Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-02-01
SOLID FACTS.
An Interview With Maj. Minor Meri-
wether Concerning Old City
Debt Matters.
Pertinent Questions PertinentIy An.
suered by One Well Competent
to Speak.

Yesterday afternoon an APPEAL reporter
called upon Msj. Minor Meriwether, who is
probably as well posted on The old city debt
IS any man in Memphis, and propouuded
several questions 10 him. The following
wss he interview:
"How many Judgments have you obtained
through the Federal Court and how many
through the Chancery Court"
Il have not gone into the Federal Court at
all, except for the defense in The case of
Meriwether Is. Garrett. / have filed many
bills in the Chancery Court for collection Of
taxes, and have now ready orders Of sale for
many lots In a number Of these cases the
taxpayers settle without sale"
"Whst amour; Of coupons have been can
celed by your
81 do not keep a separate account of the
various kinds of indebtedness cancelled.
There are many kinds. have Cancelled and
retired altogether about $500, 900 of the city
debt"
"What amount Of bonds have been can
celed by your"
''Tbis question is answered in the proceed
ing on, :"
"Hox macy transactions OF this sort are
there altogether"
MANY hundreds. l could not give the
number without tedious count"
Have you had INV trouble with any
of them? If 60, whaI%
81 have had great deal of trouble grow
ing out of the determination of the valid
ity Of bonds and other indebtedness rendered
me for taxes, and in suits brought against the
city upon them. A large amount is invalid
ami | have contested all claims of that
sort"
Have any judgments in the Federal Court
or Chancery Court been satisfied by the courts
without the cancellation of the coupons or
bonds on which the Judgments were pro-
cured?"
SIN the Federal Court large amount wss
paid TO creditors, and the court refused my
request 10 require the clerk TO demand the
| surrender OF the Indebtedness upon which
| the Judgments were procured before paying
the money to the creditor. have, .ince
| Came into possession OF the Office, required
| the creditors TO surrender Indebtedness 10
cover the money paid them in the Federal
Court before / would pay them the money
which / collected Tor them ON mandamus.'
"What is the approximate amonut of the
city debit"
81 think about $5,5OO,OOO."
| Have you received any nsw issue oil .hs
Bank of tennessee 10 pay ment of taxes%
J mo"
estate how many judgments against thu
city have been satirf ID by you, aud in wha
| wsy~
~ have paid one judgment in full ant
parts Of many more aud one judgment
have wiped out entirely, it having been re
covered twice on the same coupons"
"What amount of back taxes remains un
collected?'
"Aboul IL 100000"
eff there ia any inform alton you care l.
lay before the public concerning the pay
ment of back taxes, would be glad to hsv
IT,"
"There are perhaps sl,500,00O of bscl
taxes yet to collect, and but for the uuwis
legislation of last session, which changed III
original act SO as to allow payment in in
debiedneas at par, instead Of requiring tw
for one, / am confident l could hsve retire
81, 900 coo or 81 100000 more of The deb
As it now stards, there will probably he nc
over $780, 900 or SS00,C00 more collected"
l