The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1875-06-15
Ex.counciIman Carpenter Rises to Ex.
plain,

speech o. non. II. CdSS Carpenter, ut
Pdrher's Hal, Tuesday Ertning J,nc
g. 1875, in Defence Of Republican, Id
ninistration Of City 1bairs.
MIR. CHAIRMAN AND GENrLEMES: In
coming forward to respond to the gene
ral call from the citizens COMPOSING this
meeting, it can hardly be expected of
ME, ut this late hour Of the night, now
verging on to midnight, to make any ex-
tended remarks, although the subject
under discussion affords ample opportu-
nifty for one to do so, We are called
upon to meet here tonight to listen to
the report of the committee nppointed
by the City Council of Columbia, to cx-
anime the condition of the city finances.
and to report the results of that investi-
CATION to the citizens who pay the taxes
which keeps tho city government in
operation. You have listened to that
report, and have also heard the excellent
resolutions adopted, which were offered
by the gentleman who preceded me- I
did not come here to discuss this report,
but d'd come to say few words, if op-
portunity was afforded me, in iustifica
ton Of the actions of the two Republi
con Councils whose operations have been
30 unjustly and unfairly criticised and
held up to scorn and condemnation by
the citizens committee. And in doing
this, MIR. Chairman, propose to confine
myself to the report made by that COM
mittee, and shall not take advantage of
any information which I may have de-
r1ved while member of the Council.
except in SO for as that mny be necessary
to prove my assertions while dealing
with this report. could have wished.
slr, as have no doubt every right think
ing non-partisan does, that this investi-
CATION had been conducted in q non
political spirit, and for no other purpose
than to correct prevailing abuses in
Official circles, and give to the city
more economical form of government;
but from the action of the meeting
which adopted this report, and from the
tone and temper displayed Mt that meet
ing, am forced to q very different con
clusion. If the action Of the committee
was intended to be bipartisan, why
does this report attempt to throw all the
blame for the increase of the city debt,
or the diversion of public funds, as they
are pleased to term it, upon the two Re
publican Councils which have admins
tered the affairs of the city since June,
1870! Had the two Democratic Counnils
which exercised official powers from
1866 to 1870, no lot or part in this mat
ter? Did they discharge the high duties
devolving upon them in the spirit Which
THIS report seems to imply? Did they
pay stricter regard to the credit of the
clty, and do more toward preserving it,
than the two Republican Councils which
succeeded them? Let US see from the
report itself, and desire each impartial
gentleman present to follow me through
u few items in this report, to SEQ if l mis-
state or draw any unnatural inferences
thRTQfrnn - A.
work OF the Chairman of the Committee,
Major Gulick, formerly Cashier of the
Carolina National Bank, n gentleman
who had quite rs much to do with per
suadlng the Council to dispose of the
bonds, etc., just as they did dispose of
them up to June, 1873, as any other
gentleman in this city. Now, sir, / pro-
ceed to the report. and propose to con-
hne my attention to the committees own
figures as to the amounts paid out for
interest during the years beginning with
1856 and ending the 30th of April, 1874,
period of eight years, four of which
cover Democratic and four Republi-
can administration. According to the
accepted statement of VIM j. Etter,
former City Clerk, and I believe this
statement had the vcrification of COM
mlttee OF business men OF the city,
whose endorsement ought to be good
anywhere, the bonded debt in 1866
amounted to 1914, $50. A portion of this
debt bore interest at five per cent, n
portion ut six per cent. and portion ut
seven per cent. Tho actuni interest
upon the bonded city debt per nnnum
would amount in round numbers to
S22, 600. Now, how much of this debt
did the Democratic Councils pay while
they enjoyed aldermanic honors? The
following carefully prepared table, in
which the expenditures are taken solely
from the committees report. shows that
each year of their administration they
failed to pay honest debts, held by
widows and orphans" and allowed
said debt to accumulate yearly from
5000 to nearly 500, 900, as follows:
lsG6-lnterest on bonded debt S22, ,O9G:
interest int paid 5,453; leaving unpaid 1G,-
537. 18G7-Interest on bonded debt
$22, o9G; interest paid $500; leaving un-
paid 1886 1868 Interest on bonded
debt s22, ,096; interest paid 1855; leav-
ing unpaid 1851. 1869 Interest on
hon1pI Iahf coo noe.