The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-09-11
VENDING HIS way WEST
PRESIDENT MADDEN HEARD
FROM AT
Kansas Clty-He Tells About the Best
Managed and Most Ecomical
Government.


gravita.e toward him as naturally as
needle to magnet. He stopped in
Kansas City few hours the other day
on his way to Salt Lake, and report.
er Of the Star, of that city, who tackled
him, gives the following account OF
the interview:
"The change Of the city government
of Memphis, said Mr.. Hadden, "came
about as the result OF a combination OF
circumstances. 1t was really forced
upon US as the only means that could
be devised to relieve the city of great
embarrassment, but what came of ne
cessity has proved so great blessing
and advantage that no one desires to
90 back to the old system. The situs-
ton YVES Just this: Five or six years
ago the city Of Memphis was over
whelmed with debt. She owed over
81, 600 900, more than half of which
was the result Of an unfsvorable de-
cision relating to assessments upon
property owners for street improve
ments. The city bonds were selling at
80 cents on the dollar, aud we were all
the time being subjected to mandamus
proceedings in the Federal Count,
which if continued would have pre-
vented all possibility of the city
recovering is credits. Under
these circums we went TO
the Legislature and invoked its aid.
What we wanted was TO keep out OF
the power OF the Federal courts, so
that foreign bondholdsrs could not in
woke their authority to compel imme-
date payment of the bonds as they
fell due. And by the act of the Leg
islature we succeeded in accomplish.
ing our object to the extent at all
events OF obtaining breathing time.
The city Of Memphis has to all intents
and purposes passed out of existence;
and the government and control of its
affairs passed into the hands of an
other Get of officials created by an act
constituting the Taxing District OF
Shelby county, of which Memphis
formed a part. These officials are
three Commissioners and Board OF
Public Works, consisting OF five mem
bers. Four new members are elected
every year by popular vote Of all the
residents of the Taxing District.
There are no wards and no divisions
of the district. The Commissioners
and the members OF the Public
Works Board go before the
entire constituency and the evils that
arise from men being elected to repre-
sent certain sections OF city are thus
avoided. We act as officers obtaining
all their authority from the State Leg
islature. We have no power to make
or remit taxes, nor yet TO incur debte.
The tax for the District is made by the
State Legislature on the basis of esti-
ma es agreed upon in the budget pre-
pared at the beginning of each year,
the present tax being 30 cents each
for fire aud police, II cents for light
ing, 10 cents for public schools, 10
cents for hospital, rs cents for interest
on bonds, and the balance up to to-
tai of 50 % on the 500 for streets,
sewerage, sanitary and other purposes.
AS officers of the State we claim that
the principle of States rights prevents
the Federal courts from mandamus-
ing the members of the commiss on,
but when suits are brought against us
we have thus far prevented
that question being forced 10
decision, and before that
was reached plan Of compromise has
always been discovered. Under this
arrangement we have been able TO re-
duce the city debt from S 100000 to
So, 900, and have settled on an
average of so cents on the ST., which is
20 cents more than the holders OF the
bonds gave for them; and there has
been no attempt to dispute any honest
claim. Our bonds are worth 81 05 on
the ST, and are at the rate OF and 6
per cent. interest. But the restoration
OF the finances OF Memphis has not
been all that has been accomplished,
not even the last part. In a COM
mercial sense, Memphis ranks next l
believe 10 Kansas City in the growth
of its business and the steady increase
of its bank clearings. 1t is the leader
of all the Southern cities. We have
also reached a condition of absolute
cleanliness, 80 that we have no fear of
any return OF pestilence or Of the raw
ages of contagious diseases. Our gar
bage System is complete and perfect.
1t costs $4,000 a year, but no one
would think of Gripping its efficiency.
We clean the streets and alleys OF the
city and remove all garbage and
liquid Stops from private residences at
the public expense. 1t is done under
the authority of a Board OF Health
consisting OF the eminent physician
DR.. G B. Thornton as lis chairman, a
Health Officer, the Superintendent oil
Police, and the President OF the To-
Commission. For the removal OF
liquid offensive matter we have
sealed carts, and they are provided
with charcoal lamps which consume
everything in the shape Of escaping
bad odors while they are passing
through the streets. Then we have
the Wsring or separate system OF sew
erage by which every house is directly
connected with sewers which are
flushed four times a day, but are moi
used for street drainage. As to the
garbage system, let me gay that We
have found it of marvellous advantage
and it is a wonder to me that Kansas
City can be content to do without it ,