The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-01-15


mel, Wragg, Small, ONeill, Willis, steinneyer
olney, Oakes, Enston, Whilden, Butler, psrker
Courtenay, Pringle, Gerdts and Marshall.
The minutes of the last meeting were reao
and confirmed.
Sundry applications for licenses were fea0
and referred to the Committee on Licenses.
The petition of John Nunan to repair mis-
house in Mazyck-street was referred to tne
Committee on Brick and Wooden Buildings.
A communication from Edward Bull, relative
to work done for the Commissioners o. tne
Market. was referred to the Board OF Marker
Commissioners.
The petition of E. Nolan, Sergeant of Pohce'
in reference to pay due, was referred ID inc
Mayor.
The petition of Edward Sebring, for renewal
of city stock, was granted, the necessary ao'ef-
tisement having been made.
A communication from the Board OF Hsaitn'
asking Council to have the building kno Wn as
the Workhouse remodelled. Proposals to be
called for and the work done under the super
vision of the City Engineer, and to be done oy
tho first of May, when the lease OF the Tucker
house expires.
The Chairman of the Committee of Ways
and Means, presented the following report on
the finances of the city:
After long and careful consideration, leg to
submit to Council the accompanying bul, TO
raise supplies for the year 1868.
I'm the estimates OF the probable wants OF
the several depar rtments OF the city govern
ment, the figures have been put at tne lowest
point. but still large amount is found requi-
site.
The estimate of the probable receipts from
all sources will fall short Of the amount r.eeded
by about the amount of the annual interest OF
the city debt. 1t is true that there is an arrear
of taxes due, from the years 1856 and 1867, OF
over s1OO, 900; but against that there are claims
against the city remaining unpaid OF an equal,
if not larger, amount, 80 that no RELIEF can be
looked for from that quarter, even if the whole
amount in arrears should be paid.
In making this plain and candid statement,
the committee are aware that censure will be
visited upon them, but they believe tina; after
fair and impartial consideration by attendant
circumstances, and the difficulties encountered
by them, they will be acquitted OF blame: Cir
cumstances beyond our control, and which it ls
useless to discuss, have produced condition OF
things heretofore unknown. Nor are we sragula
in this respect. The failure Of the soil, whether
from seasons or otherwise, to yield its accus-
toned products, has cut off trade almost en-
tirely, and our people at the end Of each year
find themselves poorer than at its beginning.
With an impoverished people and such genera!
stagnation Of trade, what else than great and
insuperable difficulties are to be expected by a
corporation whose only mode Of raising means
is levying and collecting taxes.
Our misfortune is that we found the city en-
numbered with large funded debt, for the e1-
istence of which the present authorities are
surely not responsible. In the case OF indivi-
duals under the pressure Of debt, we see al
most daily how their energies are clamped
thereby, and. how utterly impossible 1t ls for
them, with all their struggles, to succeed This
is equally applicable to corporations, but In the
former case provision is made by the laws OF
the country to afford relief, which is altogeth-
er impracticable in the case of municipality.
The taxes imposed the past two years have
proved heavy burden on the community, yet
the committee cannot recommend reduction.
To levy tax which would raise the full amount
needed would require an advance OF over hfty
per cent. upon the rate OF taxation IN the bill
of 1867. Even if this we're done it ID question
able whether any larger amount would be re-
alized than under the rates the committee ls
prepared to propose, and the result would be
to subject very large amount OF property to
sale under the sherlff'5 hammer, tor which no
purchasers will be found, our own people being
too much impoverished to purchase, and the
unsettled condition of affairs tending to pre-
vent rather than to invite investments here
from other sections of the country.
In preparing the Tax bill OF 1866 ;he est.
mates were necessarily vague, the condition OF
things for several yeas preceding prGcluding
the possibility Of obtaining correct tasis up
on which to found them, and the amount real
lied under that bill did not suffice to meet the
demands. Those Of 1867 could be more accu-
rately estimated, having the expense, Of 1866
as o basis Of calculation, and it will be remem-
bered that when the bill came up for It'll second
reading it was accompanied by report from
the committee showing probable deficiency
Of over 5000, 900.
Owing to the great depression in trade. not
only the receipts from taxes, as sales will be
greatly reduced, but the inability to meet taxes
generally, will be much increased, and the de-
ficiency at the end of the year may prove even
greater than shown by the estimates.
While the committee regret their inability to
provide for the quarterly interest as it als due,
they can see no other course to pursue trusting
to the forbearance Of the holders Of stocks and
bonds, with the assurance to them that, so
long as the present authorities exist, some pro-
vision will be made to hquidate the interest
accruing thereon.
The following estimates Of wants ind sup
plies, together with thu bill to raise supplies
for the year 1868, are respectfully submitted.
TSignedl