Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-01-06
THE TAX BILL
Introduced by DIR. Porter in the Senate,
on Thursday, a Great Disappoint-
ment TO the Public.
The Budget Prepared by the TaXing-Dis'
trict Commissioners Providing for
81 so on the 500 Endorsed.

Section % Of the Taxing District charter
provides ''That il shall be the duty oil the
Board Of Fire and Police Comm issiouers, by
and with fhe advice of the chief OF police,
the president of the Board Of Health and
the Supervisors of Public Works. to report
10 the Legislature the rate of taxation as de-
fined in section of this act, within The
Taxing District, for the succeeding two years,
which, in their opinion, should be imposed
for the use OF the government OF the Taxing
District"
THE BUDGET.
la pursuance of this section, The Fire and
Police Commissioners, chief of police, presi-
dent of the Board OF Health and the Super
yisoTs Of Public Works unanimously agreed
10 ard had prepared a bill to levy the fol-
low ng rates of taxation for the succeeding
Two years. This bill was signed by each mem
Der Of both boards, the chief of police and
president of the Board OF Health, and handed
10 one of our delegation in each house OF the
General Assembly 10 obtain its passage:
Thirty cents on the 500 defray the expenses OF
Thirty cents on the 500 to deray the expenses of
the Fire Department
Fifteeni cents on the $780, and poll-tax OF 81
per capita, for Public School purposes.
Ten cents on the 500 TO defray the expenses OF
Eighty cents on me 500 for paving streets and
pairing the same, Tor bnilding and l.. Iepairing
tepaFins sewers and drains and fr the sanitary
purposes of the District.
Ten cents on the 800 for the hospital service OF
the District.
Five cents on the 500 for Parks and Prison pur-
poses in the District
making 81 80 on the 500 total tax.
THE LAST TAX.
This bill differed from the tax of the two
years past (which was total tax OF 81 60
on the $100) in the following items: An
| increase of five cents each on The police, ire
and hospital tax, and levy OF tlve cents for
:. parks and prison purposes. This was neces-
q sary, because the two previous levies Tor
I police, fire and hospital we're not sufficient
| TO defray the expenses of these departments
under the closest economy, and the commits
sioners were compelled 10 make up the deficit
| from the privilege tax, as provided by law,
which crippled the street paving to the
extent of this deficit, the privilege tax being
devoted TO that purpose. The levy of five
cents for parks and prisons was considered
| as the desire OF the ciliz.ns in the matter oil
| parks and an imperative necessity as 10
| prisons. The people are continually advo.
eating the making OF park on the bluff
and ia other parts of the city, and Court
| Square is needing repairs 10 its fences and
| some other improvements.
THE PRESIDENTS ISLAND LEAsE
expiring ON Janusry let necessitated the
making OF more room and better facilities
for the care Of the city cobvicts, and d new
stationhouse is badly needed-the present
one ia old and considerably out OF repair, SC
much SO that its entire rebuilding ia recon
mended BY architects who have examined it
Thus it will be seen the desire OF the com
missioners was entirely for the public good
and, as they believe, in accordance with
public sentiment; in fact, many who are mo-
small p!operty-owners say, While we ar'
not paying anything on the old debt, which
will sooner later have TO be mel, let vi
improve our city all we can stand, aud wher
the debt settlement Is made we can ther
afford TO drop off all except a small trifie o
the improvement tax, for the purpose of re
pairs, and devote our tax 10 the promp
meeting of our oblis stions, whatever the,
may be. This would then give us goot
credit and induce new capital TO seek ou
limits for investment"
THE BILL AT NASHVILLE.
The morning kilograms from Nashville sa,
bill levying tax of 81 As on the 500 wa
presented and passed upon its final reading
thus ignoring the bill prepared by the com
missloners. An APPEAL representative
ASKED PRESIDENT MADDEN
10 give him the figures for each specific pur
pose in the levy, and was answered that b.
knew that the bill which was prepared b,
the Tsxing-District government was TO
81 so, as above specified, and did not under
stand this change; that the board had in
struc,ed Secretary Pullen 10 write our sena
tor (Dr. Porter and ask him to give tn
items that have been reduced, and his view
and reasons for making this change from
the bill unanimously recommended and urget
by them.
The APPEAL would suggest that the citi
zens give expression to their views, eithe
through the columns of this paper or by ,
mass-meeting on the subject.
PRESIDENT HADDEN's VIEW.
10 answer TO a question from the APPEAL
reporter, President MADDEN said: 9Th,
budget was prepared very carefully by tn,
Taxing District government, who are sup
posed 10 voice the feeling of the people.
was carefully thought over; and it seems t.
me that there was certainly q want o
courtesy in passing the budget they did, in
stead of that which we recommended. As i
is, we do not know why the tax was reduced
and we were not even allowed the privileg,
OF discussing it. The result will be Ib at ",
will be seriously crippled in our work. /
does seem 10 me that we are competent Il
tell what is needed in Memphis"
PUBLIC COMMENT.
The public generally, and the taxpayini
part especially, is in accord with Presiden
MADDEN on this matter. So far as the ex
pressious of business men have reached tn
APPEAL, there has been decided sentimen
in accord with President Hadden. The res
sons Of the change of rate, who suggested
them, and where they were made, are an1
! iously awaited. Chicago pays nearly twic
as large a rate az Memphis, and there
scarcely city in the country which pay
under 81 rs on The 500. The people al
anxious TO see the good work of Presider
Hadden and the Taxipg-District furthere,
and they are clearly opposed to any pici
|, yuue policy.
Unreliable substitutes.
The upparalled success of Simmons Live