The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-02-20

To TIE HonoRAn1n THE SENATE OF
SOUTH CAROLINA: MY anxiety for the
welfare of Columbia. and my aversion to
lobbying, must serve as an apology for
calling your attention in this manner to
certain circumstances connected with
the bill authorizing an issue of city
bonds. which passed the House Of Rep.
resentatives this week. It is true that
the House Committee of Ways and
Means gave q patient and respectful
hearing to the citizens and members OF
the Board Of Trade, with their counsel
who appeared before them. But while
the memorial of the City Council was
laid on their table in print, the protest
OF the citizens. setting forth the main
objections to the bill, copy Of which
had been left with General Whipper,
chairman, was, by some mistake or mis-
under 'tanding, mislaid or overlooked,
and had to be read from the original
manuscript. All who know the differ
enoe between hearing paper once read,
end having printed copy of it, with
time to examine its contents, will under
stand the disadvantage under which we
iabored from that cause; and I believe
no copy Of the protest has been present
ed to the Legislature. as we supposed
would be done on placing it in posses
sion of the Committee Of Ways and
Means. Then, too, some of the COM
mittee left the room under the impres.
sion that we consented to 100000 as
the aggregate amount of Indebtedness
to be incurred; but such was not the fact
as to any one on our side. For these
reasons. trust that the Senate will con-
slider the bill on ITS merits, and not on
the authority which report from the
Committee of Ways and Means would
otherwise be entitled to. But since
then, other facts have come to light
which should be taken into considera.
tion. One is. that Of the S75. 900 bor-
rowed from DR.. Neagle, ostensibly to
pay for building the City Hall, but
$l2, 800 have been 80 applied, and the
remainder is all gone. Now, how does
this tally with the statement of the
Councils Chairman on Finance, made
at the time when the contract was award.
ed, as published in their official minutes.
aud acquiesoed in. without question or
contradiction, by the Mayor or any AL
derman then present? He is reported
as saying "the amount of cash on depo-
ait to.duy, and the revenue from taxes
and no increased rate of tax) in Janua-
~, will build both the hall and market. {"
See 'Minnses Of Oonnoil," in PHRN1x,
of September IA. 1871
This declaration, thus made, tended to
quiet apprehension and disarm hostility
ON the part Of those opposed to the
measure. If it was true, the protest Of
the citizens is correct in alleging that
the issue of new bonds is not necessary
for any Legitimate purpose. If not, some
member of Council must have known
the fact, and should not have allowed it
to hs published. If they knew nothing
about the matter, it argues indifference
to the interests Of the city, neglect of
their duty, or such incompetenoy that
they ought not to be entrusted with the
issue of new bonds or the disposition of
their proceeds.
Another fact has just been discovered,
showing how loosely business is conduct
ed by our municipal authorities. The
City Attorney stated before the Commit.
tee OF Ways and Means that the bonds
for $3.50. 600, pledged to DIR. Nragle,
we're issued under an Act of 1854, to
alter and amend the charter, and au.
thorizing subscription to the Columbi
and Hamburg Ruilroad. The City Clerk
and several Aldermen were present when
this statement was made, aud sanctioned
it by their silence. But DR.. Neagle in
forms me that. after taking the bonds,
he became doubtful of their validity;
and, on applying to the Mayor, he OBJ
tanned certificate to the effect that
seventy odd thousand dollars of them
should be considered on issued under the
Act OF 1866, which authorized an issue
OF $3.50. QUO for the purpose of funding
past due bonds and interest.
Now. neither of the Acts referred to
gives the Council my power to divert the
bonds from the specific purposes au-
thorized by the Legislature. Yet the
Council first pledges tuem for different
purpose, and then the Mayor attem pts
TO convert IL portion from Que class to
another, Tor the accommodation Of DR..
Neagle, who evidently thought his secu-
rlty Was thereby Increased.
Let US now consider the burdens that
will be imposed on the city, and the
equivalent reosived. if the bill beco mes
law-for very few persons are aware of
the effect Of making bonds to he sold ut
discount. Three weeks ago city bonds
were worth sixty-fve on the market; but
since the Introduction of this bill the