Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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? '-nHARf-ESTON. FRIDAY MORNING. AUGUST 9, ?872. EIGHT DOLLARS A YEAR.,,. J VOLUME IX.-NUMBER 2050. THE INTEREST ON THE DEBT TAXPAYERS TO BLEED FOR TBE BENEFIT OF BONDBOLDERS. Comptroller-General Veagle Calls for a New Tax Levy-A Pleasant Remedy for tike Financial Asphyxia or tba Columbia Ring. The Columbia Union prints the following Important official letter irom Comptroller General Neagle to Governor Scott, regarding tbe status ot the South Carolina bonds. The (letter, as the Union Innocently observes, ''trill doubtless have its weight In commer? cial circles:" OFFICE OP COMPTROLLER GENERAL, ; COLOMBIA. 8. C., August 3, 1872. > 1 To His Excellency, Robert K. Scott, Governor: DEAR SIB-Witnln the past few months J have received a large number of letters from Ipersons holding State ol South Carolina bonds, anxiously Inquiring when the interest is to be paid, or if there Is any danger of any part of the debt being repudiated; and more es-1 peclaliy what does the present administration Intend doing with the new bonds ? I, therefore, address this communication to you In which I purpose to embody my views on the subject ot inquiry In such a manner as to furnish an answer to these letters, as far as' I I am competent to answer them; out under I existing h?ws you are the only one in this State who can give a forcible answer to In qa irles on the subject ot Us finances, as all laws J passed since you were made Governor have I V withdrawn the duties of the comptroller from'I that department, and made the auditor ot State the onie *r whose duty it ls to execute the laws;, who also ls your appointee, and whom you can remove at will. j This being the case, I feel certain that I am correct in saying that you alone can answer I ? these questions forcibly. Now, the first thing to Inquire, is as to voe duty ot the executive department towards creditors of the State, and if that duty ls not performed, who is re-1 BDonslble for the failure ? The first duty of the executive department, tben, is to execute I the laws; therefore, as the General Assembly of South Carolina did In Its legal capacity levy I a tax sufficient to pay the lntereston the bonded J debt of the State in every act authorizing the I issu.? of said bonds or stock?, In strict 'con-1 formlly with section 7, article 9 (page 21) of the constitution, where the following occurs aa a condition of every act authorizing the j creation of a debt: "And every such law shall levy a tax annually, sufficient to pay the an-1 nual Interest of snob a debt." The first act passed under your administra- I Hon authorizing the Issue of bonds, ls an act j entitled "An act to authorize a loan to re deem the obligations known as the bills re-1 celvable of the State of South Carolina," sec- I lion 6 of said act, (No. I'd,) page 17, acts ol I special session, 1868, says that an annual tax I In addition to all other taxes shall be levied upon the property of the State sufficient to pay the interest on the loan hereinbefore au thorized, at the times when such Interest shall I lall due. Now, slr, this language ls emphatic,.! and as far as the the legislative department ot the government is concerned, they have dis charged their duty and fulfilled the require? ments of the constitution. This act also au- f thorlzed you, as Governor of the State, to negotiate the said loan (sec. 1.) Though the financial agent and the treasurer's report of the 3lat October, 1871, shows that these bonds were Issued and sold by the finano1*! agent of tte State in accordance with law, and yet the auditor of State fails io enforce this part of the act which is imperative, the constitution and I act both declaring that lt shall be done; although when these bonds were belo? offer-1 ed on the market these clauses in the act and the constitution were both paraded as the I strongest evidence ol the value of the secu-1 nty. if yon will continue the investigation you I will find the very next statute, No. 14, page 18, authorizes you to raise through the financial I agent one million ol dollars of money in cou-1 pon bonds, a J J not only authorizes the levy of I a sufficient tax to-pay the Interest on the I bonds, hut declares that it shall be levied In very strong .terms. Section G provides "that I an annual tax. In addition to all other taxes, shall be levied upon the property of the State B util clent to pay the Interest on the loan here-1 In before authorized at the times when such io tereat shall fall due. Almost every other pro vision o? this act gives the executive officer J discretionary powers; except that Just quoted, I which is mandatory; and if this loau ha* been [ Issued, then the holders thereof have a clear j title to their interest. But Instead of their I getting lt, we see every other provision of this act executed except the one which the aot it? self declares shall oe enforced. I think I have gone far enough into details to establish the i fact that it ls clearly the duty of the auditor of State to levy and collect a auffielent tax to pay | 7 the Interest on the public debt; but for your own satisfaction, I will reler you to page 182, ] act No. 102, section 6; page 275, act No. 186, { section 5, acts 1868-69; and page 386, act No. 278, section 1, aciB 1869-70, where other acts of Assembly authorizing the Issue of bonds make the same provision as quoted in the acts cited above; and I believe itaat every one of the said acts received your official approval, and, as a matter of fact, every bond issued lu accordance therewith received your official signature. The above statements