The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1883-02-22
Lznnvilla's Charter.

i, EDITOR CITIZEN Having hear
it asserted more than once tina
: Lebanon, Jas well as many othe
towns which had surrendered thei
charters for the purpose of protec
ting their schools against whiskey
has suffered materially by so doing
that property had decreased in val
uation, and that there was NOR
| drunkenness than when under tn,
chartered system, in order to salts
| ly myself on Ethis subject, sswrot,
to appointment citizen Of Lebanon
to know the facts in the case. Fol
the benefit of others who may be
interested l will give his reply:
Il send you by this mail copy
of the Nashville Banner of the 9Th
inst, and refer you to a communi-
cation on first page, under Leba.
non. This communication, as
happen to know, gives a fair and
honest representation of the feelings
and opinions OF the best and princi-
pal business men of the town. Some
of them were very much opposed. to
the repeal of the charter at the
time it was done, but are now loud
in praise of the taxing district.
This test was made in getting up
this paper in the Banner to meet the
oft-repeated assertion, sometimes in
our own papers, that the business
men were opposed to the taxing dis
trict and were anxious to recharter.
Several gentlemen as reliable and
responsible as are in the state, went
round from business man to bust
ness man, until nearly all Of the
responsible business men in the
town or at least a very large MAORI
ty were seen, and that report is the
result. 1 will state here that there
are forty-one names in the list of
those who were consulted, and of
this number thirty-seven were de-
cidedly in favor of the present law,
and two of the other four were in
favor of trying it while longer.
Not thing was said against the
taxing district that is not reported
in that paper. They did not select
their men either, but called on them
from house to house as they came
to them. My candid opinion is
that now, if it was put to a vote of
the town, that perhaps nine-tenths
of the voters would cast for the tax
ing district. I am confident that
nine tenths of the taxpayers would
vote against rechartering. Even if
the four-mile law was not in exis
tence, it is a cheaper. and better
government. Our town is as well
policed as it ever was; the streets
are in better condition, and every
thing goes on better and costs less.
Why should property decrease in
value? You can tell those who say
SO that it is certainly a mistake.
The laws are violated, and whiskey
is being sold here, 1 have no doubt,
but there is much less drunkenness.
A number of men have been indict-
ed for selling whiskey and fines
and imprisonments have been i'm
posed by Judge Cantrell, our cir
cult judge, but they have all ap-
pealed to the supreme court and are
now awaiting decision. If that
court affirms judge CantrelPs de-
cision, we have then the best town
government and the best town in
the world. The old topers find
these underground and illicit grog
shops. l suppose they know them
by the shetland they drink, and
some get drunk; but there is not
so much even of that. The great
blessing now is, the inducement to
young men is taken away, and the
social and fashionable saloons are
gone. Drinking is shorne of its
responsibility, and men who have
not lost all theirs, are notIwilling to
slip round and hide in some dark
and filthy corner to get a dram, as
they have to do to get it now under
the present reginas. If our excellent
judge is sustained, nearly all this
can be stopped. Of course we need
never expect to stop it all, but
neither can we theft or murder ;abut
still we must keep trying and stop
them as nearly as we can.
Yes, yes, yes, this is much better
every way. Above all thing else ii
is better for our schools. No troub-
lie ia that way now, when we used
to have a great deal. If you can
by any any fair means get your
schools, and town also, under the
protection of the four mile law, 1
pray heavens blessings on you in
the effort. Tell the people it twill
be better for them ALL" r. j. o.
Lynnvllle Tenn.