The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1871-10-12
COLUMBIA, S. g,
thursday Morning, October ls. 1871.

ANAo1ay AAAOA AAAES VCLOpoA A6t 4Os@
Tho Matter Reviewed--An Impartial
view-The CitiAen's Duty.
The development OF Columbia is o
matter that concerns every good citizen.
It may be laid down as an indisputable
proposition. that every unnecessary bur-
den laid upon the taxpayers is o bar
and serious baE-to the development
of tho city. It may also be affirmed that
the character and disposition OF tho city
government have no little bearing upon
the welfare of the city. When, there
fore, it became current rumor upon
the streets that in the matter Of the
contracts to build the new City Hall and
the new market, the city had been swim
died out of large sum, and when fur
ther it was alleged that new city bonds,
binding the property of the citizens, had
been secretly and illegally issued and
placed in the hands of DR.. Neugle-a
private party-for the loan, on short
time, of S75.0 900. we felt it our duty, on
the part of the people, to call for IN in.
vestigation. We did call for informa-
tion. We called upon the then acting
Mayor Alderman Wallace but he, pre-
serving discreet silence. vouchsafed no
reply. The public we're, however, given
to understand that, upon the return of
Mayor Alexander and Alderman Wigg,
all wonld be made olear-the crooked
made straight and tho darkness turned
into day. In the meantime, tho Board
of Trade, as was proper, took the matter
up in behalf of the citizens, and under
took an investigation. Beyond the fact
chat this committee were promised nccess
to the plans and specifications of the
new buildings proposed to be erected,
and have called upon Messrs. Bell Fry
and Troy to assist them in estimating
the proper cost of the work awarded
respectively to Mr.. Allen and Messrs.
Smith and Simons, we are not aware
that this committee OF investigation have
as yet effected anything. It is true
that Mr. Parkins, the architect Of the
new City Hall. has published letter, in
which he has tried to explain away GER
tain admissions made by himself; but
we dismiss this letter, with. the simple
remark that it is too ''thin"- entirely
unsatisfactory. It is true, further. that
DR.. Neagle has admitted his connection
with the secret action Of the City Coun-
o;ls H,,k fI,oo o1o ~,.,Io 49,
the exposure of the came, we do not per-
ceive that he can claim any credit for his
candor,in the premises. It is not usual
for the public to award credit to men
for admissions made after discovery OF
the fact. Thus, after all, prior to the
meeting Of the City Council, the gist of
the matter between the City Council and
the citizens had not been reached.
Well. the City Council met on Tuesday
evening. last. The question is. hare The
issues before the public been net2 We an
swer that they have not. And here we
desire to say that, having taken this
matter mp, we do not intend to let the
questions raised go by default. We have
no private ends to subserve-no partisan
purposes to effect. But we propose to
see that the public interests in the city
are upheld, and that nnblushing fraud,
if it be found to exist, shall not go unex-
posed. There are several matters that
require explanation. In tho first place,
how is it, Mr.. Mayor and Messrs. Alder.
men, about the secret issue of those new
city honds? You knew that it was seri-
ously doubted whether or not you had
the right to make that issue. You must
know that the issuing OF bonds, binding
as it does the property OF the citizen,
and adding to his burthene, ia one OF
most delicate and important powers con
ferred upon o Legislative or municipal
body. And yet. without giving the tax.
payers Of Columbia an opportunity to
express an opinion on this subject, 80
vital as respects their interests. what do
you do? You proceed az if you knew
that wbat Won were doinu Waa wrong