belog true while the auditor of the State falls to levy and collect j this tax, yon are certainly standing in the way I y-of parties obtaining their vested rights, un-1 - lesa yon . demand the execution of the law, I and thus remove all doubts as to the legality of the acts themselves and the bondi used In accordance therewith. Bat If there bad re m al ned .any doubts as to the Intention of the General Assembly on the subject of paying the interest on the publlt debt, all those doubla could be at once removed by reference to the I i acts of 1871- 72, page 278, No. 216, which not 1i only enacts the constitutional provision in reference to the new bonds Issued since its I adoption, but goes still further, and declares I : all bonds and stocas, old and new, enumera ted in the State treasurer's report of October I 3ist, 1371. valid and just obligations'against the State; and section 4 of this aot Bays : "The I section ol' each ot the acts under which Bald bonds purport to be issued, which provides for an annual tax - to pay the interest, Is here by declared to be a part of this act, and an an nual tax in addition to all others named shall be levied upon the property of the Slate, I sufficient to pay the interest on the bonds 11 named tn or provided for by this act until the 11 principal ot said bonds shall become due, such I ; payment to. be made In United States cur- I renoy only." 11 This act. was intended to remove all doubts as to the validity of bonds is-ned at any time 11 by the State? which were contained in the treasurer's report of October 21, 1871, and to I j fully comply with the constitutional provisions 11 in relerence to the payment of the interest, 11 said most emphatically that the tax shall be 11 levied. The amount of tbe debt is here fixed; i any citizen or officer can take his pencil and ( see what his portion of interest tax ls, and i tell the gross amount required. Now, sir, 11 ? claim that every provision hos been made for 11 ?he levy and collection of said tax, and that 11 -the auditor of Stale Bhould be Instructed by you to execute the law, and place the neces? sary funds In the treasury to meet thlB IntereBt without delay. It ls but just perhaps to the I State auditor for me to say that I have no knowledge of his viens ou this subject, but my convictions on this point are so strong that I am free to Bay that, if the General As? sembly bed seen flt to have Imposed these duties upon this office at an earlier period than the 1st of November, 1872,1 should have proceeded to enforce the law with the least possible delay. as I have bad but little to do with tue issu? ing ot the bond?, and even had but little knowledge of the transactions ot the floaneial board from October, 1869, to October, 1871,1 might, with propriety, have remained silent on this subject, out 1 feel it my dury to do all In my power, while I remain in office, lo have the State meet her just obligations. These past due coupons and bonds are considered as such, and so I accept them, and leel that every citizen would rather bear his part of the bnr 1 den of the taxes than have this crying shame upon the State. This administration ls held up to the scorn and contempt of the country everyday, on ac? count of tbe financial difficulties into which it has allowed Itself to be forced, and In many respects lt deserves censure, and one of the principal causes of all of this trouble has arisen from an attempt to run the State gov? ernment on borrowed capital; and now, when the whole credit of the State ls broken, we stand here without money, the bonds worth? less, confidence destroyed, and no one mak ' Jng the least effort to relieve the embarrass-1 ment, which could be done in less tl an twenty-four hours by . tho prompt action of J yourself, in forcing the Stale auditor to col? lect the lax for the payment of the Interest cn the public debt. *I think it is Incumbent on the governor of the State to see that ihlB part of the law ls executed. . I consider your action In approving the last named act as the strongest evidence that you could give in lavor of tue validity of tills debt. Now, slr, there Is one other consideration which I desire to present to your mind, and that is, that an act of the Legislature, which met your approval, required all insurance companies doing business In the State to In? vest largely In the bonds of the State, and under that act there have been placed in this office one million dollars of State stocks and bonds, lt seems to me that there Is a double obligation on the part of the State to these companies, as they are connected largely with the mercantile and banking Interests of the country. Ido think that ibis consideration should move you-to at once proceed in a direc? tion that seems so clearly pointed ont by your duty. If repudiation of the interest of the State debt ls to take place, I am anxious that others should do it, and not the present ad? ministration. IP THU OPPOSITION PARTY IN THIS STATE WEKE PLACED IN POWER TO-MORROW, THEY WOULD MAKE HOT HASTE TO PAY EVERY OBLI? GATION OP SOUTH CAROLINA, AND WOULD SOON PLACE HER CREDIT ABOVE suspicion The ex? ecutive department bas all the power that they could have, and why not act,; The debt of this Slate ls a little less than sixteen mil? lions of dollars, the annual Interest a little less than one million, and the State ls abun? dantly able to pay. Now, sir, have this tax levied and allow the people a chance to meet their obligations. THEY PAY THEIR TAXES AS j PROMPTLY AND AS WELL AS IT IS POSSIBLE FOR ! ANY PEOPLE IN THE WORLD TO DO UNDERTHKIE DIFFICULTIES, and I feel sure that they are more than willing lo do it. Of course, the partisan