The Tombstone epitaph., 1882-01-23

sniAH "ncrein' the clty 10 interested, cut ting down all unnecessarily expenses ths, you may find in all departments of the city government, and if, in your wisdom you find more offices than is necessary for the good and peaceful government of the city, would urge their abolishment forth. with.
 | l would also recommend that all ap. continents and combinations you make as officers of the city be men capable of the positions which they aspire to, and of geod moral character; for it is a maxim as old as the law itself unless the admins. trators Of the law are themselves above re. proach, the masses have but little respect Tor the law. believe that fully one. half tho crime committed in our land is from inefficient and corrupt officials. THE TAX SUITS.
 Gentlemen, would call your attention to the suits that are brought for the collec. tion of the delinquent taxes of the city. It appears to me that the laws or ordinances governing the collection of delinquent taxes are at fault somewhere. The power to commence suits and put our people to unnecessary expenses before advertising a Delinquent List" seems to me to be un. fair, harsh and illegal. If such be in the power of the city council, think it would be just to have the prosecutions stayed and full delinquent list published for twenty days, as the general law contem. plates, before commencing suit fer the same.
 OUR REPUTATION ABROAD. Gentlemen of the council, there is one more subject would mention to you and it is with sorrow do SO; that is the repu tation of our city abroad. From looking over some of the papers of San Franc isco and other towns on the coast, find that Tombstone is put down as wicked and lawless place, where neither life or prop erty is safe, either by day or night. and that majority of our citizens, if not robbers and cutthroats, are set down as sympathizing with such. Such con. clusions, gentlemen, would prevent strangers and men of capital and influence from settling in our midst. Gentlemen, a more base and malicious calumny was never given to the public press than was sent from this place to San Francisco. During a residence of thirty-two years on the Pacific coast, and most of that time spent in the mines of northern California, Ihave never seen a more law-abiding or peaceable class than nlnety-nine out of one hundred of our residents of Tombstone are now and have been for the past two years during my residence here. True, we have had very lamentable, sad and disgra ceful scene enactedrecently in our streets, whereby three men lost their lives; but as you, gentlemen, are we'll aware the great majority of our citizens had nc more to do with it than the emperor of China had. It was feud between two parties of desperate men that the county would be we'll rid of. And today life and property
  are e safe within the corporate limits of Tombstone as it is on Montgomery street in San Francisco, or Wall street, New Ysrk.
 Gestlemen, you will excuse me for dwell. ing 50 long upon this subject, but would be lacking in my duty to our fair city, the queen city of Arizona, whose citizens have elected me to be theIr chief magis- trate fer the ensuing two years, did not raise my voice in vi,lication of her fair famo at home and abroad.
 Now, gentlemen of the common council, In conclusion, I will state to you that you will always have my hearty support in all good measures and deliberations which are for the benefit of the city, and am sure, from the character and standing of you gentlemen of the council, that no act or measure but what is for the benefit of the city and the inhabitants thereof will ever be brought forth by you.
 Hoping, gentlemen. that two years hence, if God in his mercy spares us, our constituents will say, Well done, thou good and faithful servants"
 Your obedient servant,
 JOHN CARR, Mayor