The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-10-06

CHEEKY CHARLESTON.
THE STATE TO BE CALLED UPON TO Sc
CURE MONEY FOR HER CITIZENS
AT FOUR PER CENT.
The sInterests of the State are Very
Dear to Charleston When Charles
ton Is the Statc---COuntry People
may get Money ns they can. but
the State IN Called Upon to Assist
the City People.
TNc,Us and Courier. ]

-tCtOS tlilO SU" pf'J
The amount of the losses in Charleston by
| the earthquake can now he accurately eStl
mated at about s5OO0,UOO. This was thu
amount of the estimated loss In the begin
ming, and the early calculation has been con
| firmcd by Il number of competent and impair
| tial observers. In its nature the loss can eilSi
| ly he divided into two classes: The los
which falls upon those who, for one reason q
anothcr, are entirely unable to make gOot
! their own losses. and the losses Of those wht
| can be expected to be able TO rebuild ana re
pair.
| The first class Of oscrs-thosc who arc Who'll
| ly unable to help themsclveS-are provided
| for, or very nearly ST., by the liberal contrbu
| tiOns of our fellow countrymen and Sympa
thizerS. The second class expect no aid from
such n source, and know that they must de
pend on themselves, and on such security ~
rhey can offer, for the means OF rchabillta
tion. Probably four-tifths OF the whole los:
are included in the losses of the second class
and this broad fact is sufficient, in itself, Il
demonstrate the necessity OF cNilauStlng eN
cry available means to put the city back II
the position which it occupied little more
than q month ago. SO long as the work OF re
building-aS to four-fiIths Or even one-ha II O
the total lOsS.-iS suspended nr delayed, so Ions
must the STATIC suffer as well as the city. 1t !:
to the interest Of the taxpayers OF the whole
State that property in Charleston shall b(
maintained in value, and that the taxable
property which has been swept ont OF exist
cncc shall he brought to life again.
There Is not money enough In Charleston To
enable owners of property TO rebuild and re-
store the houses and stores that have been de-
Stroycd or prostrated by the earthquake. The
money is not here and, moreover, II Is DOUBT
ful that, If the money could be borrowed al
ordinary rates, the borrowers would dcsivf
any permanent benefit from the transaction
\ heavy loan att or per cent. would be
crushing blow to bear when added to the bur
den of State and municipal taxation. What
is really needed Is the ability to borrow, on
absolutely good security, three or four million
dollars at q rate OF interest not exceeding pei
cent. Besides this, and us another measure o.
relief, it is desirable that the tax laws bt
amended TO meet the occasion. IT can hardly
he anticipated that taxes will be required u
he paid on property which is no longer IN ex
stcnce. Yet as the law stands, those whose
houses and other property are absolutely DC
stroycd must pay their taxes, just as though
no misfortune had overtakcn them.
We are not prepared to SuGgcstany particu
lar mode of mt citing the Ill tiicullics OF the sit
uation, but 1t can readily be seen That legiSlh
ton is requisite and that it may be necessary
also to amend the Constitution OF the Stale
SO as TO remove restrictions that would be m
which does not exist. Any constitutions
amendment, to be of value, should be submit
ted TO the people at the general election TO ot
held on November 2, and. to accomplish this
turc before that election. Upon the adoption
OF the Constitutional amendment at the cleo
ton, and its ratification by the new Lcgisla
ture which shall assemble next month, any
desirable authority can be speedily and surely
obtained.
We have implicit confidence in the desire o
the people to assist Charleston In every prop
cr way. and we have confidence i'm the ability
of the State Legislature To devise some proper
method of relief The Legislature Is the rep
rcSentatvc of the people. 1t should not bt
denied the opportunity. In this great emer,
gcncy, 10 consider the whole situation an6
take such steps as will lessen Charlcston's diff
fculties, and strengthen the position OF al
South Carolina. The Legislature, we trust
will be convened in extra session Mt once
This is such an occasion as the Constitution
contcmpates in comforting upon the Govern
or the power to order an extra session. There
Governor Sheppard, we are confident, there
will be no lack of desire to move In the direc
ton which promises the best results to the
public.