Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-12-28
THE KIND OF LETTERS
which Are Now Pouring In Upon TIE
District Aatheritfts.

The biennial report concerning The Taxing
District has not been received with uumiti-
gated indorsemeat. President MADDEN re-
ceived letter from Clarksville yesterday
which raises the important question that if
one-sixth of the entire population is arrested
in two year,, how long will it take to arrest
the whole population. The letter contains
some very amusing comments on the govern
ment. 1t is az follows;
CLAREsvILIE Tenn, December 25, 1See
Hon. David p. Hsdden, Mernphis, Tenn:
DEAR SRI received several days ago
your biennial report of the operations of the
Taxing District from December /, 1880, 10
December l, 1882, and cansot let The occa-
sion pass without bearing testimony TO the
ability which, from said report, the affairs
OF the District seem to have been admins
tered. The report is gotten up seeundeH'
orten, and shows, too, that not only has the
president been faithful, bb'. also, that his
lieutensnis have been sigilsnt. For in
stance, the report Of w. c. Davis, chief of
police, on page SO. shows that he il the right
man in the right place. Under he influence
Of sneh an officer the inorals of the District
will ctrisinly improve-aye, must have al
ready Improved. ] believe the Djstrie. has
population of SO, 600 and the chief of po-
lice reports that in the tive years ending
December let, instant, he has only arrested
$500 persous, which is only about oDe-sixth
Of the whole population. His report, also,
shows he lodged in the stalionhouse 1855.
These figures show a growing disposition
toward healthy moral improvement. Just
think of it, only ene-5ixth of the whole
population, Including men, women and chill
dren arrested in Two whole years, and only
about one in twenty-6 five put in all during
The same period. From the fact that the
same officer reports "amount OF fines collect
ed" S23, 152 Is, conclude he is, exception
ally, good officer, for he must have arrest
ed many OF the wealthiest rien of the Dis
tricf, as he could not have collected all of
that money from the ordinary or common
criminal. He is right. When we get men
of that sort in office we can expect better |
times. If The work of Chief Davis were |
followed up by good missionary force he |
would be able to hold the ground gained by |
him in the two years Just passed. But be |
has demonstrated the fact that he knows |
what 10 do, aud it may be beet TO let him |
continue 10 use his own discretion. think |
it might be best for you (pardoH the sug- |
gestion) 10 compliment him on the number |
OF arrests, so he will continue the good work. |
He ought, suspect, 10 lodge more OF them !
in the stationhouse. This, however, is a |
mere suggestion, for he has done so well l |
would not eli tioise him. Please present my |
compliments to the chief and express to him |
my wish that he may have a merry Christ |
mas. note that your delinquent taxpayers |
maintsin their position with a consistency |
that is admirable for their want OF |
change. 1 like consistency, but in this |
case theirs is werthy OF better cause. 1t is |
gratifying that the government is growing |
more popular every day" as you state on |
page Q. But as you say on page 10, at is
unnecessary for me 10 dilute II like that word) |
further upon any other branch of he govern
menf - a. Won will observe have given your |
report careful psrusal. have heard with |
unfeigued satisfaction of the marked ability
with which yen execute the duties of police |
Judge. 0ae OF our citizens recently attended
your court, and pronounces il The p!ocs where
speedy justice is melted out withoat delsy
That lie as il should he IL lacf, from all |
hear fyc--- district, dtinF,de the record, l |
think u has good government, and the record !
SHOWS IL 10 be true. With the hope that the |
holidays may bring but few arrests among |
your good people, and wishing you "Merry |
Cnristmas,"I am, as ever, *s@