The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1875-06-30
ton of Mayor Alexander. Mr.. Carpen-
tcr's figures are pure fictions.

ton of Mayor Alexander. Mr.. Carpen-
tcr's figures are pure tictions.
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 the funds were
required. The whole amount printed
was S37, 900. 10 settle the account of
MIR. Barnum correctly, it is necessary to
have blr. Carpenters account of bills de-
livercd to the Treasurer
There are other points in N.Y. Carpnn-
tcr's speech and communication which |
might notice, bat an intelligent public
will understand them well enough with
out further discussion. ! could 90 on
rcctIfyinS his mistakes and involving
him in nrithmctical blnndcrs, but he
would probably imagine II new set of ac-
counts as soon as the old mistakes were
cleared up, and / should linvc II now
work before me. The fact is, Mr. Car
pcntcr displays so little nccUratc know
ledge of the finances of the city, and so
much skill in getting the accounts con
fused and himself in II muddlc, that the
present embarraSSmcmti "f the city arc
really not surprising, considering that
ITS finances were under his ,nnnn.e,t "nt
for two years. AS he cannot lie expected
to know anything of tho present imam ciul
status of the city, | take the liberty here
of producing about what thc expected
statement of the Mayor am! City Clerk
will show as to the city debt:
Bonds of all kinds. sos. 500 90
lIuc TO banks. ...... 23,0G2 %
i. y. Jctcr. l.U)D UD
Judgments ............. i2.0!O 65
Coupons past due. c..... 80, 900 l)
unpaid bills, Nc. IU,U 0U
Total debt ........S S,;oG,75o n
Showing an increase of SlgO. 600 ovcr the
largest statement yet made by Mr. Car
pentcr [ make this contrast in or,lcr
that his admission already quoted, ''that
the city debt has been increased by Il
large amount since 1870 may hc fully
sustained by direct evidence Having
accepted his largest statement, embrace
ing all tho supposed liabilities of the
city Mt the beginning of AlcNnn.lcr's adj
ministrntion, this increase is directly
chargeablc to the ''waStc, extravaganza.
mlsmanagcmcnt and othtr h.jntlre,i cri1s"
that have prevailed since that date.
AS hope not to be compelled to con-
tinue the discussion of city matters any
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 a determinntion
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 floating
debt and meet deficiency i'll the water
contract will require ten mills more, and
ten mills more will be required to pay
1000 in judgments already rendered
against the city in our Circuit Court.
The City Council may not lew 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 he paid until
the next tax is collected, is already going
on in the City Council, and nothing will
remain to pay even u 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 tile rental
value OF all the property of the city, re-
duclnS its selling price and It's taxable
valuation to the extent certainly or'
twenty-five per cent. The owners OF
property find it 'lwindling away in their
hands, while the poor Man. the luhorcr,
Will he driven to other places 10 find cln-
ploymcnt. These are some ii the con-
slderations which should stir or citizens
20 act ut once, to take the necessary
measures to stop the increased The debt
III all forms, and to sec thai the taxes are
applied to its reduction. Very RESPECT
, fully. W. Is. Gi'LICK.
DESTRUCTIVE FIRE IN LarEINL;E,;.- We
learn by il telegram received in this city.
yesterday, that fire broke ont Yesterday