Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1856-07-08
NUMBER 8.
K &c III MOND WHIG.



(fos wms
1e''r' Edfors-In Jour paper of the 4,h June q ur,
ter over the signature Of "Equay has given the public
statement OF the city finances bses yoa to pabHsh hi.
communication nasmaeh the citizens are deeply in
terested tells you that he has given the subt .om.
investigation. and that hr Morris statement Il 80 p.
pablv inaccurate it is needless to poin. them oct,
suppose Aessrs Editors that the writer i. one of IN.
cty youths and when he has passed the are Of yrd.ut
cy he will ind that he will lose nothing in the .,rs,h Of
his articles in the public estimation by being eout
Qua.
1t is true that did make to the City Council an est
mate Of the probable balance that would remain In ,h
city treasury at the end Of the fiscal year and sorp. p,
msks accompanying Il, which estimate noticed by
the Reporter OF the Dispatch, and published in that M.
per but in making that estimate said that did mo, In
tend II should be considered strictly accuat. hnt ,.l
an approximation for had not the necessary dat. 70
make an accurate estimate will exist until th
end OF the fiscal year.
The reasons which Induced to notice the ei,y
finances, were, that reports had been i,
lated through the city, that the more ouores
sve than Necessary and that large surplus rm a. no
sloOO0o would remain in the city treasury after m.s,
ing al necessary demands thereby creating puhlc a.
against IN. Council which was unca.d Tor ,,d -
served: and must add that systematic effort seem. IN
have been made, not only by busy bodies who exi, In
community, but those Who from their rs;tio o,h,
to sustain the Council and by its hengs to rrrSer
many OF IFS members unpopular in the public estimation
Upon review Of the statements made to the Coup.iI
HOuI1 h.
promptly paid to 10 per cent on the t.xes .r,a
talned the opinion that when large saving voul n.
Effected 10y paying only onehaf the in June that
nearly all the tax payers would avail themseyes al ,hi.
privilege but my antcpations fell short OF the reality
though sad at the time that perhaps ad overestin.
TED the number OF citizens who would promptly pay their
therefore, IN this particular item there no papa
BILE nacuracv. r-f-
Again stated that the value of real estate uas hc
tween IL and 900, but had not the Assessor
books before and did consider few ,bon..ns
dollars in the estimate Of grave importance vold nut
down the taxes ON real estate $40 OOo
These are the only items in the estimate mad To the
Council that suppose Equality with all his ingenuity can
consrue papable inaccurcies and leave them xi,b
out further comment to adscernng public to saw whether
they be inaccuracies not
appears TO that when a person undertake. IN .o,
rect others particularly when he has given the phc,
some investigation be ought be cautious not 70 com
INIT errors himself and when he finds il Necessary to use
such strong language the statements of Others A. nal
paby Inaccurate that inaccuracies should not xist in nj.
statements in which he the public are so .enIy in
teresied but such not the and for the ehcalon
OF Equality will state few of his papable naccura
cies
No. l. Equality Doubt with the Assessor. book.
oeiore nun puts the axes on real estate at sso9l6sa
whereas the value OF real estate taken from the Assessor
books Is S11 1,slJ,952 per which amount il
sl7s, 1892.
No; , he puts the deinquents at sl5,OOo whereas
e that the taxes OF nsolvent persons last YEAR vera
Sl90ll.lj and 10 doubt this year will exceed 500 no
No s. lie claims deduction made o volunteer comps
mics OF sl,O5O when he knows, ought know that 10
ordinance reducing the appropriation has passed the Coun
Gil.
No. 1. He makes allowance for appropriations al
ready made by the Council included in the estimate
o the late Finance Committee, which he ought
to have known had already passed the Council such ss
the appropriation OF Il 900 the James River improve
nen $500 to the Mail Orphan Asylum several hundred
tor expenses OF elections allowances by the Hustns-
Court and other claims amounting several thousand
dollars.
No s. He makes estimate of the claims nina, ,h
city before the committee of Claims and Others which
~lll be made during the year
No g. lie does not estimate the appropriations which
will b. called for during the year, many which no doubt
will be allowed by the Council; for instance:
The committee on the James river improve
ment has advised appropriation for
expenses already incurred, Of $1,000 90
Also, monthly appropriation OF $3.50 for
carrying on the improvement, 5,io0 90
The committee on the Fire Department have
recommended sn appropriation to pur-
chase two neN engines, OF 24OO uO
For oulldngtWo houses for do. Supposed
cost 1000 90
The Commissioners of streets il is expected
will ask for an appropriation for a street
to the Water Works, at probable of 10000 90
The committee on Light win probably ask
Tor an appropriation for another gas hol-
der of ~ 900 n,
u coulu ehnnerate many other items OF expenditure
which will be necessary for the Council make appopr
atoms tor such the Poor House and Hospita-the ga
Inmates OF the late finance committee falling short prob.
Dy two or three thousand doars-and many Others but
let the above suffice. think have clearly proved that
heavier taxes have not been imposed on the Citizens
o Richmond than absolutely necessary Let me say
to Equality, that should his estimated surplus remain
after meeting all the city liabilities the present year that
over 100000 OF city debt falls due during the next year
aud IN January 1858, and that surplus could be teiuy
employed iu part payment Of that debt
In conclusion, will say that have duly appreciated
the honor conferred upon me by my fellow citizens of Mon
roe ward in comforting the important and rsspous
bic oce OF one OF the Council for the city Richmond
without solicitation on my part though almost a stranger
that have 50 TAR discharged its duties the best Of nv
ability without fear favor partaity or affection. hut ho
at any time, respectable portion Of nv constituents dis
approve Of my conduct by informing me of such dappt
val, win cheerfully resign.
RICHARD G.. MORRISS
RICHMOND July 7th ls56