The Greeneville daily sun. (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1918-1920, 1919-10-11
The Carnival Yet Again

ton. 1t strikes me that the Alder.
men are trying to justify, to confess
and avoid. But as to the Jurisdiction
of the town for one mile beyond the
corporate limits. One reading the
confession and avoidance of the Al
dermen cannot but be convinced of
the fact that the conclusion of their
article, that relating to Section 1924
of the Code, is added to the article
as originally written, and is an after
discovery. Quite obviously, the
craftsman of the original article was
entirely innocent of any knowledge
Of Section 1924. Before submitting
it for publication it is perfectly ap
parent from the article itself that
some friend learned in the law call
ed the draftsmans attention to Sec
tion 1924, and the lucid interpreta-
tion of that section was then added.
The Section referred to is as follows
"The police authority of all
Incorporated towns and cities
shall extend to distance of one
mile from the lawful corporate
limits thereof, for the suppress
sion of all disorderly acts and
practices forbidden by the gen.
eral laws of the State"
It would seem that the language
used in this section is self-interpret-
ing. This act has stood upon the
statute books of Tennessee for near
ly seventy-five years, and has never
been declared unconstitutional by the
Supreme Court. 1t has been regard
ed by bench and bar as valid extern
sion of the police powers of incorpo.
rated towns and cities, and for sew
enty-fve years this statute has been
enforced. The older citizens of the
town will readily recall that this stat
ute was applied and enforced by the
Town of Greeneville in the old fair
days, to preserve the public peace
and morals at the old fair ground ly-
ing outside of the corporate limits.
Further, the case of Malone VS.. Will
Jams cited by the Aldermen does not
sustain their position, but mine. This
case was decided by the Supreme
Court in 1917, and in the course
of its opinion the Court said
eve have seen that ex neces-
state, limited police power may
be granted to municipalities
over a small section of country
surrounding their boundaries
for their protection against nui-
sances, and to safe guard the
health of the people residing in
them"
The Aldermen say | should have
looked to my law before making the
statement complained Of. l respect.
fully refer their advice to their owr
consideration, 1t is unnecessary tC
longer extend this argument. The la
bored attack of the Aldermen on my
legal position so completely breaks
down in their final admission, tha
our police officers could suppress
violations of law beyond the corpo
rate limits, as to make needless fur
ther reply.
| have written these letters not TO
the purpose of caring my views" a
the Aldermen would have you believe
but for the reason that | was beinI
unjustly censured, by people who di
not understand the situation, for fail
ing to do my duty, and for the fur
ther reason that the official acts 0
public officers are public property
and the public has a right to kno,
what they are. | believe the interest
of the people would be better serve
if greater publicity were given t
acts of public officials. In additio
to responsibility for the material we
fare of the people, which | fully rec
ognize, there is also an obligation al
taching to a public office for tn
moral betterment of people. ! hav
recognized both these obligation
and, while have made mistakes, M
aim at all times has been to do, m
duty rather than to follow the lin
Of least resistance, as | might hav
done in this instance, with far NOR
comfort to my physical self thoug
with not so much ease of conscience
In the Aldermen's article there ar
still other vulnerable points to whic
l would like to give attention, bu
time and space forbid.
October 18th, 1919.
c. G. ARMITAGE, Mayor.
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