The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-09-07

mlltee Hkely would be held Tuesday
night, but declined TO divulge the place
of meeting Neither would he give out
the names OF men constituting the corn.
mittee
What business men are behind the
movement can not be ascertained
Tucker insists that several are actively
working but win not name any. He
also declares that on his committees
are professional men. business leaders
ana representatives from manufacturing
interests.
According to Tucker, the COMMITTEES
is in no hurry to complete the petitions.
Each list handed in to headquarters
VIII be checked.
Reports that members Of the striking
iiremen's union are al work and are
devoting much time TO circulation Of
petitions are denied by Tucker.
Conference Held.
Al an Informal conference Monday
night, several Of the labor leaders were
called IN and the matter discussed
However, II was declared by Tucker
that none OF them, excepting himself
participated In a committee meeting
held at the same time to devise plans
for canvassing the results.
One incident in the securing OF sigma
lures Is being stressed by labor men
as indicative OF the labor mans attitude
This was participation OF Horace John
son, commissioner of public utilities, In
the parade Monday and the signing Of
papers asking his recall by every man
surrounding him. Leaders declare
union in the parade have signed. john
son Is member of this union.
The petition against Mayor Paine
reads, In part.
THAT the said Paine has been gross
ly extravagant in the expenditure OF
NNlR
commissioners have wasted the public
revenues and. although the revenues
OF the city of Memphis haye been
much larger during the past year than
ever before in the history OF the city.
every department OF the public serv-
ice has decreased in efficiency and has
poorly performed its fuisctlons.
THE said Paine and the other COM
missioners have failed to repair the
streets Of the city and by reason Of
are being rapidly destroyed and the
public is put to great inconvenience
because of holes In the pavements
rrhe said Paine and the other CONE
miSsioners have failed to repair and
rebuild certain bridges In the city. mo-
tably the bridge across the railroads
on Trigg avenue. by reason Of which
many large factories and other large
buildings are rendered inaccessible for
the fire department in case OF fires.
the sanitary ordinances made for the
purpose OF insurlng the health OF the
city. His especial department gives
practically no supervision to the pub
lie eating and drinking places in the
city. many Of which operate In filthy
condition. and the state inspectors fire.
Quently come to the city and arrest
open and notorious yiolators of the
state law regulating the sale of food
and drinks, who have been permitted
hN aAha al asNhnNtftaa IN kfntrs
places Of business In open violation Of
law.
As to Sewers.
I'm recent times the sewers Of the
city have polluted the public water
sewers, and the said Paine and the
other commissioners have taken but
feeble and Inadequate steps to pre-
vent recurrence Of such pollution.
The said Paine and the other COM
mssioneTs have almost suspended
street cleaning and street sweeping
operations, the same being so mad
equately done as to leave the streets
and cutters generally In dirty and
filthy condition, to the great detrt-
ment Of the public health
The said Paine and the other COM
missioners, have almost ceased to have
the streets of the city sprlnlSIed, to
the detriment Of the public comfort and
health.
"The said Paine and the other COM
missioners have devised and put into
operation, over the protests Of the
citizens OF Memphis. a filthy and dis
gusting method Of collecting the gar
bage in certain portions OF the city,
arbitrarily requiring the garbage to
be deposited in boxes on the street
curb in front OF each residence. there
by filling the neighborhood with foul
odors and offending the sight with dis
gusttng matter, to the great detriment
OF the public health and comfort. and
the said Paine and other commissions
ers threaten to extend said method OF
collecting the garbage all over the city.
THE said Paine and the other COM
missioners have put into operation
unjust. absurd and vexatious street
traffic regulations, the effect Of which
is to render life and property insecure
in the streets. and to harass and hui
initiate the people who use the streets.
The said Paine and the other com-
mlssioners have demoralized the police
department by unjust and tyTannical
regulations, by the discharge OF honest,
capable and experienced officers. and
by the appointment OF inexperienced
and incompetent strangers as police Of
ficers. Most Of such newly-appointed
are so incapable and ignorant
of the city as to be the constant butt
OF jokes at the hands Of the public
and newspapers.
Fire Department.
"The said Paine and the other com.
missioners have demoralized the fire
department Of the city, and have taken
but little care to instruct and discip-
line the new members OF that depart
ment who have Joined since the re-
cent strike. The said fire department
is now inefficient and incapable Of dis
charging its duty properly.
The said Paine and the other COM
missioners have authorized and per-
mitted the Bry- Block Mercantile COM
pany to take possession of and TO build
a five-story storehouse on the alley that
runs east and west between Jefferson
avenue and Adams avenue on Front
street, the same being done In flaRrant
right
states and have Obtained absoInts
strangers 10 the city OF Memphis and
have appointed said strangers to im-
portant offices In the city govern-
ment, and by reason Of their ignorance
incapable Of properly disoharglng the
duties Of the offices 10 which they
have been appointed.
THE said Paine has been guilty Of
many acts Of omission in the discharge
Of his duties. all to the great detri-
ment OF the public service.
Wherefore, the undersigned peti-
TONERS pray that the said j. RowIett
Paine be recalled and removed from
the said office OF mayor and member
Of the board OF commissioners OF the
city of Memphis and that an election
be held, and that a competent and
Trustworthy person be elected to sue
ceed him and 10 fiil said office, in the
manner and folm prescribed by law.
And that all proceedings under this
petition be carried on in pursuance of
the statute laws of TennesseA for