The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-12-19

will be eQaDleQ 10 uO hS lOiio"S, '4'' ~ o
1st. 10 pay the running current expenses OF
+ha c;tv Government. as it will in all probabill-
"e5 To nay $50 600, money borrowed since
last lime. to finish the years business.
Cd To nav the accumulating interest on the
city debt from and after January lst, 1869; ana,
also to have On amount suthclent 10 commence
and complete sundry substantial contemplated
improvements, thereby giving employment to
the deserving and industrious poor OF the
city.
ASSESSORS AND ASSESSMENT.
We require change in our system of asses
sors and assessing property. We want some
thing more modern than that now IN vogue.
We want something, to speak plainly, moro
Northern.
SCISSORS, to cons st of three, to hold their Office
for three years, to be elected, one each year by
the City Council. And then there should be as
sistant Assessors one frem 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 theirrespective 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 the city thorough
ly, going from house to house, and assisted by
the Assistant Assessor, to assess the lnhabl-
tants OF the city.
The city and the times are calling loudly for
a new assessment, aud l think it important
that the personal property should also be as
sessed preparatory to its bearing another year
its proportion OF the city's expense.
What is desired is thorough and equitable
system of taxation that will not bear heavily
on the few, but will gracefully unloose the
purse strings OF the many.
TAXATION AND YAxABLE PROPERTY.
Direct taxation at best is onerous and dis
testeful, and should be levied as eQuitably
upon all property and interests as possible.
Every person and corporation drawing or OBJ
tainlng an income from community shonld
pay its equitable proportion to support the
government OF that same community Charl-
table and religious societies are and have been,
from time immemorial, exeppt 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 FIFTY thou
sand dollars, now free from taxation. Fer in
stance: The South Carolina Rlilroad Corpora
ton, whose terminus was originally &C 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 OF
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
trict. 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 churches 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.
It is quite important that all such wrongs or
errors as these should be corrected.
THE HOSPITALS AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT
demand more than passing remark. tits not
generally known these two divisions OF our
Municipal government are operated together
under one head.
We have two hospitals-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,
sixty patients. These institutions are general
IL full the year round, and costing the city IN
the neighborhood Of SIT, 900 per annum.
It will be noticed that two separate corps OF
servants, stewards and physicians are rendered
necessary, the two hospitals being located 30
fer 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 sed, and could at o small out
Law. be made an excellent hospital building.
ask the special attention OF Council to this sub
iect. deeming it very important that immediate
steps be taken to consolidate these two hospi-
tails.
To the Health Department proper is due, in
terrupted good health or the city during the
past season. It was really remarkable, and
merits attention.
THE HOUSE OF CORRECTION OR woRKHoUsE.
Under the present system of using those
confined there to laber upon the Tidal Drains,
this institution is not kept as full Of boarders
as formerly. Five months ago we had from
forty to fifty inmates constantly. AS soon as
these were put to labor they began to lessen In
number, until now we are averaging but from
ten to twenty.
THE AIMS HOUSE.
This is one of the principal sources Of ex-
pense to the city the system OF it's manage
ment is thoroughly wrong, and the tendency IS
to encourage people in idleness and depend
ence.
Our Aims House provides for about 80 inside
and from 16Oo to 1870 outside, at an expense OF
some $4,000 per annum. It may seem harsh,
and may be called cruel, by those partakln9 OF
the CITY g bounty-but my belief and opinion ls
that great change is seriously demanded in
this institution.
I do believe that when party becomes go
impoverished and poor in friends or money
and the means Of subsistence as to require
public charity, they should go to the !nssltu-
hon prepared for that purpose; and when
there, some employment should be found and
furnished. such as they may be able to 90, SO
that q portion at least of their expense to the
city may be refunded. In fact this institution
should be made, as near as can be, sen-sus-
tanning.
We have very good market buildings, and
the system on which they are conducted is tar
removed from great censure, but stll! there
are points in which large improvements can
be made.
would suggest to the Commissioners
change in the internal arrangement OF the
Lower Notwithstanding that would 40 away
with that gauntlet Of butchers through which
all visiting it in the morning a-e obliged to run
through. Stalls would obvlate this. Then the
vegetable pens should be changed to stalls.
And O. system of cleanliness should be adopted
that would secure O better and moe inviting
showing Of meats and vegetables.
A proper style of stalls, besides economlzlng
room, would do away with all the confusion
and disorder observable every morning and
Saturday nights.
Iremark, passingly, that am in favor OF the
Stree market system" Let any one sell meats
or vegetables, the same as other merchandise,