Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-05-25
THE FIFTY.CENT ACT
Strong Opposition to its Endorsement by
the People, Because in that Case the
Taxing District
Would Become Responsible for Every
Cent of the Old City's Indebtedness
Words Of Wisdom.

The APPEALS city debt commissioner, while
en- his rounds yesterday, heard the question
discussed so much, and such almost universal
Endorsement of the APPEALS position, th at
it was deemed the proper caper to catch on
to some of these floating opinions and group
them together in read able shape for the en-
tertainment of the masses. With this object
in view We started out, and, as If favored by
fortune in the work, the first citizen we met
was a prominent member of the Memphis
bar,
COLONEL C. W. FRAYsER.
Colonel c. W. Frayser was found in his
Office, and consenting to give the APPEAL
his views, the following question was put to
him direct: "The Taxing District govern
ment was formed to avoid, not evade the
debt; don't you think We had better go on
80, and leave the debt settlement to the
thirty three and a-third commissioners ap-
pointed for that purpose"
Colonel Frayser replied: "The creation Of
the Taxing District was a necessity, and
from the fact that one-half OF the work
chalked out by the sanitary commission has
not been done; that we have 10 water to
drink OF wash with; that the more fortunate
are subscribing of their private means to
partially pave the most public streets which
the Taxing District is utterly unable to do
with the rate Of taxes already as high as the
majority can stand; that the country trlou
t2ry to Memphis In as been recently 30 visited
by storms, floods and unfavorable weather as
TO hazard the trade for the current year;
ami that Memphis ID not yet self-supporting
by her industries-all these show that the
necessity still crisis, so that this year / would
not undertake that which might not be able
to perform. The mule was overloaded and
fell; it cannot rise under the burden yet
but as soon as by new factories, machine
aha and dc IN tRR
people will agree to any fair settlement
even fifty cents on the dollar-and pay it.
But not now The commission can go on
and accumulate fund, while q large amount
of the dc BIT is being absorbed in the payment
of back taxes-it works at both ends"
Don't you think we ought to complete
our sanitary work and pave the streets be-
fore anything else is attempted"
81 certainly do think we should pave
more streets and render more perfect our
sanitary system. 1 think, also, that we
ought to have water-more OF it and better
quality"
"Do you think Memphis is in a condition
to assume the payment Of $4,000 or $780,
900 annually, in addition to what she is pay
ing, and pave her streets and complete the
needed sanitary work~
Il have already answered that question.
The city is not in such condition, and /
respect for Judge Bakers legal ability; that
his opinion was given on division with the
view of revision in the Supreme Court. He
said: There is no machinery knoun By phich The
Turing District can be reached by The courts
Legislation may try it, but with broad views
of sanitation, mixed with come humanity
and fear, it would not hastily open the spots
on the leper while he was trying IN good faith
to heal himself. There are two falacies that
some people entertain-the one, that Mem
phis ought to stand as much taxation as
the other, that if a man is not able
to stand it, sell him out to one who can.
Chicago is on her feet; Memphis fiat on her
back. The other proposition sacrifices the
poor man. what little he has saved, to the rich
one who can take care of himself"
Owing to the lateness Of the evening
Colonel Frayser's time was not trespassed
upon longer.
MIR. NAPOLEON HILL.
Mr.. Napoleon Hill, OF Hill, Fontaine &
Co., was met by an APPEAL representative,
who called his attention to the city debt
question, and asked his views in connection
herewith. Mr.. Hill at FIRST objected to being
interviewed on the subject; he had heard SO
much about it he was tired of it, and wished
the whole thing was out OF the way if it
could be got rid of upon any thing like fair
basis of settlement.
what do you CONSIDER 1alr settlement,
Mr.. Hip"
"The funding proposition at thirty three
and one-third cents on the dollar is fair
and 1 would be willing to settle it
At that figure. l favor this proposition with
he fact in view stated in the second question
saw printed in the APPEAL this (Wednes- |
lay) morning-that we ought to complete |
,ur sanitary work and pave the streets be-
ore we attempt anything else"
"Do you think settlement could be eff |
eeted on the thirty-three and one-third per |
cent. basisW
"Well, they don't seem to be making much !
progress at 1t. 1 have another proposition
which would be willing to settle at, more
o get the thing out of the way than other
yise-and think the bondholders ought to
gree to it. That is, for the bondholders to
all suits now pending in the courts,
md enter into an agreement with the Tax
ng-District authorities to accept fifty cents
N the dollar with three per cent. interest,
ind do away with the several months limit
peciied in the new law. And right here l
want to say to you that am opposed 10 any
ettlement whatever as long as these suits re-
main in the courts. Let the bondholders
withdraw their cases, and, then / am ready
o confer with them as to basis of settle
gent"
"Mr. Hill, do you think Memphis is in
ondition to assume the payment of $780,
100 or $4,000 annually, in addition to what
he is paying, and pave the streets and COM
,lete the needed sanitary werk:"
Il do not. We have good sanitary sys-
EN- which should be pushed to completion,
nd our streets are sadly in need of repairs,
nd both should claim the attention of the
authorities before they assume any other
whatever"
"What is your general opinion Of the law
nacted by the last Legislaiure?"
81 think, sir, that the ffty-cent bill was
often up principally in the interest of the
'ondholders, and if it had gone through the
legislature without the provisionary clause
the bill to the necessity Of being
ati6ed by the Taxing District Council be-