The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-04-27
s. G,
Saturday Morning. April ~, 1872.
Tho NOW AYarket.

tractors OF the new market to be released
from their contract, on account of the
destruction Of the partially constructed
building by the late storm. The con-
tractors, of course, have right to petit
tion the Council for whatever relief they
may desire. The loss is pretty hard
one for them to bear, and is misfortune
to them which every one regrets. It
seems to us. however, preposterous
idea that the city should be called upon
to pay the handsome little sum OF
$13, 200 for no consideration whatever.
In business transactions, the oity does
not differ in any material respect from
any other corporation. OK from private
individual. These parties, Messrs.
Smith and Simons. contracted with the
city to construct building OF speoi-
fed character. for specified sum. They
have received half tho money, demand
now several thousand dollars more, and
yet the city has no such building as that
for which they agreed to pay. Would
any individual, under such circum-
stances, feel constrained to act as the
city is requested to do? We hardly
think 80. This new market project, at
its inception, we believed to be an un-
wise one. It is we'll known that the only
stated objects that gave ooloring of
justification or excuse for the passage of
the bill authorizing the issue of some
$3.50, 1000 OF additional city bonds, was
the building Of the City Hall and the
new market. And now that the bonds
have been authorized. and will be put
upon the market, it is to the interest Of
the citizens to see that the money is de-
voted to the erection of these public I'M
provements.
There are colored men in the present
Council, in whom the taxpayers have
confidence, and whom they believe will,
if not deceived and misled, strive to do
an honest part by the city, and to pre-
vent fraud, extravaganza and dissolute
dealing with the public finances. We
beg OF them to keep their eyes open,
and to be prompt to act, and to be wary
withal that they do not lend too willing
ear to the wiles Of others who may seek
to entice their support to measures Of
doubtful .propriety. There are white
men in the Council, too, of whom
though we cannot with entire truth and
sincerity say that they command our
CONFERENCE.-THE are, nevertheless, under
special obligations to their party and to
the public, to show clear record, and
TO control the affairs of the city in &C.
eordanoe with her true interests. They
were elected on platform of their own
construction, which was that tho prere-
quisite of candidate should be honesty,
intelligence and efficiency. The commu-
nifty will be glad, because they will be
benefited, to see those high qualities
manifested, now that the time for their
exercise has como.
We, and others who think like ue,
may be surprised at results so contrary
to our expectations; bat we will be
pleased, nevertheless. We have no love
for Radicals; but if we should find
real honest and energetic Radical official
which, we may be pardoned for say
Jag, would be rare sight in South Caro-
lina-our admiration would at least
equal our wonder, and we should come
rs near revering him as the nature OF his
associates would p ,rmit.
80 far, with the exception of the re-
port OF the Committee of Ways and
Means, retorTod 20 5oHo time since, We
have seen nothing in the action of the
present Council to awaken our ready
apprehensions. In the election OF an
architect for the City Hall. we were
agreeably disappointed, and the other
officers elected are. in our Judgment,
mostly good. We say this, because we
wish to be just and fair. We have no
other object in criticising the action of
Council, past or prospective, but to snh-
serve the interests of the city, according