press will say ugly things and blow hard, but an old veteran of an hundred battles should not quake before the blank shots ot the politician. THEY HAVE ADVISED THE PEOPLE AGAINST PAYINO THEIR TAXES WHEN THEY WEBE MADDER THAN THEY ARE NOW, BOT THEIR AD? VICE WENT UNSEEDED, AND THEY ARE SORRY AND ASHAMED THAT THEY EVER ACTED SO BADLY. I regret the necessity of levying so heavy an amount ot taxes as will be required, but many of the abuses of the past can be prevented In the future, by theJLeglstature making specific levies for the varions purposes of the govern- j ment, and levying only the amonnt necessary for such specific object; then lt will be Impossi? ble for auy power to divert them lrom their proper channels. Had this been done In tbe past much trouble would have been avoided, and it sufficient taxes had been levied to de? lray the expenses of the State, even if they were unnecessarily extravagant and heavy, lt would have the left the State debt at one-ball bf what lt is now. But we have the present and the future lo deal with, not the past; and I propose now and hereafter to lend my poll ti cai Influence, If any I have, to the construc? tion or a State government that will promptly enforce the laws. And now, sir, in conclusion, allow me to express the hope that you will consider the importance ol this subject, and at once have the laws executed. With an apology for this intrusion, and very great respect, I have the honoi to subscribe myself, Very respeclfullv, your obedient servant, J. L. NEAOLE, Comptroller-General. GOV. SCOTT ON" THE DEBT. His Views on the Payment of Pait-Dae Interest, ?nd OB the Registration Ch urges Of the Co mme ic i til Wart ' ii o a te Company. '- Governor Scott has addressed the following letter to Messrs. Henry Clews & Co., bankers, New York, relative to the Dayment of interest on the public debt: COLUMBIA, August G, 1872. Messrs. Henry Clew <? Co., Bankers, No. 32 j Wall street, New York: GENTLEMEN-Your letter of the 2lst June has remained for some lime unanswered In consequence ot my not being able until the J present moment to furnish you with the de? sired information. On account of the many Inquiries from holders of our Slate bonds, I deem lt my duty to write you fully on subjects touching, not only the payment ot the interest, but the bonded debt Itself. . An application was made at the session of the Legislature of 1870-'7l lo pay ihe interest on the public debt falling due January, April, July abd October of the year 1872. But lo consequence of no levy of taxes being made fox the payment of legislative expenses of the last session, which were unusually large, as you will perceive by reference to the enclosed statement made by the Stale treas? urer to Judge Willard, ot the Supreme Court, the money was diverted from the payment of interest to meet the payment of legislative ex? penses, and expenses Incidental, thereby leav? ing the State treasurer w i thou: funds to meet the decreased Interest, or even curront ex? penses. Therefore; unless a special levy of | taxes ls made under the law authorizing the issue of bonds, and collected immediately, as has been urged by many, -who believe it to be | for the best interests of the State, I am com? pelled to state that no Interest can possibly be I paid belore January, 1873, as a levy under the [ law ls now being made, which will be collect? ed between the 20th of November and 15th ot January next, and set apart for that especial purpose. I nave also received many letters complain? ing of the extravagant charge ot one per cent demanded by the Commercial Warehouse Com? pany for the registration of,bondsj Flocks, &c, and I must concur In the Justice ol' the com? plainte. As you will perceive by the enclosed advertisement of the "Carolina National Bank" ol this city-which ls also named as one of the places of registration In the law-that their j Charges are very much leas, amounting lu the aggregate to less than one-tenth of one per cent., as they charge only or.e dollar for each bond or piece ol stock. The complaints of the requirement of law in this registration, I re? gard as unjust to the officers of the Slate. The law was not enacted to satisfy the officers charged with the duty and responsi? bility o? issuing bonds that lhere was no frau? dulent Issue placed on the market, but to give ? the fullest opportunity to the holders ol' bonds toea tis fy themselves that the report ol the treasurer was correct, and, also, to expose the malignity with which false representations were made and published broadcast through? out the country, placing our debt at upwards of thirty millions of dollars, instead of ti possi? ble debt ot less than sixteen millions. r hope, therefore, that the law will be strictly compiled with in the registration of every bond that has been placed upon the | market. I feel lt also dee to 'ito correct mis- j representations that are currently circulated that the money derived from the sale of bonds ind collection of taxes bad been misapplied t>y State officers. It requires but a very brief statement to convince any man who ls not engaged in misrepresentation for political purposes ot the falsity ot these charges. You will see, by reference to the report of the financial agent, that $3,843,000 lace value of bonds sold by him between October, 1869, and September 3,1871, realized $2.203,783 38 In cash, which sum was turned over to the State treasurer, leaving the balance of the entire Ideue of bonds-amounting to $5,574,000 -in bis hands, and pledged as collatteral for I the comparatively small sum ot $1.267,075 63. Now, if the Legislature had authorized the , levy and collection by taxes of this last Bum of | money, it would have placed beyond a possi? bility of becoming a part ot the State debt, at least one-third <J) of the entire amount ot bonded debt reported by the treasurer. it appears to me that lt ls scarcely neces? sary lo say a word In explanation of increases I. debt, AU the money that has been recelv ea by Bale or hypothecation of bonds, with the exception ot $700,000, has been uned in pay ?