The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-07-19
RECALL POSSIBLE
FOR c. B. QUINN;
CUT IN TAX RATE
$500 Names Necessary to
Petition-SuCCessOr Could
Vote With Goodman and
Miller on 1919 Tax Rate.
ACTION POSSIBLE
BY SEPTEMBER |
Defeat of Quinn Would Mean
No More Negroes on Police
Force and Big Saving to
Taxpayers.


The recall may be employed to OBJ
tain relief for taxpayers OF Memphis
from the S2.20 tax rate which has
% neen imposed upon them by the Monte
verde faction OF the city commission,
and the placing Of so many negroes on
The police force by C. Il. Quinn
The high handed course taken by
Mayor Frank Monteverde and Commis-
Sloners Charles y, Quinn and Alfred
tax Of $2,20 hundred when a repre-
sentative business mems committee
after. thorough investigation, recem-
mended So fiat rate. has caused much
dissa ttsfaction,
Following on tho heels Of the tax
rate came the appointment by Quinn
OF disreputable negro to the police
torce, This negro shot and severely
wounded Charley Shields There are
Few, u any. Democratic citizens OF
q a negro to the Memphis police force.
but the fact that Quinn, q Republican,
has been given charge OF the police de-
partment by Mayor Monteverde and
Commissioner Mason has directed the
i,,n IRE IL, on criticisms toward Quinn to
Rumors ran rampant Saturday morn
ing that the recall would be put into
operation, and that It would be directed
against Quinn. who by his vote for
higher tax rate, and by hts high handed
method or running the affairs OF the
police department, Is drawing the wrath
OF many
The city commission, after the report
OF the tax investigating committee, was
split as to It's vote fixing tax rate.
Monteverdc, Quinn and Mason voted
for y $22O tax rate Leo Goodman and
G. W. Miller stood out for a 81 tax
rate. Both have repeatedly stated that
they believed the commission should
follow the lead suggested by the busi-
ness men who made the tax investiga-
tion and set the rate at 81.
Not Too Late to Change.
Miller and Goodman still are for 50
tax rate and one vote with them could
rate. So are many Thousands OF ctti-
gems who pay taxes The men who,
made the tax probe are representative
buelness man, interested Ltn civic a.
fairs and not II politics, Tney repre-.
Improvement ] organization IN tho City
From the high feeling against Quinn,
| Il is anticipated that II would be an
easy matter to set $500 names 20
recall petition And 1t would be equally
| professional man, who thinks 50 tax
rate Is high enough. to run against
Quinn, or the Monteverde candidate.
when the election is sheld, This man.
with Miller and Goodman could reverse
the action of the city commission IN
fixing the tax rate at 81, ,20 and vote
to make the 1919 tax rate W ilat Inc
new man could take office by about
SEPT, hs,rr l.. about . recall I, /. necessary
to get the names of at least one,to
Of the voters at the last general elen-
| ton. In the election OF August, 1918.
| the last general one held, about
5000 to 10000 votes were cast In tho
city OF Memphis This would make
500 names sufficient for recall eiec-
| ton.
Quinn Might Quit.
| In the case of Quinn, should the recall
| be directed against him, he could De
candidate TO oppose any unknown can
didate who favors 81 tax rate,
Republican, il Is conceded that he
would have small chance Of election
against a Democrat particularly now
| that Quinn has voted for $220 TAX
rate, has hobnpbbed frequently with
Bob Church, negro leader; has hired q
| notorious negro as policeman (to the
disgust OF the white officers az well as
vast majority Of the populace), and
| by these things has put the negro into
politics In a Southern city IN n tashtoh
| truly Republican--all these would count
against Quinn in such fashion that 1t
| Is peueNeu lie Woulu SNcP- WV " CIV
out II the proper number OF recall sig
natures were filed.
This method of eliminating Quinn.
who Is hand in give with Mayor Mon
terverde and Mason, most certainly
| would result in a 81 tax rate for Mem
phis taxpayers, for the reason that IL
would practically leave the tax question
| In the hands of the voters II the vot-
ers chose to cast their ballots for the
man put out by Monteverde, be he
| Quinn or another, they would be voting
| to saddle onto themselves what the.
| Monteverde faction already has saddlbd'
them with a tax of S220 for every
hundred dollars assessed value on their
property.
But vote for a man who would vote
with Miller and Goodman for a 81 tax
rate would mean Just that much saw
ing for the taxpayer-voters.