Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1894-10-17

lected that was honest and fearless.
Now, during all these years of
shame, the city of Memphis occu-
pied more of the attention of the
Legislature than any city in the
state. She was allowed to repudi-
ate a portion of her debt, sur-
render her charter, deny herself
the right of local self-gov-
eminent. The governor appointed
his henchmen to important places,
they appointed subordinates until
the governor became the head of
the octapus that enclosed in its.
Shiny folds the good and the bad
of the city.
Gen. Patterson, a "carpet bag
GER" late postmaster under Harri-
son, was made foreman of the
grand jury, Col, Hillsman, a demo-
crat, collector of internal revenue
under Cleveland, was made secre-
tary and they went to work.
In their report they charge that
the county assessor has not done
his duty that the county clerk did
not do his that the county Judge
was as negligent as others and
say:
PRIVILEGE TAXES.
"While we find that the failure to pay
the privilege tax is confined to nc special
business, and that the evil has spread
among all classes, yet the fact is quite
apparent that those dealing in liquors
have paid proportionately much less
than any other. In fact, it seems that
their paying had almost become an ex
eeptiou instead of the rule. We found
from investigation that the United States
government collected from 5S4 persons
who were engaged in selling liquors in
Shelby county, and Assessor Young's list
shows that he listed 435 as liable and
doing the SAME business, which shows
that the United Suites officers have
found 149 more liquor dealers than did
Assessor Young.
On the first day OF August, 1894, Coun-
ty Court Clerk
Q~UIGLEY's BOOKS
Showed that he had collected taxes from
l02 persons selling liquor in Shelby
ty, leaving, according to the United
States list, $50 who had not paid, and
were liable. There were "a paying the
United States government, from whom
Mr.. Quigley could not collect, owing to
the four-mile law. According to Assessor
Youpg's list. which is a record in Mr..
Quigley's Office, Mr.. Quigley has failed to
collect from 254 who should have paid.
These delinquents each owe for this year
5000 to the state and $40 to the county,
making the amount due, as shown by the
records of Mr.. Quigley's office, $50, 1850;
and il we go by the United States record,
the amount due is $4,000 from this
source alone, there being a large amount
due from others liable for this privilege
tax.
While we have not, owing to our linn
tied time, thoroughly investigated back
of 1898, we have gone far enough to con.
vince us that this is a fair index as to
several years past.
1t next proceeds to roast Mr..
Theirs, and closes as follows:
CLOSING REMARKS.
We, the jury, have ~endeavored to find
out how many have paid and how many
have not paid this tax up TO August l,
1894, with the following results:
Not having the assessors report Of 1898
TO refer to, we compared the city's collec-
tions for the year 1893 with the United
States records, which showed that they
had collected from 4S5 liquor dealers in
the city, while Mr.. Theirs induced 1862 to
pay the city, leaving 1923 who should
have paid $50 each.
This grand jury have found indict-
ments against 1874 persons who were sell
ing liquors during that time, which
shows that the United States government
officials have found about the same mum
Der Of liquor dealers as did the grand
jury. We find that up to August l, 22S
liquor dealers paic the city tax for this
wear and PSI had not paid, taking the
United States records as data.
Before closing this report in regard to
the wholesale violation of law by those
who owe privileges, and the evident neg
lect of duty by those intrusted with the
enforcement and collection OF these taxes,
we would say that if the encouragement
who is the law officer OF the state, would
keep a supervision over these matters,
and call the attention OF the grand jury
from time to time to any irregularities.
there would be, we think, much less of
this unfortunate condition of affairs"
We will now quote from the
Memphis democratic papers. The
referring
to the change in officers brought
about at the August elections says
NEW OFFICIALS.
"They must see clearly the straight
line Of their duty. They can devise no
excuse for non enforcement of the laws.
They have received plain and sp ecifc
instructions. They have been thoroughly
informed Of the dangers in the way, and
they have been fully apprised OF the peo-
pies requirements. And they further
know hat they will be held to the
s~trictest possible account. The taxpayers
OF Shelby county are disturbed today as
never before. They realize fully the
stupendous sacrifices they have made
that the law might be disregarded and
evaded, and they now turn with stern
demand to those who are about to assume
the obligations Of Office that their SER
wants shall hereafter do their dutv IN the