The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-04-13

dnes OF taxes, &C., to the city. This, of course,
curtailed tho receipt of available money; and
although much pressed your Committee could lot
suggest to Council an increase of taxes to o bill
already considered by many as onerous, and
perhaps with reason, but nevertheless impera-
lively necessary. Under circumstances of en-
barrassment, your Committee asked and OBJ.
tained your consent to the borrowing Of
rate Of interest; but it could not be syoided,
as it was deemed expedient to do this rath6e than
disappoint the creditors Of the city, and to vlAate
it's good faith. Large accumulations OF arreara-
ges of interest due to the holders Of city STOCKS
and bonds, pressed heavily on Council, and public
opinion called loudly that this just CLAIM should
have it's earnest consideration. Counr therefore
passed bill directing that the said interest shouiG
be funded and we are glad to say TINT most Oh
these creditors acceeded.
On the first of April, 1866 just five months after
the reestablishment OF the city. government, We
had the satisfaction OF paying the quarter inter-
est due on that day. on the city deDt. Inns, as NJ
had hoped, at once created confidence, reassuIeu
our ctizens and impaired on ayallaDity anu slGo ~
to city securities which no other coipora'ioi -
the State enjoyed. s,o; ,o+
Or civ Was proud, and justly so, OF having set
40 good an example. It WIS strong ana lnlPol,, :,
tant manifestation that we were determined
ut once to begin the work of Reconstruction,
md TINT in good earnest. It has been alleged
flat Council was premature In paying It's lnter-
esfir this Was fault, it is certainly pardonaDie'
as it enabled many persons TO meet p5essinS ~
legations and to provide for their lmmedlate Wa1s'
It caused the circulation OF money ao to ct its r m
but Justice to our tax payers that we should mere
state that to their sense of proprety and JUSTICE Is
Council indebted for the means With Wnc1 giey
achieved this desirable end. They responded 70 70
the call on them for taxes, when they had but
sIender means, showing thus {. strong evidence
that they supported Council in its efforts to rum
it's obligations We are happy to state that the IN
teres5 was all paid promptly each succeeding qnai
ter. amounting in all to about three htndrca
had pressure on us, which, for the momentls dis,
couraging but wo must nerve ourselves an anu
renew our energies in this our hour CT d1hculty,
relving on our honesty of purpose and the suppofI
of our citizens It was matter OF deep resfe5 gnu
OF much reflection, and only after the eXauetins
Of ever eyery expodient that your Committee
asked Council to authorize his Hono:, the
Mayor and the City Treasurer, to ISSUE
certificates of indebtedness to meet tho Last quar-
ter's interest But it was either to 40 this or 10
deprive the holders of city securities OF any way
of realizing their interests.
with O floating debt of ffty-fyo thousand dol
lars, ct an interest of one and o half por cent. u
MONTH We felt as if it was not right or prudent 70 %
borrow more money on terms now curront, even II
it had been possible to obtain it.
condition of the city, being satisfied that tho good
sense of our community would sustain u.s. -.
In passing the Iax Bill it must be confessed that
Council was actuated by lenity, aud desire 10
make the burthen OF taxation as eht Us PsstSl 90.
and extended the time of final payments to z9th =
June next, and should any be delinquent then, tnat
an interest at the rate of per cent. per an1una,
WAS to be charged. Good feeling here Ignored our
necessities, which required that the asS asy III ~
payment should have been lst Aprn on m all
law to be paid monthly; moreover the inter- inter
est, il tho tax was not pnid, then, snouia
be made commensurate with that current.
The bill we are about to submit purports putGine
it on this footing. Council must not forget that
the financial changes in our State nave peen very
GREAT since our Tax Bill was passed.
The repeal of tho Usury Laws has made money
virtually commodity, and it's yaluo enhanced ca or
depressed according to tho demands tor it. There
fore our citizens must aa 9tpSes TO meei bx + 'e
It may be said that rate OF interest higher than
seven per cont is hard and ruinOus to those ci.l-
zens who are unable to pay their taxes, but we
must examine the subject fearles:ly, with de-
termination to do justice alike TO oil. The tax
payer, who responds promptly, demands at our
hands. as his right that alwho enjoy the advanta-
ges and protection OF the city should be made alke
with himself to bear portion OF the puplc
burthen.
II has been alleged that Council had been too
indulgent to delinquents. 1t Is true Counc3i saaa
ed ut times, under circumstances OF pecuhar dis,
tress an extension of time which tho csses seemed
imperativey to demand. 1t is due to the pubic 70
saw that the arrearages OF taxes during the wal,
and the taxes of the last year, have been paid
almost beyond our expectation, especially when
we consider the poverty Of our people
r. ia almost unnecessary that VIC should urge on
Council the necessity Of great economy In the ad-
ministration of it's affairs. Our actual wants arc
moro than VIC can manage with comfort.
In conclusion we have only to say that oil OF our
efforts to manage with success the finance OF the
city will be unayailing, unless sustained by the
countenance and support OF our citizens:
WILLIAM RAVENEL.
e. w. MARSHALL.
Z. b. OAKES.
JACOB SMALL.
z.a.- -.-5.g p. G. GAILLARD, Mayor.
Alderman Ravenel introduced the following Bill,
which received it's first reading this evening: Il
A BILL, TO AMEND AN ORDINANCE TO RAISE: SUPPLIES
FOB rHE YEAR 1867, AND FOR OTHER PunposEss e51s
-hBeII ordained by TIE Mayor and aldermen IN
CHI SOoii,ca assembled, That all taxes payable
under the Ordinance to Raise Supplies for the year
1867 and for other purposes be paid on or before the
Goth day OF Juno next; and that persons VINO s1an
make default Of payment Of their taxes on that day
shall pay in addition to the amount Of their taxes
ne md half per cent. per month upon said
amounts respectively, from said 18th day OF June
until payment is made.
That all persons who neglect or fail to pay their
monthly taxes on or before the 10Th day OF each
month shall respectively pay on tne euouilts Cnci
of one and half per cent. per month from SUCH
fifteenth day until payment is made.
{. Alderman Courtenay gave notice OF Blu TO reg
ulate the cleansing of prives and vaults in the cor
porate limits OF the CITY, and asked that the notice
be considered it's first reading, which was granted
RESOLUTIONS.
BY Alderman Rayenel:
Resolued, That tho City Assessors be required
furnish Council with statement OF oil unpaid
taxes and also the names OF those who hive not
made their monthly returns up to the first IN
stant. -
Resolued, That the City Sheriff be required to
furnish full statement OF all tax returns which
have been lodged in his Office by the City
Treasurer up to the first Of January 1857, and upon
which no settlement has been made.
Adopted.
By Alderman Gerdts:
: Resoiued, That King street bo widcned on the
east side, from HorIbecks alley to Queen street,
80 as to be on an alignment with the line estab-
lished between Horbecks alley and Market street,
to plat drawn by MIR. Branch.
The yeas and nays were called tor. Yeas, lo'
Nays, mono.
The resolution was adopted.
". H. SMITH,
Clerk Of Council.
The gomen Of Manchester are going to petition
Parliament for the right to vote.