The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1874-11-29
COLUMBIA, s.. SC q.
Sunday Morning. November 2e, 1871.
81 Per Gent.

pains to show how Radicalism was
running Columbia, We were raped
over the knuokles for it by our Radical
city contemporary. But now it sees
more clearly, and is ready to aid the
people in giving "the municipal autho
cities thorough overhauling." This
will, doubtless, be done at the people
meeting which is called tomorrow, at
IL O'Clock. It is proposed by the new
city ordinance to raise supplies for
1875. to collect O tax of 2T per cent.
on the value Of all real and personal
property, which, with the addition OF
J. = per cent. State and County taxes
and a-soarching license law. will make
about 5 per cent. for those who pay
license and 4 for others. That is the
music which the people are called upon
TO face, and it is not surprising that
they do not relish the sound. The
Clerk reported in our columns, yester-
day, that there will be deficiency
testimated) to be provided for in 1876
of $s5. .365.25. even supposing the
present levy to be paid. That is the
prospect ahead, and it is not encou-
raging to business men or any others.
The citizens naturally feel curious to
know how the city has been brought
into such deplorable condition. This
would be difficult to show, but We
catch little light here and there.
At q meeting OF the City Council on
August "a, Of the present year. the
City Clerk reported that prior to the
fiscal year 1873 no specific tax was
levied to pay interest upon the city
debt. In the years 1873 and 1874
there was levied tax aggregating
fifteen mills for this purpose. There
~as realized from these levies from
Janusry, 1878. to August l, 1874,
$60,556.34. The amount of coupons
redeemed during that period was ST.
450.75. "From which it appears"
said the Clerk, "that the sum Of Sl6,-
los SO was diue,IeI from the special
interest funa to pay curront ex penscs.
What is to be done about this? At
this same meeting in August. the
Clerk reported the city debt to be, as
far as he had been able to ascertain,
$703, 1913. This shows an addition
to it OF over 1888, 900 in four years,
or nearly 500. 900 year. The Legisla-
ture. in March. 1872. authorized tho
Mayor and Aldermen to borrow money
and to issue bonds for the purpose,
"to an amount which, togther with
the outstanding indebtedness OF the
city of Columbia, shall not exceed the
sum OF 5000. 600. it being thereby in
tended that the whole indebtedness
thereof, whether by bonds or other.
wise, shall at no time bs increased
beyond the said sum of $500, 0OO."
What is to be done about that?
In other days We got along very we'll
with tax OF one per cent. on real
estate. This was estimated at So, $780,
600, and yielded $50, 900. Licenses
yielded about $40. 600 more, and made
the city income S55. 1000, which was
sufficient for an economical and honest
government But since, through in
crease OF taxation on real estate, and
the addition OF the tax on personal,
and increase of tho amount received
from licenses. the income has got to be
about Sll5.000. the city has been in
constant embarrassment. It has to
herrow money ct ruinoas rates. It
has to pay it's employees by notes re-
ceiVable for taxes. It is compelled to
resort to shifts continually. And now,
having exhausted all e1pedients, but
1hoae OF reduction of salaries, curtail-
meht OF expenses, abolition of useless
Offices, and return to strict and capable
administration of city affairs. or re-.
signation of Offices they are plainly io.
competent to fill. the Council muke n
2>9 per cent. grab at the pockets of the
taxpayers to half help them out OF
their difficulties. But the citizens who
pay the taxes prefer to look into the
matter of debt thus piled up against
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