The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-10-30
Report of the Special Committee.

The following is the Report Of the Special Com
mittee on Retrenchment appointed by City Council
referred to in our local column:
ton to whom was referred the following preamble
and resolution adopted at a meeting OF that BODY
held on the 14th inst, to-wlt
"Whereas, it is highly important and imperative
unon Council to reduce the expenditures OF the
c!fv cRVp 40 as thew viii not exceed the receipts,
iBe Il Resoued, That g Special Committee OF
five be appointed by mis- Honor the Mayor to report
to Council, at their earliest convenience, how and
in what manner such reductions can De maae - -
Beg leave respectfully to report that they have
given the subject referred to them the mature de-
liberation which Its Importance suggested, ana as
the result Of their conferences submit the accom-
panying bill and recommendation. In 80 oolnS'
however, the Committee deem 1t proper 10 say, IA
justification of the conclusions at which they nave
arrived that they have been actuated Dy a sincere
desire not only to save the city, but to 40 lustice
TO those who will be affected by their report;
They fully comprehend the fact that very many nd "
these are gentlemen Of the highest character, ano
have suffered 30 seriously by the late calamltous
war that reduction Of income will be OF serious
prejudice to themselves and tamlhes. IL is, now
ever too patent to every one Interested III eie not
fare OF the city that the expenses OF tie GrSy Sor
eminent must be materially reduced Ihey are
now so large that 1t lmpractlcaDle u meet then
and pay the interest which quarterly accrues on
he city funded debt; and it IS by reason Oh TINS
that the securities of the city the validity OF wncn
is indIsputable) are selling at tSure wmcn Is SO
low as to make them available for scarcely any
purpose. ..;o -. /,
II under the present system of taxation, or .
system which will produce revenue equal 10 tna'
now reslized it is impossible to pay both the In
terest on tie debt and the current expenses, 1t
incumbent on Counil, as your Committee believe
To curtal the expenses 80 as to reduce the expen-
ditures within the income; for our people, IN then
present impoverished condition, are taxed aireaoy
4 - ,ty q n GREATEST
sequence to the community, that the interest," on
the city debt should be met promptly anu punctu-
ally The city is to regain Its former prosperity
il at all by the increase OF its poPuatlon ana the
revival Of its trade; and to realize both population
and trade the maintenance intact OF Its ciedit and
fair name is requisite. Your Committee believes,
After a careful survey of the subject that II the
propositions embraced in the bill and recommen'
dation, are adopted, the saving OF the treasury
will amount annually to the sum or about s14O ,OOO
and that no ernbarrassments will arse In the con-
duct of any department of the city Government,
If In the reduction of salaries proposed, 1t should
be urged, that the present Is an lnopportune
period to diminish the compensation OF tnose
as the prices and cost Of living are fal
greater than when the offices were established
and the salaries fixed, your Cor1mittee have
only to say that all classes OF our citizens have
found it requisite to accommodate themselves to
the poverty Of the countey. Your COMMITTEE
hope for better and more prosperous times; and
when they come, perhaps the income OF the city
will justify the exercise, by its PUBLIC servants Oh
hberahty with the money Of the public.
The Committee have examined each expendi-
ture, and now propose the following recommends
tions in the order in which they come, as the re-
suit OF their deiberatiOn:
Aims Rouse-We can propose nc reductions In
this department, as from all we can learn, the
Board Of Commissioners have aoly discharged
their duties.
Artesian ReR-We recommend that all work be
suspended, and that the Mayor be authorized to
employ person at salary not exceeding twenty
Ave dol ars per month"; to take clre OF the premises
Assessors Ofce.-We recommend that the As
SCISSORS salary be reduced to eleven hundred dol
lars; the Assistant Assessors to nine hundred dol
Board of HeaAt.-Your Committee are OF opin-
ion that no unne cessary expense has been entaled
upon the city by this department, but are in hopes
tion of all parties, BY which the city may have the
use Of the 'Roper Hospital, and save the expense
OF the rent OF the Tucker Building. We recon-