^HL0/ debta and Interest thereon against "?? K-' ??-,um?lated prior to 1st Joly, 1869. ffJ^ko^ t,m? 00 taxea Dad been collected, Our misfortune has been, that sufficient taxes were not levied in one year to meet the ex? penses o? me most economically managed f^JFZf^f*} !5 the Un,te<l States, as the collection of taxes for the past four years has annually amounted to less than $1.000.000 -a smaller sum than most States collect year? ly for school purposes alone r ?^L io?n ?ia ,M,,urlB? you that in the j future a lax will be levied under the law re? quiring the levy of a tax to pay the Interest on the loan authorized, and mat the money so collected shall be devoted exclusively to the payment of the Interest on the public debt. r I have the honor to be, very respectfully Your obedient Bervant, BOBEBT K. SCOTT, Governor. THE HOSPITAL PROBLEM. WHAT 18 TO SE BOKE WITH THE SICK j POOR OF THE CITY. The Present Shabby and Insufficient Accommodations-What ls Proposed as an Improvement-Th? Rival Plans -Roper Hospital TS. the Poorhouse. One of the most Important subjects that now occupies the attention of the municipal authorities of ibis city is the question o? the proposed alterations at the City Hospital to meet the constantly Increasing demands mat are being made upon the resources of that In? stitution. The necessity for Increased hospi? tal accommodations for the sick and iosane of | the city is imperative, as could be shown by the statistics ot the present over-crowded establishment, but lt Is believed that this necessity is BO fully understood and admitted that it ls not necessary to repeat the figures here, and the object ol this article Is simply to Bhow as clearly and as fully as may be the various propositions that have been made to accomplish the desired result. In order to convey an accurate Idea of the problem to be solved, the following diagram bas been pre? pared which represents, on a scale of 110 feet to 1 Inch, the eastern half of the square bound? ed by Queen, Mazyck, Magazine and Franklin streets. The buildings shown are the present j City Hosnltal, with its outbuildings, the Work- j house e "d the Boper Hospital, and the dotted lines ?enote the fences or brick walls which divide the properly. The capital and small letters within the diagram of the Workhouse refer to the proposed Interior alterations In that building as described below: DIAGRAM. Magazine street. rut; n " n -11 Q H 1~ Workhouse. il m jr Hospital. l-l Queen street. REFERENCES. A. Present City Hospital. B. Bake House. 0. Temporary Accommodations for tho Insane. WORKnOUSB-BiaEXBKT. D. Vestibule and ?airway, 17x11. E. Surgeon's Office. lOxB. F. Dispensary, 10x8. 0. Examination Boom, 22x18. H. Store Room, 17x12. 1. Porter's Room, ITXU. : . FIRST FLOOR. D. Reception Room, 17x11. E. Steward's Room, 10x8. F. Apothecary's Room, 10x8. Q. Surgeon's Quarter's. 22x18. H and I. Ward-master's Rooms, each, 17x12. SEOOhD FLOOR. D. Reception Room, l7xli. E and F. Nurses' Rooms, each 10x8. O. Operating Room, 22X18. H and I. Patients' Rooms, each, 17x12. n. Bath Roi ms and Water Closets, ) n_ M"h o. Circular Stairways, J u?""rcn s. Elevators. ... u. j floor' The city now owns tbe buildings A, B, C and the Workhouse, and occupies the whole of the first named and the Mazyck street wing ot the Workhouse for hospital purposes. The building marked A Is known as the Mazyck street Hospital, and ls about as dingy, shabby and ill-contrived as lt can be. It ls a brick building forty by twenty-five feet on the ground plan and three-stories high, covered with stucco and red wash, which ls discolored by age and warped and peeled off in many places. The building marked B ls an old brick structure, about twenty by thirty feet in size and two-stories high, now used as a bakery, where all the bread for the hospital and various other city Institutions Is baked. This bakery turns out good bread, and by fur? nishing the Almshouse, Orphan Asylum, ?c., brings in a considerable revenue; but the building is tumbling to pieces, and lt ls said that the workmen in it are literally In danger ol their lives from tbe crumbling walls, which may give way at any moment. The two buildings, C C, are long, narrow, brown brick structures,.originally built for a pt son, with little square windows heavily barred. The northern one is occupied by colored sick patients, and the southern one by insane patients, and in the latter building both color? ed and white persons have to be confined to? gether. This temporary insane asylum ls especially a disgrace and eyesore to the city. It ls dark, crowded, Illy ventilated and repul? sive In all Its features, except that] it Is kept as clean as possible under the circumstances. It would make manyja sane man crazy tobe locked up for a week within its dlbgy walls, and lt is difficult to see how any insane pa-, tient can possibly recover his mental health in such a place. Whatever plan Is adopted for the extension ot the;hospltal, all three of these last named buildings should be torn down and their Bites dug [up and laid out In some attractive and rational manner. The Work? house is probably familiar enough in Its exte? rior appearance to most of our readers. It ls a massive and valuable brick structure, having a iront