The sun., 1894-09-02

| Visiated the Lsw vita Impunity-Nesriy
as.esaysss lee, - ths state. Csu-ty.
s.sCity-Co-piete overthrow orthe RI.s
! MEMPHIS. sept This week has brought 70
sensational climax the long list % disclosures
concerning the non collection Of privilege taxes.
I The Grand Jurys Investigation has extended
over a month and has resulted in the discovery
/ Of loss TO the state. county. and city treasu-
/ ries Of sums aggregatns Ia the neighborhood Of
l t5.ooO.0O0 in ten years, and in the return OF
l.il2 indictments against persons in all lines Of
business, including two public officials.
The thunderbolt tell when state Comptroller
/ James Harris arrived with force os clerks. en-
tered upon an examination OF the Tar Cot
| lector's books. going back a. far a. 1855,
| and expressed q determination 20 make couec-
/ ton OF every cent that Is delinquent and Is not
barred by the statute Of limitations. several
/ thousand persons in this cuuhty have from time
TO time engaged in the sale of liquor without
being compelled to pay privilege fees. until the
| claims held against them by the state have
| cumulated To considerable proportions. The
| collection Of all these moneys at this
/ time will ruin many families. while
| the concentration OF such a large lump
[ sum in the hands OF the State Is expected to
/ cause a serious embarrassment In local financial
/ circles for the time. But the result already is
/ the annihilatiJn Of the boldest political cabal
/ The system Of exempting certain classes trun
privilege taxation Is a growth Of ten years. lt
bad a small beginning and gradual develop
ment. and was used az political lever. The
people have been aware OF its existence. though
never until the disclosures Of this Grand Ju-y
| were made ib known 10 be so extensive.
/ Efforts have been made from time to time. By
organizations and individuals. To bring tt TO an
end: but the manipulators were always
uyn fn frrI ryrn nfys
nothing ever came OF them. In the last ten
years At least hundred murders have been
committed In the unlicensed zrugxeries that
have been permitted 70 thrive. and numerous
other crimes have been ascribed 10 the same
source. Including the riots leading to the triple
negro ,ynchlES IN 1898. Because Of tie eIemp-
ton OK certain classes Of business from taxation
other classes have been compelled To bear tnor-
dinate burdens. the county has been compelled
TO issue bonds 20 retire outstanding warrants
resulting from treasury deficits, and the city Of
Memphis ~ now embarrassed by the lack of
money 70 meet curren. expenses.
! In 1855 there were in Mem pitts Few widows
. OF Confederate soldiers who were permitted by
n, la, tax c14sstor 70 eel ...1,r N ist way
o-cause their necessities we're great AID tle!r
widowhood commanded sympathy These
women also carried On Srncery business. aad
dition ot ses u beer and Jug Or ;v7 Of liquor
added materially 20 their patronage, began Also
10 do a -mAI! saloon business rr-ptitouSly. X
the grocer chauc - TO De political supporter Of
a opponent. he xas likely IN o- visited by / de-
mand for privilege fees. which AZ tEat time
county. and $50 tor the city Il then
behOOved the Srucer who Asptrsd 10 enter tn-
liquor business 10 estanlIsh friendly relation.
with the tax collector, and -coE that orc a. De-
came the most p pu!ar mar - SHELBY rpE1ty.
secluded apartments. But by ie.srres H.. dealers
became oolter. and lately they have = 1lGn 40
efort 10 conceal their Illicit tra- --arti1r.-. ard
H4 : a ~ OF lilrBrs h.2e1 HpI
d1cted IN zorEeou,.y furnished sai0"ns. [ ad-r
such conditi9us the liquor business became
Grand Jury has located $50 liquor shops in
Msmphis, Me- pr one 70 % every ~; t51 prr,on., .Hlts
While it vss notorious that this condition II
anAtr- existed. 10 haz lsvsr unrl now been pos
sthle tUr the pubi.r 70 secure the slightest meas
prs OF reform. Tv2 y.ars sso The enntttons
.ens oszaAizet A. Law and orier, i.-asls. and
that the law be enforced, ard that saloons not
2SssesstnS the statutory license be c!o-ed up.
Judge {. ". ,HetskeIi. eIJgdse j VI Greer.
Judge I bu Bose Bose Declined Si ' 70 ''in hcar 'H he
COMMITTEES or 10 read the petition. say.
mate that the criminal laws we're lor enforced
and that be could not entertain sEch pare
he concluded his talk by ordering the cnmmtt.
tee from his presence, acrsteraClng Lheir de-
on the part Z 4 Judge known - have coudUaet
trsrtc,ioGs n ~ ,as griy.egs az avs, aroused
procr-,iinx. were tnstirutpL aSalrst Jgds. u,i
b0-e before the state Legislature, ard after A
eitter contest. and one % the most sensationNl
body In this COUNTRY. 0II Bose stripped Ot
the ernine and forever d-bar-et trpn holding
But This lid not bring .bour any improvement,
in the matter 9t liquor Eax collections in AeII-
phis- The trade moved along gnmoer+. The
Attorney General Tor this county eIsE sri him
self on the ground that no witnesses u viola
coald institute prosecutions. The Couatv COr'r
Clerk. who Is sx-1rricio collector. Thought hs
these peopis wnsn thetr taxes were due, Tie
criminal court Judge pointed 0u- tha. he tAt
Grin Jary nnd A :E and Tand pes I'm Inn. m 4s
time showed that ~ witnesses had coU1e Inr-
could be based This was pro SADLY true. ror 40
private citizen felt called upon a. work gp the /
Occasionally ar ARRAY would occur IA 6us o,
these unlicensed saloons. And this would bring
the saloon sesper, vtolarion q The !a* - IA
granr.y before the IOrics ot the Cr.c-rs that
iihsy G9sid not iSa9,e L; IHdictmfnt w2G!d :9.,
would o- made very light. Or would b, sls- I
pended during good behavior. and the of-sndsr (
Under this system The officials who eI-e7,isd .
% the Illicit liGlor dealers suca valuable prptsc.
the political 81 .arioG. They cpmman,l-d the .
snpport or all who enjoyed their 9rut-ction, and .
Memphis who ha.i not t1r however short a
time engaged In the iIlicit sale qt liquor, an4
who rouh not therefore be held line bv threat
Of punishment FOR past VIOLATIONS Cf law a. .
though then n a legitimate business. The m
lawful liquor dealers formed themselves
into an association uominAlY for the better
meat ot the retail grucsry business. but really
With view or tnrrenchng themselves against
prosecution With their immediate relatives
and eonn-ctions they represented some 1000
vuLss, suf1risnt = swing the county politics N
whichever direction they chose and % extract
4HY sort % promises they desired from candI-
dates.
During the last year this system assumed its
mOst formidable proportions. Tie Tax tDt.sC-
TOR. the Attorney Isn-ral. ami the erin ual
court J1dze we're up for res ale',tiOu. The Tax
Collector did not deem u pOllrtr % maze any
effort 20 collect privilege taxes from any class
OF business men. ssDerially IhO-. y hnm De hAi
any reason % suppose would support his candl-
da4-y tOr reel l@criOn; and scArrely any distress
warrants gers issued until after the election. 10
- slppOsed he made No attempt Ia cOilrrt
money EXCEPT when il wAs handed 70 him over