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

ton of Mayor Alexander. Mr. Carpen-
ter's figures are pure fctions.
While on this subject of city currency,
will ask Mr. Carpenter to give to the
public what he knows concerning tho
issue of city currency while Mr.. Barnum
was Treasurer. It 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 $37, 900. TO settle the account Of
A1r. Barnum correctly, it is necessary to
have MIR. Carpenters account of bills de-
livcrcd to the Treasurer.
There are other points in Mr. Carpcn-
ter's speech and communication which l
might notice, but an intelligent public
Will understand them well enough with
out further discussion. | could 90 on
rcctifying his mistakes md involving
him in nrithmetical blnndcrS but he
would probably imagine new SET of nc-
counts as soon as tho old mistakes wcr.
cleared up, and l should ln,vc new
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 i'll getting the accounts con-
fused and himself in II muddlc. that the
present embarraSsmcnts of the CITY arc
really not surprising, considering that
Its finances were under his manngcIt cnt
for two years. AS he cannot be expected
to know anything of the present financial
status of the city, take the liberty here
OF producing about what tlc expected
statement of the Mayor and City Clerk
will show rs to the city debt:
Bonds of all kinds SJ:,S. 500 on
due to banks. ....... 25,0f2 %
1. ). Jctcr. ................ 1.0DD OD
Judgments .............. 2.0!O 6J
Coupons past due. ..... G0,OUO 90
Unpaid bills, &c 10000 90
Total debt. bt............. !Si!6, 7J2 II
Showing an increase of Sl9O. 600 over the
largest statement yet made by Mr.. Car
penter. 1 make this contrast in order
that his admission already quoted, 'that
the city debt has been increased by n
large amount since 1S7O,' NAV be fully
sustained by direct evidence Having
accepted his largest statement, cmbrac-
ing all tho supposed liabilities of the
city at the beginning of AlcNnn,lcr's adj
mlnlstrntlon, this increase is directly
charSeablc to the ''waSte, extravaganza.
mlsmanagementa and other Kindred criis"
that have prevailed since that date.
AS hope not to be compelled to con-
tlnuc the discussion of city niattcrs anv
further through the press. desire to call
the attention of the public now 10 the
certain approach of IL disaster to our CITY
and its finances, if they are not taken
hold of promptly, with determination
to set them in better order. The special
tax Tor interest next year cannot be less
than ten mills; the tax to support the
city government, pay interest on tlouting
debt and meet deficiency in the water
contract will require ten mills more, and
ten mills more will be required to pay
ST., 600 i'll 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 thnt 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-
ducinS its selling price and lis taxable
valuation to the extent certainly ot
twenty-five per cent. The owners OF
property find it dwindlinG away in their
hands, while the poor man, the l.horcr,
Will he driven to other places 10 find en-
ployment. These are some .; the CON
Sldcrations which siiould stir oar citizens
to act ut 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
T, fully, W. B. Gj'LICK.
---~ ~S-
DESTRUCTIVE FIRE IN LArEIHLuE,;.- We
l,.;Irn hV n fnlnnr.Ila IN II