on Magazine street of two hun? dred leet, and two wings eacr> one hundred feet long. Its heavily barred [windows and dingy coaling of brown stucco now give ita sombre and Bastile-llke appearance, but it could easily be transformed into a handsome building, which would be an ornament to the neighborhood and a credit to the city. The Roper Hospital ls another building that is well known to every resident of Charleston. It ls a handsome and commodliiB building one hundred and seventy-five feet long and Hay feet deep, with wide and elegant piazzas on the southern front, and is fitted Inside with all the usual appliances of a modern hospital. In? side it bas a dispensary, reception-room, mas? ters and matron's rooms, kitchen, mess rooms, surgeon's quarters and large and small wards. There are also two elevators connect? ing the different Boors and bath-rooms, water closets and other conveniences throughout the building. On the lot in the rear there ls a dead-house and laundry building. The prop? erty 1B nor. In perfect repair, but it ls said that an outlay of a few hundred dollars would mase it BO. It was built Jointly by tb and tbe trustees of Mr. Boper, who beq ed a sum of money lor tbe erection and tenance of a first-class hospital for eic pie, without distinction of-race, rellg nationality. It is now owned by a bot trustees, appointed by the Charleston M Society, and IB not occupied In any - v> present. The necessity of Increasing the capai the City Hospital has been admitted an subject discussed for several years. As ago as March 24, 1872, Mr. Louis Burbot, and now city engineer of Charleston, mi careful estimate and report, accompanh accurate drawings, of what lt would cc remodel the Workhouse so as to flt it Ciiy Hospital. Mr. Barbot lp his report posed to remove several of the massive inside of the building, which greatly structed the air and light gild were I means essential to the strength of the bull having been provided rather to- proven escape of prisoners when the building devoted to its original use. ' He -also *re mended and strongly urged increasing size of the windows, which now narro; ward in true prison style,- and of ci removing the prison bars. .He then posed to utilize the large space that wou furnished In Oie central portion of the t lng by knocking away the massive part walls andby arranging the various rooms o several floors Indicated by the capital le ia the above (Bagram of the Workhc These would be ?ll the offices necessary first-class hospital, and would ail be of ai size for their respective purposes. . The. also proposed the erection or wide .piazza the three Bides of the Workhouse loo toward the yard, with staircases lrom ground to the highest fleer on each side, each of the outer angles ol the Work h building there are massive circular ton ; having an Inside diameter of six feet e j and lt was proposed to utilize these j arranging bath rooms and water-clc in each of the corners marked n in the gram, making four on each floor; a ciro stairway in each of the towers on the con marked o, and an elevator Tor raising \ sick patients In each of the corners marke In addition to all this lhere would be large L shaped wards on each floor, In east and west sides respectively, each bat an area of thirty-seven hundred and '. square feet. Altogether there would be r< .for two hundred and fifty patients, allon twelve hundred cubic feet of atmospheric to each, and the building, which might made attractive on the outside by a coa stucco similar to that on the Mills Hoi would be made in all respects a model i pltal. The cost ot all this reconstruction was e mated by Mr. Barbot, at that time, as fol 1 o i Total cost of improvement...,$18,?32 oo Lesa, ? If the enlargement or windows be not adopted- 3,000 oe -$16,931 Of this amount, we have, on an average, 60,000 lbs. of Iron, which can be so:d at 2Jic. per lb...:;. 4,oct $11,931 To which add, If the enlargement or windows be adopted. rt.oct Which will give tne perfect and com- , plete remodelling of the building, as per plans. 14,92: Cost of cent al building......$ 4,691 oo. Coat of either eastern or weir - - . ern section. 7,eos oo Making the total coat..$12,196 OJ From this amount deduct , for old iron. 4,000 00 -$,8,186 -The plan was strongly recommended by l Board of Health, and was discussed at lenj by tbe City Council, but nothing was done the time, and the matter remained in ab ance until recently, when the necessities ? the institution, as shown by Dr. J. Somi Buist, the surgeon in charge, became mc pressing than ever, and the Board of Hea were again stimulated lo action. They h bet?re them the original plans of the city c glbeer, and another proposition, which w made at their request by the trustees of t Roper Hospital. This proposition was that f city, Instead ot.going to.the large expense making a hospital out of a bulldli which was but poorly adapted 1 such a purpose, should rent frc them the Boper Hospital, which w all ready or nearly ready for use as a hosplti for five hundred dollars per year, they agre lng to devote two thousand dollars or Io years' rent of the building to pnttlug lt thorough repair. This proposition was urgi on the ground of'economy, and is now b lleved by many physicians and other getl men fully competent to Judge of the matte to be the very best toing the city could d The Board of Health, however, thought ot he wise. At the meeting ol that board held c the 3d ultimo, Dr. Geddings while acknow edging the cordiality exhibited by the truste* of the Roper Hospital, and the liberal chara j ter of their proposition, opposed it as aten I porary expedient, and was of the opinion tba "no temporizing