The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-12-17

| terest on its OBLIGATIONS shau Do proeIp1iS Lioo
and the Obligations themselves PROVIDED Ior Us
they mature.
The accumulating interest on the city debt
from and after January 1st next, should be re-
cnlarlv paid. It can be done, and 1 trust you
will determine that it shall be dene.
If this is accomplished, the dawn OF pros,
perity will be perceptiple, and Charleston Will
be advancing with proud steps to ner proper
place among the cities of America.
To enable YOU tc realize how much the
city's finances have improved within the past
year, present the following facts:
The estimate OF wants for this year, as maze
ND one year ago, called for $500, 900. For the
coming wear all to be asked for is s7i0, 900, or
sl5O.O0O less than last. With that amount we
will be enabled to do as follows, viz:
lst. To paw the running current expenses OF
the city government, as it will in all probablll-
| ty be.
I'd. To pay $4,000, money borrowed since
last June, to finish the years business. H.,
Sd. TO pay the accumulatlne interest," on tne
CITY debt from and after January 1st, 1869; and,
also, to have an amount sufficient to CONN mence
and complete suudry substantial contemplated
! improvements, thereby giving employment to
the deserving and industrious poor OF the
! city.
ASSESSORS AND ASSESSMENT.
We require change in cur system OF asses
sors and assessing property. We want some
thinc more modern than that now III vogue.
We want something to speak plainly, more
For instance, we should have Board of As
SCISSORS, to cons st of three, to hold their ofhce
for three years, to be elected, one each year by
the CITY Council. And then there should be as
sistant Assessors. one from each Ward, to be
elected annually by the voters OF each Ward,
| whose duty should be to furnish the assessors
all necessary information relative to persons
and property taxable in their respective WARDS.
It should be the duty OF the assessors each
year, on the first OF January, or as soon there
after as practical to canvass tne ciIy bv
", going from house to house, and assisted Dy
the Assistant Assessor. to assess the lnhaol-
tants OF the city.
The city and the times are calling loudly for
q new assessment, and think 1t important
that tho personal property should also be as
sessed preparatory to its bearing another year
its proportion OF the city's expense.
What is desired is O thorough aud equitable
system of taxation that will not bear heavily
on the few, but will gracefully unloose the
purse strings Of the many.
TAXATION AND TAXABLE PROPERTY.
Direct taxation at best is onerous and dis
testerul, and should be levied as equltaoly
upon all property and interests as possible
Every person and corporation drawing or on,
| taiulne an income from community shonld
paw its equitable proportion to support the
government OF that same community. Charl-
| table and religious societies are and have been,
from time immemorial, exempt from taxation.
| There are, however, quite number OF pieces
or tracts of property in this city, amounting IN
value in the aggregate to three hundred thou
sand dollars or. three hundred and ffCy thou
sand dollars, now free from taxation. For III
stance: The South Carolina Rlilroad Corpora
| ton, whose terminus was originally at Line
| street. and whose charter, as originally Obtain
ed from the State, exempts Its property from
taxation until such time as it may pay certain
dividends, has purchased from time to time
one piece Of property after another, until now
its tracks cross seven OF our streets, and one et
the best portions OF the city, lying between
| Line and Hudson, and Meeting and King
streets, is, for income and beauty, of as much
benefit to the city as the so-called Burnt Dis
triet. And quite recently this company has
purchased large dwelling house and lot at the
southeast corner of King and Ann streets,
which up to the time of purchase, yielded to
the city three hundred and twenty dollars per
annum.
And again, there are houses on the Glebe
lands valued at $50, 900 or upwards. from which
| the chRrches obtain rents, but pay no taxes TO
the city.
All this may be in accordance with laws;
| nevertheless 'tis none the less money, and
some legislation should be had that will secure
| to the city the same proportion OF taxes from
this mentioned property as from any other.
!
errors as these should be corrected.
THE HOSPITALS AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT
demand mole than passing remark. It'll not
generally known these two divisions OF our
Municipal government are operated together
under one head
We have two ohospitals-one in Mazyck-street,
| for the colored people, accommodating about
one hundred and twenty patients, and one at
the Tucker House, near the Hampstead Mall,
for the white people, accommodating about
sixty patients. These institutions are general
" full the year round, and costing the city in
the neighborhood OF $l5,0 900 per annum.
It will be noticed that two separate corps OF
servants, stewards and physicians are rendered
necessary, the two hospitals being located SO
far apart. The expense of this department
can be materially decreased by bringing the
two together, and is advisable. The Work
House building, adjoining the Mazyck-street
Hospital, is not used, and could at small out
| Law, be made an excellent hospital building. l
ask the special attention Of Council to this sub
| ject, deeming it very important that immediate
steps be taken to consolidate these two hospi-
tails.
To the Health Department proper is due, in
in nv Judgment, to q great degree, the unin
terrupted good health OF the oity during the
past season. 1t was really remarkable, and
merits attention.
THE HOUSE OF CORRECTION OR woRKHoUsE.
Under the present system OF using those
confined there to labor upon the Tidal Drains
this institution is not kept as full Of boarders
as formerly. Five months ago VIC had from
forty 10 fifty inmates constantly. As soon us
these were put TO labor they began to lessea in
number, until now we are Averaging but from
ten to twenty.
THE AIMS HOUSE.
This is one OF tho principal sources OF cX-
pense to the city the system OF its manage
ment is thoroughly wrong, and the tendency is
to encourage people in idleness and depend
| cnce. -
Our Aims House provides for about 80 inside
and from 1900 to 1910 outside, at an expense OF
some $4,000 per annum. 1t may seem harsh,
and may he called cruel, by those pnrtaking OF
the city's boupty-but my belief and opiAlon Is
that q great change Is seriously demanded III
| this institution.
I do believe that when party becomes so
impoverished and poor in friends or money
and the means of subsistence as to require
public charity, they should go TO the ins:itu-
non prepared for that purpose; and when
there, some employment should bo found aud
furnished, such as they may be able to do, so
that portion at least of their expense to the
city may be refunded. In fact this institution
should be made, as near us cai be, selt-sus-
tanning.
| MARKETS.
We have very good market buildings, and
the system on which they are conducted is far
removed from great censure, but still there
are points IN which large Improvements can
| he made