belief that when the danger was
passed this power should be restored to
them; and
Whereas, Although the exigency
authorizing the exercise Of these extraor-
dinary powers by the Council has passed,
the present Council seems unwilling to
restore to the people the rights and priv
ileges of which they had temporarily d.
vested themselves; therefore be it
Resolved, That we, citizens Of Lex
ington, in mass meeting assembled, do
thereby instruct the Councilmen of the
city to provide for the election by the
qualified voters of the city of all the Of
fcers whose election by the people is au-
thorized by the charter, except the mem
bers of the Police and Fire Departments.
~. That our Representative, Hon. T.
J. Bush, be and is hereby instructed to
use all efforts to secure the passage by
the General Assembly Of the Common.
| wealth Of such amendments to our city
charter as will take from the Council the
power Of electing any city officers, ex'
cept members Of the Police and Fire De.
partments, and to restore that power to
the people, where it rightfully belongs
| "3. That while we do not desire to IN.
terfere with the term Of office Of any off,
cial already elected, we request the Gen.
J eral Assembly to pass an act which will