expedients would reach tr, ends desired; no law of sordid economy woul secure the ful?lments of the mandates of tri Most High In relation to their duties to tb poor." He continued as lollows: I Such an arrangement, while lt would be ac vaotageous to meet a pressing emergency, I feel, would prove very different lu its flos results. In the altered condition of our pope tatton, with Its steady increase of paup?risa and consequent steady augment atiog dem an for hospital accommodation, should rationall admonish us not to quietly content ourselve with temporizing expedients, but to meet s once, permanently and efficiently, a provisto: for the poor, the suffering and the afflicted weighed down by disease and destitution. Dr. Geddings then went on to speak wltl warm approval of the plans of the city engl neer, as described above, and the Board o Health, In their report to the City Council, re commended those plans for adoption. Tbe City Council, upon hearing from tb? Board ot Health, referred the matter to lt committee on public institutions, building! and grounds, which committee reported or the subject at the meeting ot the City Councl held ou the 22d ultimo. The committee, li addition to furnishing some portion of the in? formation above published, reported as fol lows: The present provisions for the insane hos? pital we find perlectly unsuitable for maoj reasons: li The buildings are very badly ventilated. 2. The subdivisions of apartments and stories are very Irregular, and lt 1B difficult to make a proper order of classifications, though the beBt has been done that the bad arrange? ment ol the buildings afforded In the efforts of the surgeon In charge. The ordinary comforts that are necessary cannot be well carried out, even when pro? vided for, through the imperfect construction In the plan ol the present buildings, which are composed of two orick buildings, in the rear of the lot of Mazyck-street Hospital. These buildings were originally badly located, and not calculated In any respect for hospital purposes. Oce oi the buildings abuts off the other entirely from its southern ex? posure, which ls BO desirable In a Southern climate. The arrangements of apartments, both In regard to size and location, for the Insane sick, must be made particularly suited to the wants of this class ot patients. Such arrangements the present buildings do not afford in the slightest degree. Tour committee particularly examined the plans which were called to the attention ol' Council, and prepared In the year 1868, for tL" conversion ot the Workhouse Into a hospital, by Mr. Barbot, the city engineer, and consider that the great want of hospital accommoda? tions could.not be supplied in any better and weil arranged plan. .Every want that comfort and necessity could suggest for a complete hospital, appears to have been singularly well met In the design. The building ?lil accom? modate two hundred and fifty patients, allow? ing twelve hundred cubic feet of atmospheric air tb each. The. ventilation will be as p??Ject as can be desired? The commodious piazzas to each story, with 'southern exposure, and overlooking a wide and opened area in a south? erly and southwesterly direction, ls a very im? portant point in the provisions of the plan. ' * The building used as a bakery ls now In a very dilapidated condition. Tne masonry ol' the south and west walls is opening badly; to repair lt would be a useless expenditure. It ls too near the Mazyck street hospital .build? ing, and uncomfortably near on account of the smoke and heat. - It should be taken down and rebuilt on the western- division line, and made but one story blgb. The materials taken from It will be ? gain to the olly, as there will be four limes as many bricks as wJJl be needed for a small bakehouse to supply the demands of the bospit&ls and poorhouses. This removal will leave a space for a neatly laid out garden and walks. It must be boroo In mind that it ls very, reluctant for the poor and respectable sick to enter a hospital,.and, besides'this, many other reasons, may be advanced to show the influence that an uninviting habitation for treatment must have npon the nervous sys-: tem. We.do not believe that any money ls ill bestowed which tends to Impart a cheerful and agreeable appearance to the surroundings of a hospital. Tte poor sick, In passiog within such grounds and buildings will cease to experi? ence that reluctance that ls so commonly felt; but will immediately recognize the re? spect shown for suffering humanity, will cheer up from the depressed condition In which you always find them, and will readily and often recover from th? telling effects of pover? ty and sickness combined, and perhaps more frequently than from the treatment for the evils which they suffer. . Your committee, alter .carefully reviewing all the.reasons assigned In the matter of secur? ing better hospital accommodations, suited lo the requirements of the city now, recommend : 1. Toe adoption of the plans proposed for the conversion of* tBe Workhouse into a city hospital. 2. The alterations ol buildings needed for the insane hospital.. 