The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1868-09-01
CITY FINANCES.
To The Mayor and aldermen Of Charlotte:

To The Mayor and Aldermen Of Charlotte:
Your Committee of Finance report follows
They find that the Treasurer of the late Board
promptly paid to the present authorities all the
money in his hands, $22.27; also two individual
notes taken for taxes, amounting to $1O1.15; and
turned the Tax lists roughly estimated as fol-
lows:
Arrearage of taxes prior to 1868, $3,217.73
Taxes unsolicited on lists of 1868. 7,6S225
Total s1os999s
very small part of the taxes prior to 'G8 be
regarded as collectable They have been virtually
lost by delay. Preceding Boards adopted the mis-
taken policy of yielding too much to those peryerse
people who grumble at everything, and who answer
the just demands of the Law with threats of resist
apce. The principle is wrong. 1t throws on the
| good double burdens making them responsible not
only for their share of public duties but also
for the denquencies of the vicious. The just rule
| is to treat all alike.
The for the present year have been due since
April About one third has been collected, and the
others left standing The collector got his half year
salary. and leaves his work for others to perform.
These are the only available for the present
year. except small to be got from penalties and
fines and from the sale of cemetery deeds. The in
come from Retail Licenses &C., including that in
tended under military ORDERS for the poor of the city
has all been SPENT leaving in some drawbacks
on licenses annulled which this Board must meet.
There seems to be account of the liabilities of
the CITY, The Funded debt is 81 200. The float
ing liabilities 100000, chiefly incurred by the late
Board.
Your Fire Committee have reported that depart
ment in q bad and unreliable condition. We're q
confa grafton to break out, the Fire Company could
give guarantee for the safety of the city, owing
the rotten condition of the hose, the scarcity of
water in the street Tanks-especlally tour OF them
the defective arrangements for getting water else
where distractions in the cutters, &c. Not less
than So 10000 will be Immediately needed for these
| essential purposes. main hose must be got, alone
costing 81 10000
Necessary repairs in the Streets bridges, cross
ings &C., will require probably GOO. Contingent
expenses pay of officers and police for balance OF
year, with interest funded debt, will possibly
reach $4,000 additional The whole making about
So, 500 to be provided for by the present Board. To
meet it they have arrearage tax lists for nominally
$40, 899. 90. 1t is manifest the money cannot be
realized out of their culled lists, except by most
rigid enforcement of the Law. This can readily be
done. AS to taxes, there are no exemptions, and
the charter makes the tax lists "a judgment and ex
ecuton for the taxes therein mentioned"
GAS to the fund for the poor, your committee re-
port that the charter makes provision for that OBJ
jec, can the city funds be applied 10 any such
purposes The only remedy is to seek relief from
the Wardens of the poor of Mccklenburg county, and
by appeal to the impulses of private charity in
behalf of the infrm and helpless objects,
ported almost dying of want
The late Military Commanders, acting under ex-
press authority confirmed by Congress- directed the
moneys derived from certain sources, to be applied to
the support of the poor. In Charlotte these taxes
amounted to n large sum-nearly 81, 600. The late
Board turned them over to the Wardens OF the poor
for the county, who it seems, turned them right
back to the late Mayor, their agent for distribu
ton. On the 31st of July last, just that Board
was going out, (the military being gomez the Board
ordered Mayor Harris to pay the balance in his
hands, amounting to 1891 ~, and which he held
the Agent of the Wardens of the Poor back into the
General Treasury of the city; whence it was imme-
diatey drawn again by the Mayor and other city
officers Oh their salaries leaving the city poor, and
the city creditors to look out for themselves. Ac
cording to the popular view, there was legal or
moral wrong in this But how the courts, under the
order of things here in North Carolina will hold
remains to be seen They will probably say that
the land, have binding force. As matter of trust
and confidence, there be no doubt it was both q
legal and o moral breach Of faith.
Your Committee recommend that steps be taken to
if there be redress in behalf of the poor and
intirm of the city
Your Committee do not wish to be misunderstood
in what they here say in regard to preceding Boards
They well understand the difficulties under which
those Boards labored, especially the last Mayor and
Aldermen. But the present Board, also, have high
duties to perform, alike to themselves and to the
public. Applications are daily made to us for OBJ
jecs strictly legitimate which the Board cannot
grant for the Of funds in the Treasury. When,
therefore, the late Board applied $4,000 or there
abouts, doubtful policy in the Fire Department
of the city. and then left that department III wholly
unsafe conditions and when in its expiring moments
it laid hands fund designed by the authorities
and recognized by itself charitable, taking from
those who had a claim to it, and giving it to those
who had right to it whatever, that Board cannot
complain if it is arraigned at the bar of jured
and ncensed public. Especially is this SO, when
others are called upon to answer for their official
delinquences. The present Board now has the plain
situation fully before it 1t has no alternative but
go forward in the path of duty and trust to just
and enlightened public to sustain it in its course.
In view of the pecun!ary embarrassment of the
city, and the necessity for economy. your Committee
recommend that all wages and salaries be forthwith
reduced. Last year the expenses OF the city were
S26,749.1G! And of this sum 1,23l.2O went to Off
GERS and policemen, over and above all costs and
fees. The Committee think 100000 per annum
amply sufficient each for the Mayor and city consta-
bic: $500 90 for the clerk and Treasurer; and not
exceeding $4,000 per month for the police.
They further recommend that the city Constable
and police be held rigid discharge of their duty
charter be promptly carried out i'll sentencing ali,
who refuse pay the fines and penalties imposed,
to confin emcnt and hard labor
just and impartial performance of the several
duties herein suggested, and a strict adherence to
the policy Indicated will soon determine whether
there is a law in the land not.
Respectfully submitted
RUFUS BARRINGER,
NJ. MARTIN, : Com.
E ii. BISSELL,
CHARLOTTE, August ed, 1868
When motion the foregoing Report after full
discussion was accepted, and unanimously approved,