The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-10-14

he mad many virtues. When DIR. Ro-
gers subscription paper is sent over
here, we shall be ready with our penny,
and, if he will enlarge his plan so as to
include q monument to Eve also, we will
be happy to double our subscription.
-e~-
Mr.. EDITOR: In Your paper of 18th,
the statement is made, "that the action
of the City Council Of Columbia, in OBJ
tanning the necessary funds for providing
the accommodations needed for the State
Agricultural and Mechanical Society, will
be approved by the Taxpayers generally, >"
does not state the facts connected with
tho same.
The taxpayers, or public meeting of
taxpayers, held in Carolina Hall, autho-
rized Council to erect the necessary
buildings. The contract was awarded to
Mr.. r. w. Johnston, for about $4,000,
in round figures. Council acted accord
ing to their instructions, and made the
contract. No statement was mnde ut
this meeting of the Council that the
treasury was short of means. The Chair
man Of the Committee of Ways and
Means and the Chairman of the Build
ing Committee were silent rs to the ne.
cessity of borrowing money, and the
natural inference was, that with funds in
the treasury-the Sheriff Is Office for un-
collected taxes and for sales of merchan-
die on 1st October, apart from an
increased issue of city bills-that Council
was able to meet all engagements of the
current yeav. But it seems that these
suppositions were erroneous; that Council
has been living ahead of its income, and
that it was necessary to borrow SIS, 900,
to be paid on maturity with about SO, 900.
This has been done without consulting
Council, and without legal authority,
and stocks of the city hypothecated for
the payment. If the taxpayers approve
of this, and the precedent thus estab-
lished, by which three or four members of
Council Nuke q debt Of $4,000, and bind
The city therefor, then your statement is
correct. and the three Aldermen votin1
against such acts haze mistaken their duties
and the oaths Of office administered 10
item by the Mayor. The tax payers will
also have to congratulate themselves on
building up public debt for which the
City Council cannot find ways and means
to provide for payment of interest. Be-
sides the bonded debt of the city, there
is an accrued and past due interest of
some $50, 600 to be met This is in excess
of the current expenses Of the city-such
as police, water works, street depart
ment and interest on city bonds, which
latter amounts to about S25, 900 per an
mum. The present Council has increased
the expenses of the city. The Police De-
partment is Increased 81 O00 ner onnun,
without on apparent benefit to the oiti-
zens or protection to the merchants.
Richardson street has to be lighted with
gas, at an expense of some 81 900 more;
(these two items alone wonld pay for the
fair buildings.) The city bills have been
increased some 81. 600; and if we are to
go on from year to year in excess of our
receipts, the taxpayers will have great
cause for congratulation. CITIZEN.
INcENDIAR1sM.- The gin house, on
Mrs. Jane Webb's place, near Sumter,
with the cotton crop of the present year,
as far as gathered, was destroyed by fire
on Monday night last, between the
hours of H. and IL O'Clock. No doubt
seems to be entertained but that this
heavy loss, which will be severely felt,
hos been sustained at The hands of the
incendiary. -Sumte,' JYatchman.
Mr.. F. A. Connors of Cokesbury, and
Mr.. j. N. Young, Of DIE West, are re-
ported to have been nominated as the
anti i-radical candidates to- fill the vacan.
cies in the State Legislature from Abbe
vile County. " IN - q! 90 '9Hh hn
Hon. A. a.. Stevens says of Solomons'
l.