The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-10-05
PROCEEDINGS OF CITY COUNCIL.

citv Council met at half-past seven O'Clock T
M. Present-The Mayor and Aldermen foi
Ter cunningham, Lndstrom, Weston, Wal!
Oiney, Whilden, Voigt, Howard, Marshall, ant
Noore-12. ...-.
Applications of A. Tiencken and others TO
No. Liquor License; P. Salas for Auctionee
License, and G.. F. Habenicht for Cotton Pres
License, BIRDS Ship Yard. Referred to th
Committee on Licenses.
Petition OF the Vestry and Wardens OF st
Paul's Church, Coming-street, calling attention
to the condition of the sidewalk in front OF tn
Church, and praying that it be repaired. Re
fer1ed to the Committee on Streets.
Petition of Mrs. Anna Michel, executrix o.
the estate of John Michel, praying reduction
of the assessment on her property. Referred
to the Committee on Assessments.
Notice of James Michel of his intention t
build small wooden building on the east sldt
of Savage street. Referred to the Committee
on Brick and Wooden Buildings.
Petition of John Corcoran for transfer o.
iunkshop license of l.. Coghlen. Referred te
the Committee on Licenses.
Communication from the City Civil Engineer
asking authority to define street lines ano
erect landmarks. Referred to the COMMITTEES
Of Ways and Means.
Communication from the Board Of Fire
masters, recommending the erection Of two
more engine houses for two steamers. Refer
red to the Special Committee on the FIRE De-
partment.
Petition of numerous citizens and tax-pay-
ers praying relaying OF the plank-road on
King. street, between Hudson and Shepherd
streets, was on motion referred to the Commit
tee on Streets.
:. Petition OF sundry citizens OF West and Ma
zyck streets, calling the attention Of Council to
tie condition OF ths sidewalks, and praying
the repairing OF the same. Referred to the
Committee on Streets.
Communication from the City Civil Engineer
requesting leave of Council to employ necessa-
nv assistants in his Office. Referred to the
Mayor, with power to ac., and report TO
Council.
Petition OF sundry laborers engaged in work
ing on The streets, praying IN increase IN their
pay. Referred to the Committee on kerench-
ment and Relief.
Petition Of merchants en- Hayne-street,
praying the lighting of that street. Referred
fo The Committee ON Lighting the Streets,
with power to act.
The following memorial was referred to the
Committee of Ways and Means:
To the Honorable the Aayor and Aldermen Of
the City of Charleston:
The memorial of the undersigned respect
fully showeth:
That by the proceedings Of your honorable
body It appears that an ordinance to raise sup
nlies for the year 1853 and for other purposes,
ts.about TO be changed and modified in several
particulars, in one Of which is the following:
zone dollar on every hundred dollars OF al
freight and passenger lists OF all 81 steamers ,s os
sailing vessels, paid or payable in this CITY, the
same PAYABLE monthly-the eonsignee or agent
of said vessels to be held liable Tor the pay
ment Of the same &c &C t .s nan1s Of the City
Treasurer" :. .;a
And this proposed modification OF the saio
ord;nance your memoriaists respectfully SUD-
NIT ia In deropation of the paramount autnor-
itv of the Constitution and laws OF the Unltea
States, and in its operation calculated 70 ahecs
the commerce Of the city, IN the restorauon OF
which all persons interested IN ene pt9spVvtrsy W.,
az this cisy are now SO much exercised. Your
msanoriaiists believe that in class Of cases
which have been decided by the Supreme Court
OF the United States the principle mvelve1 IN
this inoaitcation had been held unconssltu-
tional. 1,.,o,,, 49,.
tbor;t;ss NJ New York provided that o certain
officer of that city should be entitled to receive
from the master of every vessel from forelgn
mort for himself and each passenger 81 5Ilgo,
for eanh steerage passenger, 81; and from the
master Of each coasting vessel tor eacn person
on board, 25-100. The question as 70 tne con
stitutionalitg o. this law was raised IN tne 10 10,
cal courts of New York and thence taken 10 the
Sunreme Court. where it was held unconstltu-
-finnsl. The transportation ofpassengers, SAID
the court, is regulated by Congress; tnat
transpoftation be branch OF commerce, the
act Of New York is regulation OF commerce.
No distinction, said the court, could pc mace
as regards the law between tine Tansportasroh ran anS
of merchandise and passengers. For the trans
ortat;on of both the sshipowner realizes
profit. and each is. the subject OF q commercial
regulation BY Congress. When the merchen-
6;se is taken from the ship and becomes MN
eled with the property Of the people OF tne
;t. ~, H.; Sss.;sr PROPERTY it s snhiecs to the
local law. But until then the merchandise is
an iniport, not subject to the taxing po Ser OF
the State; and the same rule applies 10 pasSen-
gers. .,e,,u,, r. vour hon.
orsbia hndv fhe question of the constitution
ai;ty of the proposed modification OF this ordlc
nance as having been settled by tribunal OF
tha biphest authority, your memorlansts Ia
addition thereto would briedy ask your cons.c.
Grafton of the effect Of such measure, even IL
were constitutional.
No one can be Indifferent to the resent
conditions oP the city, nor unmindful OF the
orest efforts which have been mads, ana must
st;JI be made. to secure for it the prosperity II
once enioyed. And no means at its command
can be more potential than the announcement
of the chipping interest, by which easy, cneap
and prompt transmission OF property ana per-
sons can be made to the great martS OF D9sl.
ness which lie north Of Us. 1t is only 30 that
We can successfully contend with inland routes,
which shorten the distance from other places
and divert travel and trade from our city.
Nor perhaps will it be for Us TO be satisfied
That We are on the road to assured prosperity,
until daily communication by sea with the
norris of the North will, because of it's cheap
ness. expedition and convenience, give to the
citv the advantages of 81 great Southern
mart. That the proposed tax will not only
tend to retard the accomplishment of what is
desired but that it may tend to affect even so
nonch Of It as is already accomplished, can
scarcely admit Of O doubt. 1t ls not that
frsight should be free that we have Drought
this proposed modification to your nonce, but
il is that freight should not be undu'y alta .Ii
donblv b taxed, that we have done so. all the
freieht which is paid here, pays its a5prroPrl'
ate tax. under some other name anu tne al
ditional imposition provided BY this modlhca
tion, increases BY so much the burden 1t pears
dimlnishes the profit OF the ship owner, area
dv mnch reduced, and tends to the remova
n that interest to other and more profitable
lines. .x ,o,,s,,,,,
ast NJ vonr honorable body thu reconsidera
ton Of this matter, and the relectlon oI tn'
proposed modification. co.
Rayenel & Co. w. D. SmI1n O. w.
James Adger & Co. w. +. han
Wm- Roach. q. F Baker & Co.
Robt. Mure Co. Courtenay Irenholn
Shackelford & Kelly. Patterson & stock.
G. A. Trenholm Son. Jno. Fraser 20.