The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-04-13
WAY ALL TaIs sILENcEf
The Public Is Waiting for a Voice From
the Wilderness.

The Public IL waiting Tor VOICE from
the Wilderness.
The slecne Of Messrs. Davis and 0dlum,
OF the Forty-sixth General Assembly ofthe
State, designers Of the police and iiremen's
salary bill, is painful.
That OF President Hidden and associate
Commissioners, on the same subject, ac-
companied by application OF the oficalax
and literary works, also falls with dull
thud upon the people, aud makes them
uncomfortable.
Popular sentiment has crystalized upon
one point, and that very positively, viz:
Things locally are getting into pretty
muss; the city is growing steadily and
solidly, spreading out over large territory,
and the two departments needing greater
numerical strength aud additional aud
more modern appliances have been cut
down. This Is done, too, under increased
valuations for tax assessments and the
same rate Of taxation that prevailed last
year.
"What are they proposing 10 do with all
the money coming in this and next year,"
was asked OF an ArPEAL reporter yesler-
day.
'They plot and plan In secret" the in
quircr was answered, $50 / presume you
know as much about their intentions in
that regard MS any ono else on the outside.
/ understand, however, that they propose
10 build streets and sewers, pay salaries TO
those In public service and buy property
for the city,"
"Buy property. thunder What does
the city want 10 own property for more
than Is absolutely necessary With NIL its
accumulalions in that line since Mr. Had.
den went into office, the Taxpayers have
10 pay rent for the municipal Offices
ut headquarters. Instead Of laying in
more property and holding on TO all OF Il,
why don't they sell of everything EXCEPT
just enough for corporate pufposes2 There's
Market aud Auction squares, for example.
II may be u peculiarly In the deed that
causes the authorities 10 swing on to them
as public parks, but II not, there Is no
other excuse that appears sufficient for nv
satisfaction. Ill bet there isn't a man.
connected with the government who can
80 down and detail the various pieces Of
city property"
There is iust one known point In tho
method OF administering the city Affairs on
| winch The present administration admits
having no advanced ideas over the original
/
That is In relieving the fund derived from
Police Court, fines and forieilures, market
rents, ETC., from drain that the original
law evidently intended 10 put upon H.
This n incidental expenses Tor the Police
Department and tho feeding OF rockpilo
prisoners, both OF which have hitherto
been taken from the police appropriations.
Expense Of maintaining the regular
ohain-gang Is charged up 10 the Engin-
GERS Department, because Il Is worked
there, yet the rock pile product also goes
there almost II not quite exclusively. Tho
difference Is very slight, but enough in
the mind Of President Hadden and his
associates 10 place the financial demands
In separate quarters. Rcccding from tho
original stand that II was the laws positive
requirement that the police fund should
stand tho drain referred 10, they now ro-
late that Il was 30 decided by ex-City At
torncy Judge G. w. lloiskell, and has been
30 acted upon from that day 10 this. There
is no record Of such decision, though there
Is at present no dispute as 10 is having
been made.
In addition 10 the salary, printing and
expense account, amounting 20 between
$4,000 and $4,000 per year, there Is tho
princolyrcturn from privilege taxes likely,
under the new law, 10 reach $1,000 or
$4,000 There is a bundle amounting to
$4,000 Or $4,000, TO meet demands 10
the extent OF perhaps one.sixth, and tho
balance goes 10 streets aud owersaccounis,
leaving the police and fire departments
to DO shuiiled along ~ best they may be,
under the same siza appropriation that
prevailed during the past two years, with
Increased salaries 10 pay.
There seems 10 DC room for arguments
and reasoning all along Ito line.