The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-11-02
ocEED1Nes of COUNCIL.
SPECIAL MEETING.
COUNCIL CHAMBER, October %, 1

COUNCIL CHAMBER, October 20, 1867.
Present-The Mayor, and Aldermen Ravenel,
Wrsec. Gerdts, O'Neill, Willis, Steinmeyer, Oakes,
Oney, Enston, Marshall, Cosgrove, Honour, Prin-
gle and Courtenay-15.
The minutes of the last meeting were read and
confirmed. IL,
The Mayor stated that this meeting WAS called
at the request of the Special Committee on Re
trenchment. -
Whereupon, Alderman Marshall, Chairman OF
the Committee, arose and read the IoIlo~nne &c,
port and also gave notice of A Bill 10 resclale
the sslaries of CITY Officers" ana Tor otner Lat
poses. and asked that the notice be considered It's
first reading this-evening, which was granted.
3 The COMMITTEES of the City Council OF Charles
ton TO whom was referred the lonowhS pleaho5o 9e'
and resolution, adopted at meeting OF that oouy
held on the 18th inst, to-wlt:
fWhereas it is highly important and imperative
upon Council to reduce the expenditures OF the
city so as they viii not exceed the RECEIPTS .,
FIVE be appointed By mis- Honor the Mayor to report
to Council, at their earliest convenience, how and
in what manner such reductions can be made
Beg leave respectfully to report that they nave
given the subject referred to them the mature de-
fbeIation which its Importance suggested, and as
the result Of their conferences, submit the accom-
panying bill and recommendation. In so oolng,
however, the Committee deem it proper to say, IN
justification Of the conclusions at which they nave
arrived, that they have been actuated by sincere
desire, not only to save the city, but to 90 lustice
to those who will be affected by ther report;
these are gentlemen of the highest character ana
have suffered 80 seriously by the late calamitous
war that reduction OF income will Do OF serious
prejudice to themselves and families. IL is, now
aver too patent to every one Interested IN tne well
fare of the city that the expenses OF the city gov
ernment must be materially reduced. Ihey are
now 80 large that 1t is mpracslcaple 10 meet tnen
and pay tie interest which quarterly accrues on
the CITY funded debt; and it is by reason OF this
that the securities of the city (the validity OF which
is indlsputable) are selling at figure which Is 30
low as to make them available for scarcely any
purpose.
systein which will produce revenue equal to that
ncw realized it is impracticable to pay both the IN
terest on the debt and the current expenses IL Is
incumbent on Council, as your Committee beheve,
TO curtai the expenses, as to reduce the e1pen-
ditures within the income; for our people, in their
present impoverished condition, are taxed aTeaoy
to their utmost capacity. 1t is of the greatest con-
s0ousnee to the community that the lnterest on
tlls CITY debt should be met promptly and punctu-
ally. The city is to regain its former prosperity,
fa all by che increase OF its population ana the
revival Of its trade; and to realize both populatlon
and trade the maintenance intact OF Its ciedit ana
fair name is requisite. Your Committee believes
Alter careful survey Of the subject, that If the
propositions embraced in the bill and recommen-
dstion, are adopted the saving OF the treasury
will amount annually to the sum OF about Sl4O, ,OOO
and that no embarrassments will arse In the oon-
duct of any department of the city Government
II In the reduction Of salaries proposed, IL shouio
be urged, that the present is an inopportune
period to diminish the compensation OF those
who are in the employ OF the city, inasmuan
A the prices and cost Of living are far
greater than when the offices were established,
and the salaries fixed, your Committee have
only to say that all classes OF our eltlzens nave
found it requisite to accommodate themselves 70
the poverty Of the country. Your Committee
hope for better and more prosperous times; ana
Whel they come, perhaps the income OF the clty
win Justify the e1erolse by its public servants, OF
hberahty with the money OF the people. j
: The Committee. have examined each e1pend,-
ture, and now propose the following recommenda-
tions in the order in which they come, as the re-
suit of their deliberation:
Aims Rouse.-We can propose no reduoaons II
this department, as, from all We can learn, the
Board Of Commissioners have ably discharged
their duties.
Artesidn Wea.-We recommend that all work be
suspended, and that the Mayor be authorised to
employ q person at o salary not exceeding twenty
ave dollars per month, to take care Of the premlses
Asssssor's 0fice.-We recommend that the AS
SCISSORS salary be reduced to eleven hundred DOL
lars; the Assistant Assessors to nine hundred dol
lars and that no clerk be employed:
q Clty Registrdr.-We recommend his salal ce
reduced to $500 per annum. We recommend, how
ever, that the City Registrar be authorized TO
reduce all salaries within his department..
Board Of HedAh.-Your Committee are OF opln-
ion that no unnecessary expense has been entslled
upon the city by this department, but are IN hopes
that arran gemenss msy be effected to the satlsfac-