Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-01-06
0UEENSwARE.
0uEENSWARE.
CHARLES N. ERICH,
Wholesale and Retail
DEALER IN
)Clila, Glass and QuGGlSValG,
32l MAIN STREET,
ps-S0LE AGENT FOR THE ONLY RELI-
ABLE WATER FILTER. Sit
DR.. PORTER's RESIGNATION.

The doctor is so much IN earnest IN |
rendering his resignation that he fol-
lowed it to Nashville last night to see |
that the governor accepts it at once. |
We have no idea that he will re-
consider his determination to throw
off the mantle of Office and retire once
more to the congenial shades Of private
life. 1t was evident from the start
that the earth closet feature of his
policy was not approved by the masses
of the people. 1t was deemed trouble,
even some expensive, unnecessary expe-
riment. In view ofthe fact that we have
been promised a system of sewerage to
reach every ward in the city within
four months from the 10th of January
the legislative council became con-
vinced of the inexpediency of the sys-
TEN, and yesterday afternoon, by a
vote of five to three, adopted the fol-
lowing, which was offered by Mr..
Gum:
"Be it ordained by the legislative
council, That that portion of section
258, B., of the health ordinance, which
reads: and filled up with earth or
clay by the owner or occupant Of each
and every one of the premises where
there is such vault, be and the same.
is hereby repealed" "
The effect would be to require all
privies to be cleaned out, but not to
be filed up with fresh earth. The
legislative council wisely considered
that the vaults thus cleaned to the
bottom could be used four months
longer without danger to the public
health or the introduction Of the
earth closet system. DR.. Porter
took this as a vote Of cen
sure, orNat least a withdrawal
ofsupport, and promptly resigned. The
Doctor has labored with great zeal
and at a great personal inconvenience
and sacrifice for the good of Memphis.
We give him all credit for this, and
in the main have sustained his admin
istration. But in regard to one plank
in his sanitary platform he has not
been sustained by the LEDGER or by
many of the people. 1t was an hon
est difference of opinion, courteOusly
but plainly stated. We think that he
acted under an impulse not justifable
by the facts in the case. DR.. Porter
has made, perhaps, as few mistakes as
any man that could have been selected
for the difficult and annoying place.
He has been criticised less than any
man who preceded him as chief execu-
tive of the city, and has indeed very
little to complain of in that respect
All men in public Offices are liable tc
be overhauled, but those who are con-
scious of good purpose, and the cor.
rectness of their course, can well afford
to wait for the impartial verdict of the
people and the vindication of time
DR.. Porter is a man of great energy
of fine executive ability and gooC
Judgment. He has withal the bes
interests of the community at heart
but it does not follow that he canno
make mistake. At least nine mer
out of ten of the people O
Memphis take issue with him on ont
point, and he should have GRACEFUL!
yielded to the popular will and gone
ahead with the rest of the programme
He proposes to leave us in the lurcf
at critical time, when it will be {
difficult matter to induce a competent
man to take his place. This hast!
action may delay or incur the defea
of the sewerage of the city for this
winter. We regret to lose the ser
wees of an officer whom we esteem s,
highly and who has labored so faith
fully for the public good; but whel
one man sets up his opionion against
whole community, one or the othe
must soon yield. DIR. Porter woul
not agree to liberal construction o
any modification of the ordinances
and this is the result. Let us Civ
him credit for what he has done an
for his sincerity of purpose, get goo
man to fll his place, and go ahea
with sewerage and other sanitar
retorm There is no time to lose.