The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1875-06-30
tion of Mayor Alexander. Mr.. Carpen-

tion of Mayor Alexander. Mr.. Carpen-
ters figures are pure fictions.
While on this subject of city currency,
will ask Mr.. Carpenter to give to the
public what he knows concerning the
issue OF city currency while Mr.. Barnum
was Treasurer. 1t is understood that the
Chairman of the Finance Committee was
the custodian Of the unsigned notes, and
that he delivered them to Mr.. Barnum
for signature and use rs tho funds were
required. The whole amount printed
was $4,000. TO settle the account of
MIR. Barnum correctly, it is necessary to
have MIR. Carpenters account Of bills de-
liyercd to the Treasurer.
There are other points in Mr.. Carpnn-
tcr's speech and communication which l
might notice, but an intelligent public
will understand them we'll enough with
out further discussion. l could 90 on
rcctifying his mistakes md involving
him in nritlmctical blundcrs. but he
would probably imagine Il new set of ac-
counts as soon as the old mistakes were
cleared up, and l should have now
work before me. The fact is, Mr. Car
pentcr displays so little accurate know
ledge OF the finances of the city, and so
much skill in getting the accounts CON
fused and himself in IL mudllc, that the
present embarraSsmcnts of the city arc
really not surprising, considering that
It's finances were under his manager. cnt
for two years. AS he cannot be expected
to know anything of tho present iinnnciul
status OF the city, take the liberty here
OF producing about what the expected
statement of the Mayor AMI City Clerk
will show as to the city debt:
Bonds of all kinds. SOS. 500 90
Due to banks. 2j,OG2 %
II. j. Jcter. I.OOD 90
Judgments S.. 5000 GJ
Coupons past due. .. 90. 0UO 90
unpaid bills, Sc. 10, 100 90
Total debt .SG96,752 II
Showing IN increase of sloU. 600 ovcr the
largest statement yet made by Mr.. Car
pentcr. [ make this contrast in order
that his admission already quoted, "that
the city debt has been increased by a
large amount since 1S10,' may hc fully
sustained by direct evidence. Having
accepted his largest statement, cmbrac-
ing all tho supposed liabilities of the
city at the beginning of AlcNnn.lcrs ad-
ministration, this increase is directly
chargeablc to the waste, extravaganza.
mismanagement and oM,, Kindred criis"
that have prevailed since that date.
AS hope not to be compelled to con-
tinuc the discussion of city matters nny
further through the press. desire to call
the attention of the public now to the
certain approach of Il disaster to our city
and its finances, if they are not taken
hold of promptly, with n determination
to set them in better order. The special
tax for interest next year cannot be less
than ten mills; the tax to support the
city government, pay interest on tiouting
debt and meet deficiency in the water
contract will require ten mills more, and
ten mills more will be required to poy
Sl2,00O in judgments already rendered
/ against the city in our Circuit Court
The City Council may not levy the tax
to pay the judgments, but the Court
will be compelled to do it, and the citi-
zens will have it to pay. The work of
approving bills that cannot be paid until
the next tax is collected, is already going
on in the City Council and nothing will
remain to pay even n Judgment for the
cost of steam fire engine in use to pro-
tcct the city from fire. \ three per cent
tax will absorb onc-third of the rental
value of all the property of the city, re-
ducing its selling price and its taxable
valuation to the extent certainly oi
| twenty-five per cent. The owners OF
property find it dwindling away in their
hands, while the poor man, the labnrcr,
Will he driven to other places to find en-
ployment. These are some 81 the CON
siderations which should stir oar citizens
to act at once, to take the necessary
measures to stop the increase of the debt
III all forms. and to sec that the taxes are
applied To its reduction. Very respect
fully, W. Is. GtLICK.
DESTRUCTIVE FIRE IN LAUEIHIUEG.-Wc
learn by telegram received in this city,
yesterday, that IL fire broke out Yesterday