Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-04-01
THE INTERVIEW

THE INTERVIEW.
| Reporter-You were mayor when the bonds
were. issued for building schoolhouses. Please
| say what amount was issued.
| Mr.. Johnson-I was msyor when part Of the
bonds were Issued, $4,000, and $50 900 had been
issued by my predecessor Mayor Left wlch m, king
| 500 COO in all OF the issue known school
bonds.
| Rep.-were these bonds issued under special
| law?
| Mr.. J.-Yes. They we1e issued under the
| amended charter OF the Memphis city schools
passed January q. lS6s-cha pier 80. section 10.
| Rep How did the law under which these bonds
| were issued provide for their payment, principal
Mr.. 1.-The law required the Board Of Mayor
and Aldermen TO provide for the interest, and also
| ior sinking fund to pay the principal OF said
Reptile tax levied each year fer the support
OF the schools wss not 10 be u.ei or diverted 70
pay the principal or interest of these bonds?
Mr.. III certainly think the act referred to will
not bear any such construction. / know that 1t
was not the intention OF the board under those
direction the act was urppared. the tax was in
tended for the support of the schools and the city
ment of the semi annual interest and aeo TO create
e sinking fund to retire the bonds at maturity,
both OF which you will find by reference 10 the
purposes.
Rep.-what then. was the responsibility OF the
SchOo! Board for the bonds, If any?
| Ar. III do not think that the School Board
had any direct liability. think the school prop
erty is isble If the CITY should fail 10 pay off the
bonds and coupons by the statutory lien given in
Rep-of course you have read Maj. MeIi-
Wethers letter in regard to the collection and Ep
plicadon of the taxes due the School Board
What do you think Of the position be therein
Nr.J-I have read Maj. Meriwether's letter.
suppose he means TO disclaim any personal liza
biity, having acted by direction of the counts.
do not see how he could be held liz bic.
Eep.-DoR't you think Maj MeriwetheE should
have paid over to the school Board the school tax
OF 1873, or ally other year, as fast collected
Mr.. il understand Maj. keriwethsr il all Of
his official acts as receiver to be g9vernsd by the
the school Board was entitled 20 the anc0llect.d
scnool tax, and especially 70 the tax for ISIS, the
tSlure TO receive wuich il, believe the OF
the school Boards embarrassment and feeling
that the bozId should have this fund ca led The
attention OF several members OF the school Board
TO the matter ia the spring and summer Of 1851,
when the questions were being determined by the
courts but SO far a. know no action was taken
ton.
Rep.-You don't think he had the right to assume
that the bonds Issued by the city OF ssemphis were
debt Of the Board OF school Ei2itOrs?
Mr.. III do not know how n could come TO
such eoEelu- ion; and knowing his familiarity
with the city charters, an surprised stit.
kep-Don't you think the school commissioners
WI De ju.tiiisd in emrloying counsel TO secure
collected BY Maj. Meriwether?
Gr.J.-In 1851 / advised he members Of the
board 70 have counsel TO look after their interest
in this fund and suppose there is stii enough un-
collected 70 warrant them in employing counsel
but do not understand how they can secure the
collected By Mai. Meriwetker. '0'-
Rep.-Whst s0out The lein on the Market s.-eet
school building. held BY the holders OF Lae bonds
in question?
M jim addition to the lsin given in the char.
ter, the holder Of the thirty bonds given in paw
nenf for the Market street school lot has vendors
lien, fetal ed in the deed by tho sellers Of the
property 70 the school Board. to secure The nav
ment OF the thirty bends given for the property
Rep-Wlll not the holders Of these bonds be
COMPELLED 10 fund then under the ffty-cent sct,
a all other city bonds TO De funded
M il do not know of anE way 10 ,sc--.,.,
The holders OF the school bonds or indesd -
other OF the city bonds, TO fund them undsr ts,e
fifty CENT act, all other bonds are To be FnTSs -
in fact, know that the So, 600 of sehooI bo1ds
outstanding viii not be funded ito tho ne =
three, four and six PER cent. bOnds