The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-01-29

Ravenel, Marshall, Enston, Whilden, Cosgrove
Parker, Courtenay, Pringle.
The minutes Of the last meetings were reat
and confirmed.
The petitions of sundry persons for license
were referred to the Committee on Licenses.
The petitions of Mrs. VIM. White and Mrs
C. s. Husrd, for relief from the taxes assessed
was referred to the Committee on Retrench
ment and Relief, with power to act.
The petition Of Edward Collins, for paymen
for work done upon the streets, was referred t.
the Committee on Streets.
The petition of VIM. Pendergrast, for worl
done on the streets, was referred to the Com
mittee on Retrenchment and Relief.
Il memorial from the Medical Society relative
to the Board of Health, showing that tht
management OF the health department was de
fective, and had been an expense to the city
was read by the Mayor.
Alderman Enston moved to lay the memoria
on the table.
Alderman Marshall objected to this, as he
thought the memorial should not be ignored
It was signed by prominent members of the
medical profession, and should be referred to
a committee and answered in an appropriate
manner.
The Mayor agreed with Alderman Marshall
and thought the charges to be Of such a ma
ture as to require an answer.
After some argument it was referred to the
Board of Health, to report at the next meet
ing.
Sundry bills were referred to the Committee
on Accounts.
The bills Of T. E. Besseleau we're referred to
the Committee on Tidal Drains.
The Committee on Brick and Wooden Build
ings reported favorably on the petition OF
Patrick Nunan, to repair his house in Mazyck-
street.
The Committee on Licenses presented ia
vorable report on sundry petitions.
The Mayor read report from the Commit
tee on Tidal Drains.
The Mayor requested time to complete the re-
ports regarding the Charleston College and
other matters. Granted.
A letter to the worshipful Mayor from the
Hon. Mrs. Theresa Longworth Yelverton, ask
ing permission to use the Council Chamber for
private reading. After some discussion among
the Aldermen, it was decided that the permis-
sion asked be respectfully withheld.
Reports on the Artesicn Well and the
Charleston College were postponed to the next
meeting.
Alderman Parker gave notice Of bill which
would alter the ordinance Of 1857 relative to
filing Up sunken lots with certain materials.
Alderman Marshall presented protest from
sundry merchants relative to the enforcement
of the Tax bill. The report was protest on
the clause in the bill referring to sales and was
as follows:
To Me CIly Council Of Charleston:
The undersigned, citizens, Wholesale and
retail merchants and traders, dealing in mer-
chandise subject to that clause of the tax ordi-
nance imposing tax upon sales, respectfully
but earnestly protest against the enactment
and enforcement of said clause, and against
the system Of taxation it seeks to continue and
establish, and among the reasons for protest,
they submit as follows:
First. Because said tax is tax not upon
property or upon the successful results of in
dustry, but upon industry itself without
respect to results, whether disastrous or sue
cessful.
Second. Because the scheme of such taxa
ton being in itself unwise and unjust, is made
more so by unfair discrimination i'll placing its
burden on the industry OF some classes Of
citizens, and exempting others. And the prac-
tice Of injustice in this case as Ill oil other casos
will bring its natural and inevitable results,
loss Of prosperity and credit, followed by re-
duction of rents and OF the value OF real
estate, with proportionate increase of the
burden of the present necessary aggregate of
taxation.
Third. Because the feeling of discomfort
which its manifest injustice will and does pro-
duce, intensified by the gloomy hope Of the
future and disastrous present condition OF
nublc and private affairs, will of itself produce
more material evil to the city than many times
the amount Of taxes on sales would compen-
safe for.
Fourth. Because distinguished iurists hav-
ing long ago expressed opinions against the
lawful power of the City Council to levy this
tax. the attempt to collect it at this time is
likely to produce long and extensive litigation,
which, whether it defeats it or not, will be
spreading more generally the knowledge Of it's
injustice; surely in the end force its abandon
ment, after its evils are incurable.
Finally. Because against every theory of
1J1SG taXaUlOu UulS GdA ulolOBdluS Guo dUlllUy VI
the taxpayer to pay. 1t is not rated upon his
property, nor upon his income, nor even upon
the fair proportionate protection he may re-
ceive from the municipal government.
For these sufficient reasons, the undersigned
hope and pray that said ordinance, or SO much
of It as is herein referred to, may not be rati-
fed:
Johnston, Crews & Co.. Crane, Boylston g.
Co., A. 3. Goodwin, Marshall, Burge & Bowen,
D. F. Fleming & Co., Henry Daily, F. Horsey,
Geo. q. Brown, G. D. Brahe & Co., Jennings,
Tomlinson & Co., Murphy, Little & Co., T. NJ.
BRISTOL, VIM. L. Webb, Uferhardt, Campsen
& Co., ". McComb & Co., McLoy & Rice, T.
Kelley, Cartmill, Harbeson & Co., James B.
Belts, Louis Cohen g. Co., Gruber & Martin,
Edwin Bates & Co. per attorney T. R. Nc
Gahan, North, Steele & Wardell, E. B. Stod-
dard & Co., Chas. D. Carr & Co., VIM. s. Cor
win & Co., John F. O'Neil g. Son, Vim. &.
Whilden g. Co., L. Chaplin & Co., Pierson & Co.,
John G. Minor & Co., John Commins, Strauss
Vance g. Co., Raoul & Lynah, j. R. Read & Co..
DeYing, Burkett g. Co., Dowie G. Noise, Good
rich, Wineman & Co.. E. ]. Dawson & Co.
After some discussion, it was referred to the
| Committee of Ways and Means.
| The Committee on Engrossment presented
several bills for that purpose. The engross
1elo IIan al. Il