Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-03-29
City Government Reforms.


the day. The bold experiment made
in Memphis, the result Of a terrible
necessity, has attracted the attention
OF the whole country. Public senti-
ment is settling down upon the bed
rock conclusion that the old fashioned,
double-barrelled corporation with ten
heads and seven horns, is fraud un>
worthy to be perpetuated in this age
of enlightenment and keen practical
ideas. The prejudice against
the taxing district system in
Memphis was mainly created by igno.
rant or malicious outsiders who took a
mean and coYardly delight in re-
iterating the assertion that the
charter was repealed to repudiate an
honest debt. We were down then,
and had to bide our time, knowing
that full vindication would come
sooner or later. For three years or more
this government has been conducted
upon strictly business principles, Great,
ing no debts, and paying for
everything in cash. This was
utterly impossible with the old slip
shod system under which debt of
six millions of dollars was created
with nothing to show for it except
thirteen miles of rotten Nicolson
pavement that was never even repair
ed. If we have now the best sewer
system in the United States, eight or
ten miles of we'll paved streets; if the
old vaults have been emptied of
their disease breeding con-
tents and then filled with fresh
earth, if hundreds of old rookeries
we're torn down and burned, and the
entire city worked up into fine sani-
tary condition, it is due to the new
form of government, and the men
who have had charge Of public affairs.
Having accomplished.all this, it is in
order to compromise and resume pay
ment of the old city debt. Having
obtained the consent Of most OF our
creditors, we asked the Legislature
TO enact the Decossary laws to carry
the compromise into effect. Other
cities asking for modified form Of
government are not embarrassed by
such debt as Memphis had. They
are not tantalized with their misfor-
tunes or stigmatized as repudiators.
Nashville, Knoxville and even Chat
tanoOga have been stirred up Oh
this subject. Nashville, after
months Of agitation, finally
settled down upon a form Of
government, which will be great i'm
proyeNent and blessing. Three bills
have been passed amending the char.
ter of Knoxville. These have to be
submitted to the City Council, but
will no doubt pass. One changes the
term of Mayor from one to two years
and also extends the term of aldermen
to two years, to be SO arranged that
one-half Of the present board will be
held over. One-half will be elected
each year, thus keeping some, expert
enced men in the board, The second
bill establishes Board Of Police Com
missioners consisting of three citizens
elected by the Board of Aldermen
and whose terms OF Office shall
be three years. They shall
have the exclusive right to
appoint the members of the police
force and dismissing them for any
cause. Further they are to have no
compensation for their labor, The
third bill provides for a Board of Tax
Assessors, composed of three citizens
elected by the Board OF Aldermen.
They shall be chosen for a term Of
three years-one to be elected every
year. 1t shall be then in their power
and will be their duty to assess all
taxable property in the city for
municipal parposes. They will have
power to assess ell back taxes on any
property that might have been omit
ted and to correct assessments. Their
compensation to be fixed by the
Board of Aldermen. The ChattanOO.
ga people, after great labor, have set"
tied dOWR iQ 9 cqmMs9 sense
way at last and agreed
upon reform measure which
will no doubt pass. 1t provides first
that the number of aldermen shall be
reduced froa tep to six, and that they
shall be elected by ths oily st large,
one from each ward and one TO repre-
sept the city at large. The Office oi
mayor sE& recorder is consolidated
the Governor i 70 SpPciRt the police
compassion, who shall have eptIFe
control Of the police of the city, two
of whom are to be from one political
party. The police commission Is tO
be appointed ten days from the pas
sage of the bill, and the first election
under the new law is to take place on
the seCepd Tuesday in October
| In all thase contaminated changes we