The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-09-02
The Mayors Conduct.

The wretched shuffling Of Mayor Pilsbury,
in the matter of putting Charleston in a
clean and wholesome condition, is thorough
ly in keeping with the whole character OF
his administration. As he winked at fraud
and corruption during three years, because
he had not the manliness to expose The
wrong-doing Of his pet subordinates, 30 be
would now prefer that Charleston should
perish, rather than carry out, in good faith,
the remedial measures which experience and
wisdom suggest.
The disease, which paralyzes business
and causes hundreds OF citizens to flee in
alarm, could never have obtained foothold
nsre if the Mayor had done his duty. Any
citizen could have told him that by July the
city should be made ready for the hazard of
sickness. Mayor Pillsbury knew what ought
to be done Yet he permitted his kinsman,
the city Inspector, to neglect his plain duty,
and made no objection to his seeking refuge
in the North at the first note OF danger
With full knowledge of the facts, Mayor
Pillsbury and Inspector jerks folded their
arms and allowed Charleston to drift to-
wards destruction. The decisive defeat OF
their clique at the Municipal election bade
them relinquish all hope Of a second term.
Little cared they for the lives and fortunes
of people whom they regarded only as tit
subjects for insult, oppression and plunder.
Apparently stirred by the indignant re-
monstrances Of the taxpayers, Mayor Pills
bury, on Wednesday last, assured copmit-
mittee OF citizens that he would appoint
Major E. Willis as the Executive officer OF
the Health Department. The committee
understood distinctly that Major Willis
should have entire control, under the Mayor,
over all matters connected with the purifica-
ton and sanitary government OF the city.
This was well. Major Willis went to work
on Thursday, and 10 at the threshold, he
encountered an opposition on the part oil
the Mayor, which, if persisted in, makes his
appointment" an Infamous frsud upon the
public. Mayor Pillsbury is willing enough
that Major Willis should have the response
billty, but be will not give him that authority
without which be is powerless 10 do good.
And why has Mayor PillsGury broken his
word? The answer is plaiu. Weak, irreso-
lutte old man that he is, 'the party have
warned him that it will be ruinous TO allow
q Democrat" to control 30 important de-
partment as that OF the streets. According
to the vocabulary of Thomas Jefferson
Mackey and NJ H. Collins, who are the
Mayors chosen counsellors, every person is
a Democrat who is not negro, thief, or
Radical politician. This is one objection to
Major Willis; and another is that be could
certainly accomplish, in the way OF cleans
ing, in one week what the Plllsbury gang
have not done in three years. OF course,
consummation like this would reflect upon
the Radical party!
But the main reason is behind. The City
Government OF Charleston is rotten from
top to bottom. Any independent man who
is allowed access to its archives must see for
himself that the city is openly robbed every
day for the benefit OF Inspector jerks and
men OF his stamp. That official, we are
assured, receives large percentage upon
every dollar paid ont through his Office.
Even the poor cart-driver must pay tithe
to the sleek official. Only yesterday it was
discovered that the city was paying fce aol-
lars day for work that should be done for
two, and the Mayor refused point-b!ank to
allow the abuse to be corrected. All that he
did was to appoint NJ h Colins-alderu1an
and city apothecary-to be city inspector
until the return OF Captain Jenks. The
powers which he declined to give to Major
Willis, in whom the people repose entire
confidence, be unhesitatingly gives to q bla-
tant Radical whom the people despise and
distrust. While Collins is inspector, the
city may suffer; but no unpleas disclos-
ures are likely to be made, unless, indeed,
there should arise disagreement in sharing
the plunder.
For the caamities which they have
brought upon Charleston. for their igno-
rance, their supineness, and their shameless
corruption, Mayor Plllsbury and his crew
Will yet be held to strict account. This city
has borne quite enough!