The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-02-23
A SNARE AND A DELUSION
3 NE FOR FRIENDS OF THE TAKING
DISTRICT TO BE ALERT.
Sly Efforts to Break Down the Bars for
the Ultimate Return to the Old Ward
System, With All It's Iniquities and
Political Opportunities.

To the Editor OF The Appeal
Will you please inform me and a large |
number OF citizens why it is that the views |
and tone Of some of our daily papers are |
SO conoclastic? Is it because they have |
some tail to their kite whereby they are !
expecting to rise and reap personal or po-
litical benefits upon the runs? Then, |
again, why is it that in stating q PROPOSE |
ton they do not hew to the line OF facts |
instead of magniiying or peryerting them?
Take for instance, the Ardidnche for the
past few days. 1t has asked for replies on
four questions, as follows:
az. Is it not fact that most Of the OPP
position to home government in Memphis
arises from dread OF return TO the iniqui-
ties OF the old ward system?
go. II some form OF home government
could be devised from which this objec-
ton could be eliminated, would you be
iavoubly disposed toward it?
"3. viii you state briefly whether or
not you think Memphis is better governed
by lobby and by such delegations to
Nashville MS we may be able to elect every
two years, and in whose election politics
plays an important part, than 1t could be
by officials elected for the sole purpose OF
attending to city ailairsP
II. Should supplies be furnished by and
public work let to the lowest and best bid
der, according 20 the custom OF the United
States Government, or shalltsuch officials
ms happen 10 he in power make bargains
privately as they choose?'
These questions are so ingcniously
l.a tn.
read as an Endorsement OF its position.
They are Il snare aud were gotten up by
their author knowing this TO be 50.
Again. this morning in an editorial it
makes q misstatement OF fact regarding the
amount to he realized from the budget for
street and sewer purposes. 1t boldly states
that the amount for these purposes this
year will amount 10 half million OF dol
lars, and follows with figures which only
foot up u quarter OF million; IL knows
that majority OF its readers only glance
over lis editorial views, never considering
them worthy OF a careful and critical read
ing, and the idea was to make the impress
sion Of the greatest magnitude OF the
amount Then ior the lew who do read
carefully il gives the figures and trusts To
luck that the difference will not be noticed.
I'm examination oi these figures shows
that they are nugnihed Tor all
they are worth; for instance IL says that
from the - 50 eyy there will be $40, 800
realized. The IrridEchc knows well that
ills j. not the amount vt cash which viii
be realized, but the amount on the tax
books. From this $4,000 must be dc.
quoted The errors (which will bc smulD
and ;hc delinquent tuE bin, which were
placed 10y the commissioners ~ 10 per
cent OF tue total levy, but Tor argument
and ! will say are only ~ per cent, this
would cut oil about $1,000. The privilege
LN Is about rs given. la the matter Oi
sufp.us from Police Court a few months
a.oi was reported in one oi the papeus
that President MADDEN stated that there
Wag iuc about $4,000 on the building and
land purchased ut the corner OF Washing
Ton and Second streets and would have
90 be paid this year ont of the sail sur.
pIus; that IL WIS intended and desirable "a
III mp the said building Tor decent sta.
~tion-hOusv, which would take about 500,
more: ~ the surplgs iof 1885, rs per r.
port, was only abou, so, 900 TO s2j, 900, d
can he readily seen that this surplus vii
BE- small. These figures then resOly,
themselves into the following ~ cash
lrl'n levy ~ V
lUm privileges ...'..'''''s'at..s wv
Toi1la..........a. u l''.
Again, the IuY'W'ct, continues 10 lus,s
that the Commissioners have asked iu
permission to make private contracts.
taIuuiiy read the bill. as published, aud
failed to find anything OF the sort The.
only asked that where no bids were mad
up0n any article wanted, then the Com
missinncrs could contract ut the lowest oh
iainablc price, provided IL was agreed 4
by four OF the Board of Public Works
and that when they could purchase III
article cheaper than bids, then that the
might reject bids and make purchases
with consent Of four Of the Board Of Pub
lie Works. ! would further state that
find upon inquiry that the District ha
made contracts Tor 1859 under proper al
refreshments and bids for all the material
they will need or use during the year, an
the statement OF the IrdidHclc 10 the COT
trary is wrong and the ir1imchr coul
readily see and correct this by reference
it, files but tuis is not in accordance wit
the impression il wishes to make, and
seems that IL cares nothing for facts
this IL only In keeping with it, record f
the past two years. This is from one wi
has the good ui Memphis sincerely
heart and WhO has no personal or polite
az 10 grind. BUSINESS.
Memphis. Feb. %. 1889.
= -
WIVES disease racks thc frame, when sor
,.uU..r fIta F.YH.Istf /. lHU uri0a eve