The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1871-01-11
City Taxes.

can be shown tnat Lue grown 6uu prOS-
perity of city depends on its commerce,
then it follows that the trade of Colum-
bia has received its death blow, unless
the OWL can be arrested, and the Legis-
lature be induced to prevent the City
Council from collecting the onerous
taxes proposed. That all residing within
the city limits should contribute to the
support of the city, is not denied; but
that taxes should be so heavy as to tram.
mel trado, drive off its best citizens, pre-
vent improvements, take oil the hard
earnings of the Industrious, and bring
the most frugal to destitution, or COM
pei them to seek homes elsewhere, is a
matter that comes home TO all citizens alike,
irrespective Of race or color. submit O
case of one of our merchants, which
will show the injustice of the tax pro-
posed in tho shape of license, and will
first say that his entire stock in trade
docs not amount to $4,000. The pro-
posed license which he has to pay is, as
| confectioner $25; tavern license 5000;
manufacturer and bother of soda water
$50; license to sell lager beer, aie and
porter 800; restaurant or eating saloon
$50; cigars $40; horse and wagon $40;
Ii
to be taxed by authority of Legislature
$50; total S45l, or nearly 12 per cent. on
tho stock in trade Of denlcr, imposed
by tho city authorities in tho shape of
taxes and licenscs
This may be said to be an extreme
| case, but it can be shown that in every
instance the city taxes are far in excess
of the means of our citizens to respond,
and will inevitably bring the property OF
our people under the Sherins hammer.
Now, Mr.. Editor, leaving the subject
OF licenses, will take a glance at the
proposed increase of powers asked for
by our city fathers, which increased
powers those who pull tue wires have
taken great pains to hide from public
view, and which, ut the twelfth hour,
they have not placed before our people,
or given them an opportunity to express
their approval or disapprobation of.
This bill proposes to authorize the
City Council to levy and collect tax of
not exceeding two per cent. on all real
property. This is on advance of only
100 per cent. over any taxes heretofore
collected. It authorizes tax to support
the poor, and another for educational
purposes, which, with State and County
taxes, will in the aggregate amount to
about Il per cent. on all real property
within the limits of Columbia. Think
Of this, you, poor colorcd citizens, who
have. by your industry and economy,
saved enough to buy n home; if it is
worth $500, you will have to pay S22. sc
State and corporation taxes; and if 81 900,
S45-most of which is for Tho city. Can
you retain your property with such !,
drain on Your industry? This is not q
| IF L,,}
dnd cents-a matter which, if permitted
to be accomplished, will take the homes
from poor colorcd rs well rs the white
man, and matter which comes home to
the pockets of all. If the Legislature
grant the power asked for by the City
Council, then goodbye to improvements,
for the capitalist will not invest to build
mp our waste places, and the poor will
not be able to stand the taxation.
The sound Of the Sdr, lie hammer, Tie
| plane on Tie h'0rel, rM not be Heu1.d il, Ou,
city. Those who will be able will get
away, property will go down, down. and
onr once beautiful city will bo reduced
to utter insigniiicance
Another proposition of the proposed
bill before the Legislature is for authori-
ty to establish public scales and scale
houses, and to appoint public wcighers,
compelling all persons, purchaser and
vender alike, under penalty to be i'm
posed by Council to hnvo all articles
sold by weight i'll the Columbia market
weighed thereon. That there should be
II public tribunal to resort to in case of
difference or disagreement between the
buyer and seller. none will deny, but it
would DO an arbitrary stretch of power
to compel those who arc willing, by mu-
tnal agreement of both buyer aud seller,
to do their own Weighing under fines and
penalties at the will OF Council. The
bill would drive away tho cotton and
other products of tho country from this
market, and would compel every butcher
who sells pound of meat to employ a
public weighcr, and might easily be con
strued to fine every grocer or apothecary
who has not public wcighcr to weigh
pound of sugar or n dose of calomcl.
Such powers would be tyrannical in the
extreme, and would work ruinous evils
on our citizens. It is earnestly hoped
that our Legislature will prevent the
evils already alluded to by refusing to
grant the powers asked for by Council;
and that they prevent all legislation
which impcdes the rebuilding of our