3. Tue removal of the bakery and the laying out of ihe grounds.. I Provided the cost of said improvements does not exceed the ?un? of $10,000. It will be bor ne In mind that inls expendi? ture will not be an Idle Investment; but will more than heretofore be a source ot revenue. (See reports Dr. Buist, surgeon hospital.) This report of the committee came up for consideration at the meeting pf the City Coun? cil held last Tuesday evening, but at the meet log the. subject was, upon motion of Alder? man Gage, referred back to the .medical committee, "with instructions, if deemed ne? cessary, to have a further consultation with the trustees gf the Boper Hospital, to see II any arrangements can be made to promote the Interest of the city and of those needing hospital accommodations." On the next day, last Wednesday, an infor? mal meeting ot Hie Board of Health was held, at which the subject WSB discussed, and at which Alderman Gage, who was present by invitation, explained his objects In offering the above resolution. He said be bad been Induced to offer the ?resolution from a conver? sation held with a trustee ot the Boper Hos? pital, who was of the opinion that the city could get the nse of that building, and thru save tho expense which the contemplated Im? provements would involve. Ho thought If the medical committee would hold a conference with the trustees ot the Boper Hospital that.-some arrangement might be brought about which would secure tbe use of the building for a long term of years. The three unsightly structures In the 'centre of the City Hospital yard, as well as the fence, shutting off communies i lon with the Boper Hospital, could then be taken down, and the space so occupied plante I with shade trees and converted Into pleasani grounds for the use of the patients. He also thought lt would be well for the Council to get control If possible of the Boper,.fund, yielding about twenty-five hundred dollars per year, and ap? ply lt to the purposes .'prescribed in conjunc? tion with the management of the hospita). These wero his motives for offering the reso? lution. Should notblog be effected by the conference with the trustees, tbe committee could then return to their original plan. The next move in the matter to be expect? ed ls the conference between the medical committee of thc Board of Health and the trust?es of the Boper Hospital. Then there will probably be another report by the Board of Health, and tbe final action by the City Council may be expected In the .course of a few weeks. POLITICAL FLASHES. Horace Greeley In New Hampshire-A Speech from Che Next President. MANCHESTER, (N. H..) August 8. Horace Greeley bad a fine reception at his old home yesterday. There was a cannon and a band with the procession. He made a home speech, closing with a happy allusion to tbe mutual i - te res ts of cotton growers and cotton spinners, and an expression of the trust that sectional misapprehension and hatreds were yielding to experience. These sentiments provoked nine hearty cheers. The joint dele? gation from Manchester and Concord conduct? ed Greeley to Concord to-day. Thc Liberal Cause In Washington. WASHINGTON, August 8. The Greeley ratification procession made a mognlfleient display on the avenue with Illu? minated banners. There was a constant stream of pyrotechnics, and five bands of music. The Democrats and Liberal Republi? cans are holding a raiiflcallon meeting to? night There was cannon-dring, a torch? light, proces-lon and fireworks. The result in North Carolina don't seem to dampen the ardor of the friends of Greeley. Our Peripatetic [President. i-LATTSBCRQ, N. Y., AugUSt 8. President Grant and intnlly arrived here last evening, and left this morning by steam? er through Lake Champlain for Lake George. Butler and Banks. NEW YOKE, August 8. A Boston special says that Butler cays that he will make no particular effort lor the Gubernatorial candidature, but will accept the nomination ot either the Republican or Libor Reform parties. Bank speaks on Tues ''iiiberml Coalition In Louisiana. NEW ORLEANS, August 8. After a prolonged conference the Liberal Democratic and Reform committee failed to agree. Subsequently the Plncbback Repub? lican committee made a proposition to the Liberals, which was accepted, giving .the Pinchoackers the Congressmen ac large and the secretary ol State, ihus effecting a fnsion of the Liberals and Pinchbackers. The Dem? ocrats and Reformers demanded four places on the State ticket, Including the governor and lieutenant governor. THE POPE OX THE FRENCH LOAN. PARIS, August 8. The Pope has written a letter to President Thiers congratulating the French nation upon the great success ot the new loan, which bis Holiness thinks ls attributable to the refusal of Goulard, the minister of finance, to accept tbe position of ambassador to the Court of Italy, the Invader and enemy of the Holy See. THINGS GETTING LIVELY. THK JM2T? ATLAST TO RE DRAGGED BEFOSE THE COVETS. Terrible Disclosure* of Corbin arm Car. \ dozo-The Conversion Bonds-Orr on ' the War Path-Hot Times Ahead. (SPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE NEWS.] . . COLUMBIA, S. C., August 8. ' There was nothing of much interest io the Blue Ridge case to-day. Colonel McMaster, counsel for Mackay, made and argued a mo? tion that the amendments by MrrCorbin be not allowed, on the ground of their being op? posed to the true Interests of the stockhold? ers. Mr. Corbin replied, defending bis amendments, and the court sustained bim, or atleafft decided that It was toa late to object; to the amendments. The returns ol Patter? son and the other defendants, ol which ? spoke yesterday, were read iby counsel, and, upon motion of the defendants, the further bearing of the case was postponed till Thurs? day next, In order to allow them to prepare counter affidavit..X' I learned.to-day, from a trustworthy source, that..the allegations o'Cjh? plaln?ff .that $50,000 of scrip, has been paid to Parker, $20,000 to Worthington, $10,000 to Hardy Solo? mon, etc.,' were based .upon entries made on the books ot the company, and can be fully SUB fained. " sj ! T he- m an d arnus- case against Car dozo ran off upon the question of jurisdiction, and the fur? ther