The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-10-22

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takes to exonerats the COMMITTEE OF
Ways and Means by explaining facts,
but fails to con.rovsrt the statement
made in your paper of, 1ash, whica \
again reiterate: THAT certain members
of Council did, without authority there
OF, borrow money and hypotheoate stocks
OF the city, in violation Of law; that the
city is speudipg money in excess of its
means. and, as u consequence, is build
ing mp debt which the citizens will be
unable to liqaidate." Mr.. Hope is un-
fortunate in his extract from preamble
introduced by himself at meeting of
Council on 18th July. There is not one
sury was bare of funds, and that it would
be necessary to borrow money to meet
the expenses incurred for the agricultu-
raj buildings. The extract quoted to
SHOW that the city treasury was empty,
reads as follows:
'tThe financial condition of the CITY
prevents us from making any very libe-
raj appropriation for the purpose this
year. The city, however, will necessari-
ly have to appropriate q sufficient sum to
cover the expenses that will have to be
made to accommodate all those who ex-
hibit at the approaching Fair. AS the
appropriation will be large, it would be
advisable to consult the wishes of the
Taxpayers of the city on the subject"
This paragraph-if it means anything
means that the city would not, in its
financial condition, bs able to mako q
large appropriation, and suggests that
the citizens should be consulted as to
the propriety and extent of the expendi-
ture. [ may we'll ask, why did the Chair
man of the Committee of Ways and
Means, or the Mayor, who presided at
the public meeting of citizens, fail to
state to them that money would have to
be borrowed to carry out their views?
Why did the Chairman Of tho Committee
on Ways and Means full to ask authority
to borrow money at the Council meeting
on 9th August, when the contract was
awarded to Mr.. Johnson to erect the
buildings, ho being the member whose
especial duty it was to keep Council ad-
vised as to the finances Of the city?
Tho question at issue between Mr..
Hope and myself is not rs to the neces-
sity and propriety of erecting the ngri-
cultural buildings. L fully concur with
him and the Council who voted therefor
as to the investment being advantageous
to the citizens at large. His attempt,
therefore, to create sympathy, and palli-
ate the error committed by establishing
a precedent, which, if followed up, may
prove disastrous to tho city finances, is
futile; rs also is the attempt to show that
the Mayor called two meetings of Coun-
Gil for the purpose Of getting authority
to borrow money.
l. e ~
called during the month of August. On
the 9Th, q quorum, was present, and gave
the contract for the buildings to Mr..
johnson, as already stated. On 18th,
an extra meeting was called, but failed
to get quorum by the absence of two
members. At this meeting, the members
present were not apprized of its object,
as the Chairman of the Committee of
Ways and Means did not see fit to pub
licly announce this as the object-D in
deed IL ,cas The cause of tie meeting being
called. On the Odd, the money was re-
ceived by the City Treasurer, and on the
31st Of August q regular meeting of
Council was held, quorum present, but
even then the subject was not brought to
the attention Of Council, and their ap-
proval asked. Nor did the Committee
of Ways and Means report their action
until the subject had been mooted out
side, and Investigations were being made
by other parties. The City Attorney can
no doubt explain his connection with the
affair as to his pprou0l-whether it
meant that Council had the right to bor-
row money and hypothecate stocks, or
that the Committee of Ways and Means
had right to do so Wiilom authority Of
Council One word more, Mr.. Chairman
of the Committee OF Ways and Means
1t is duty you owe to tho citizens Of
Columbia to check expenditures in eX-
cess of the resources OF the city; to pay
of the accrued interest on bonds; TO i'm
prove the financial condition Of the
finances, so that the city bonds will be
at par. Do you pursue this course by Il
system of economy and rctrenchment,
and by stating to Council that tho ex-
penditures made are in excess Of their
means? Would not tho same policy, if
pursued in your private affairs spending
more than your income, no matter III
how laudablo objects, and borrowing
money at one per cent. per month-lead
to the inevitable result Of bomhruptcy?
CITIZEN.