The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-07-01

ING 10 note that the average payFoH TOT
1918 shows 1,0t7 employees.
II is conceded that existing high
prices call for increased expenditures,
but even then we can not assume that
our city business has been administered
In previous years on that basis Of econ
omy which governs the proper conduct
Of ones household or business affairs.
A full days work for a full days pay
mould be required Of every person who
works for the city. from the highest to
the lowest. This is not to say that all
city employees are giving inadequate
service, for W. are convinced that many
of them are capable and diligent. How
ever, with the large number OF people
working for the city ii Is inevitable
that many are inclined to get by"
with as little work as possible, there
fore there should be a thorough under
standing hat all those who fail to per-
form their duties can not remain on
the pay roll.
Abolish Nepotism.
In this connection we wish TO call
your attention to the improperly in
Volved In the employment Of near or
remote relatives Of the city commits
sloners in any of the city departments.
1t matters not whether those so m
ployed render as satisfactory Service as
others, the custom is one to be de-
plored, and we feel II to be u duty
in passing to call attention to it.
We are well aware that comparisons
with other cities are IN many respects
not conclusive, and that varying con
ditions in different communities make
1t difficult to check separate items of
expense against similar items of eX-
pense IN other localities. However, we
feel constrained to call attention TO the
1919 tax rate for Atlanta, Ga, as At
Ianta in many respects affords a rea-
sonable basis of comparison with Mem
PMS, ne tax rate for Atlanta Is 81. rs,
which Is S. cents less than the pro.
posed rate for Memphis, even after de-
quoting that part of the Memphis rate
winch is .ciassed as mandatory. We
are also informed that the basis Of
realty assessments in Atlanta is but
niue II any more than the basis which
obtains in Memphis.
In this connection it seems well to
emphaslze the fact that the tax rate
are nigh or low, for the gist of the
whole thing lies in the basis of value
upon which property Is assessed.
Where the rate is low and the as
sessment high, the tax may be much
nIgher man where the rate Is high and
where both the rate and assessed val
uatlon are high, the candle is being
burned at both ends and unless The
tame is snuffed out at one end the
candle VIII soon be consumed. In this
Sonneet'on we recommend that the best
be Installed, to the end that All CLASSES
OF property may be assessed in eouai
proportion to their respective ain
w OeheVe nat 1t Is not practical
10 4rlng about that thorough reform
w"rHitSn ne present exigercy demands
"u"ou. Ilrst having an exhaustive sur
Ney maoe by experts employed for that
purpose men who car give the matter
proper time and attention, and who
IRE eminently qualified to place their
fingers on our municipal Weaknesses
anu PROVIDE a practical remedy. Sys-
uem ana coordination will accomplish
WONDERS. such a survey as we recon-
mend should be conducted under the
supervision of a committee of public
spirited business men to be appointed
IN some nonpolitical manner to he
agreed upon, and we earnestly recon-
menu TOT your early consideration the
accessibility of such a project. A com
plete and thorough survey properly con.
quoted would, we believe, be the crown
ing feature OF any administration spon-
sorlng 1t, and its costs in dollars and
cents would be infinitely small in COM
parison with the benefits to be derived
Please do not understand us as in
n way especially criticizing any par
tlcular administration. We have a right
10 assume and do assume that as citi-
zehs and taxpayers your yourselves
would K to see things placed on a
proper basis. No question Of personal
IWntegrIty is involved In this matter.
we believe that the city's books hon
estly show the nature of the various
expenditures recorded. But this is not
the question. "
The only thing at issue is, are we
performing the work with as few peo-
PIE as can properly perform 1t, and
are our expenses held down 10 a mini
NUM-? Also, are we EMPLOYING ONLY
those who are best equipped to do the
work required? Many phases of the
present system cannot be charged who'll
~ to any one administration.
System Is Top Heavy.
1t has in many respects been in vogue
Tor SO LONG that 1t has become a fixed
naolt because of lack of interest on
the part OF the public and lack of time
on the part Of officials who are usual
~ Kept busy after they are installed In
olHce IN trying to work out the prob
lenls which are involved In this lack
OF system. Each succeeding admins
ration also adds some features Of its
own until now he have reached a point
where the whole thing has become top
heavy and demands speedy revision.
YOU gentlemen should, and doubtless
WIN, receive the hearty supper Of the
entire community in any efforts you
may put forth looking to an improve
ment in civic conditions. You have a
right to expect this just as the COM
muntty a a right to expect you to
initiate any needed reform, We know
that big problems confront you. Bonds
must be retired and a sinking fund must
be provided sufficient to do this.
Streets must he kept In reasonable re-
pair. and RVaFV hanartp,op ~ .n.i
must reasonably reflect the power and
dignity OF this city, than which there
is no better on earth. The taxpayers
OF Memphis want to and will cooper
ate with you and they wish to be as
sured that you desire this Cooperation
and viii meet II at least half way. These
are frank. kindly words, which, believe
us, are meant to be helpful in every
sense of the word. II every good pri-
waite citizen and every city commits
sioner will join in the determination
to know no partisan politics. but to ap-
government, Memphis will grow as she
has never grown before and will be
better served under a smaller tax rate.
General Summary.
AS stated in the beginning Of this
report, 1t Is not possible for us to touch
more than lightly on the various details
OF a subject so vast as the financing
Of a city the size of Memphis. There
are, therefore, many instances not cit
ed here which undoubtedly call for re-
form.
The very fact that the cost of every
thing has advanced abnormally consti-
tutes within itself one of the strongest
possible arguments in favor of retrench-
ment, Living expenses OF every kind
are very high. and as a climax the
people are to be assessed 20 per cent
additional on street car fares, as we'll
as to pay largely increased telephone
charges. This state of affairs has ex-
tended into every department OF life
until II must he self evident that now
is the time Of all times to practice
scientific management and strictest
economy in the administration Of pub
lie affairs.