Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1885-06-30
5-COUNTY AFFAIRS.
Questions OF Interest to Come Before
the Quarterly Court Next Mon
day-1ax Rate
To be Decided UpOn-A Very Important
but Apparently Small Office
The Bond Natter.

The County Quarterly Court, which
convenes next Monday, viii have several
important subjects to consider. The duty
Of electing officers is always pleasant
one to the justices, and II a little $40 office
is TO be filed tae granger magistrates
cheerfully leave the pillow in the furTOW
and periodically present themselves at the
appointed hour. A fulf court is neces-
sary for the election Of officers, and though
only jail inspector and bridge superin-
tendent are to be chosen next Monday,
few seats will be vacant. The former
place, which pays SO month, was
MADE VACANT
by the death Of Justice Alex Jones' There
are number OF applicants, as the Office il
a sinec1re, the principal labor being that
of collecting tie warrants issued by she
chairman. The office of bridge inspector
was created at the last term Of the court,
or;rather revived, that office having been
abolished some time since, because it was
worse than failure. As there a great
many small water-courses in tie county,
and as the treasury canEot stand the stain
of iron bridges, wooden structures must
be built 1t is, Of course, necessary to re-
pair or rebuild them very often. Last year
THE BRIDGE ACCOUNT
ran up to nearly $4,000, and where so
much money is scattered over the county
in small amounts the opportunity for
sWindling is immense. Unless a bridge
superintendent is a man who is absolutely
incorruptible, it would be cheaper and
better for the county not to have such an
official but ii he has practical knowledge
of bridge building, ard is honest and con-
| scieptious in the discharge of his duty, he
| can save the county an immense amount
every year. There are about twenty APP
| plicants for the business, the list includ
| ing practical bridge builders, carpenters
and Observation-Disclosures" The salary has
not yet been fixed, but will be decided
upon Just before the election takes place.
| There are at least two other questions,
however, Of much greater importance.
One of these is the rate of taxation, which
is usually fixed at the April term. AS it
is necessary to know what
THE STATE TAX
is, however, before fixing the rate for the
county, it could not be done then, on &C
count Of the failure OF the Legislature to
pass the necessary bill at its regular ses-
sion. The court held open az long rs pos
sible, but was finally forced to adjourn for
The term and wait for an extra session.
The only hardship imposed by the delay
will be upon the CLERK, who must make
up his books of 1850 pages, six columns to
the page, by the let of October, when
taxes are due. The principal question is
the advisabiity of issuing 100000 of coun-
ty bonds to take up
THE FLOATING INDEBTEDNESS
of the county. At the last session of the
Legislature a bill was passed authorizing
The measure, and the court appointed
Messrs. John Johnson, S. H. Dnnscomb
L. Goldsmith, J. S. Galloway, @. E. Smith,
w. r. Cross and R. D Jordan q commit
tee to examine and report upon the ad
visibility OF 80 doing. The committee met
and or. aniged Saturday and on Sunday dis
cussed the matter. They will hold another
meeting tomorrow, when they will fully
make up their minds The facts which
gave rise to the discussion have been
already fully stated by the APPEAL. In
stead Of issuing bor15 to pay for the
county workhouse, as the county had g
right to do under a special act warrants
were issued, an old judgment for $14, 900 on
the courthouse, which WIS
SUDDENLY PREsENTED
by Messrs. Bickford and Woodruff was also
met IN the came way, and as the county
revenue is Just equal to its current ex
penses, the county credit suffered to a GER
tain extent. There are also some $50, 00C
in judgments, bearing ten per cent, and
about half that amount in other judgments
making about $4,000 III all. a represent
alive OF the APPEAL dropped in on Justice
Cross, who is q member of the committee
last evening and asked him what his opin
ion was.
81 think the bonds ought to be issued,
he said. ''Some of the committee, in talk
ing over the matter, thought there might
be some danger in establishing precedent
, | and that If houds u-ara iesr1p pnur N
REDUCE THE PRESSURE,
another call might be made again for {
similar purpose, but that argument IS very
easily answered. at least half the claims
as you will see, are for old judgments
There is one item of $4,000 paid as par
Of the purchase money of the courthouse
and another of about $l5, 900 for the work
house, for which bonds m Ght have beer
issued. AS you can readily see from the
books, the current expenses are fully me
nv the pIIrrpOt -