hearing will not be had till tbe regular term of the court. Corbin, however, got In a terribie ' arraignment of the Ring, which was delightful to hear. He charges and proves beyond all doubt that six. millions' -of the so-called conversion bonds were issued in fraud and are clearly unconstitutional. Seven millions and upwards of- conversion bonds have been issued, and only one million of older State securities were taken np. The act only con? templated that the conversion bonds be used to convert Outstanding securities, but the Bing illegally hypothecated them, and they, were anally put upon the market without a dollar of older stocks or bonds-being taken up or converted. What is more still, Cardozo -charges upon Parker (and lt ls not denied) that he (Parker) Instead of cancelling the one million (1,000, 000) ol old bonds which li ad,, been converted, again hypothecated and syd., them. The bonds ot Morton, Bliss A Co. are among these. Cardozo says that Parker admitted .lt In con? versation .with him. Cardozo ls .out' lu a . scorching letter on the doings of tbe-Ring, to be published In the Phoenix tomorrow morn Judge Orr Is in town. He is very bitter in his denunciation' of the Ring, and says they ought to be prosecuted at once. Inn?mera*, ble instances of bribery are openly charged against Moses. It is said he received $10,000 for his Influence in the Blue Ridge bill, and an equal amount on the validation Greenville and Colombia Ballroad and consolidation bills and to prevent Scott's Impeachment. Gov? ernor Orr Bays the election In North Carolina was a "dog-fall," in other words Grant's fail. The Radicals hold a Jubilee over tbe dog-fall to-night. The citizens ' here are beginning to talk earnestly of commencing legal proceedings against the Ring lortbwltb. Nearly three hundred dollars was subscribed to a prosecut? ing fund to-day with scarcely an effort, and five hundred more can doubtless be raised in three days. Even some Republicans are sub? scribing. One man subscribed fifty dollars, and said he would double it when the suite are commenced. The people are very indig? nant over the threatened tax to pay interest on the fraudulent bonds. Qm VIVE. -ci-? GOV. SCOTT DESERTS GEANT. The Greeley Meeting In Greenville General Butler's Speech-What he said about Scott and Greeley-A Rousing Majority Sure-The Fine Crop Pros? pect.. [FROM OOS OWN CORRESPONDENT.] GREENVILLE, 8. C., August 6. A great and glorious ratification meeting was held here yesterday to endorse the -nomi tlon of Greeley and Brown by the Democratic party. It was one of the largest ever assem? bled, and most enthusiastic and unanimous, and embraced all the best and moat intelligent citizens In the county. Ex-Governor Perry spoke with great ability and effect, and "tbe old man eloquent" -sur? passed himself. '-Tbe old lion" was aroused, and be assailed Grant and the Scott ring with irresistible loree,.and advocated Greeley as the very best man, under the circumstances, we could elect, and Insisted that Grant would not get four States. General Butler, who happened to be present, was called on, and although unprepared, made a speech of surpassing ability and elo? quence. He contended tbattbe negro ques? tion was settled, and that now it was a ques? tion of liberty, of local government, of civil aa against military rule. He stated that four days ago Governor Scott, tn Columbia, said to bim '-that he did not care if Greeley roos elect? ed; that he (Scott) was not anxious about Grant's election; that Grant had spoken of his stealing; that he i8cott) woold soon make a speech; that In that speech he would state that when Grant was elected to the Presidency he and his family were all poor, and that he (Scott) and his family could buy them out ten times; that now Grant and his family were all rich, and could buy him out ten times; and that If he got his money by stealing, he would like to know how Grant got his." It seems, trien, that the Scott party is not as Intensely Grant as supposed, and It may yet happen that South Carolina may go for Gree? ley, especially If Sumner comes among us. Many other/speeches of ability were made. Colonel Crittenden, Colonel Moore, Colonel Jones, J. M. Stokes, Esq., Colonel McCol lough, Rev. Mr. Stepp, Major Ferguson, F. B. Mc Bee, E?q., and others spoke, and spoke well. This county is sure for Greeley, and from Ave hundred to one thousand Dembcratic majority. All goes well here. We have fine seasons. Rain almost dally, and the gardens and corn crops are rejoicing. It Is rather wet for cotton. A cotton field near me ls said by] judges to be good lora bale and a half to the acre, and with the fer? tilizers we can raise here at the foot of tbe mountains, out of the malaria region, as good and as mach cotton as they can in Abbeville or Newberry. Each acre of this field will yield from $120 to $150; and thus with land worth here Bay $10, you can more tban tenlold Its price by one crop. It Is a field of Dr. William Earle, of ibis place. SOMERS. A GOLD CLIQUE. NEW YORK, August 8. The treasurv to-day awarded two millions in gold at 115. lt was all taken by one clique. TBS' BOOT OS TBS WRONG LEG. Caldwell Elected In Xor (li Carolina ? Th e. Result of Fraud, Corrop t lon ?ad : ' Federal Interference. . ".^ .j . .. ...HBVT.YOBZ, Angaflt8.* i Tbe latest: dispatch to lae Times says : "Caldwell's majori ly ls two thousand. The Senate consists o? thirty-one DemwnRT ?nu nineteen Bepublloans, .the House sixty-three Democrats and fifty-seven 'Hep^U?rnsl"^ . The Election to be Contested; v| WrxMDiOTON, Ki C.,' A?eust 8?-';'f . : i The Journal, of this morning, saye-^We de- - J mend that Judge Merri mon shall contest tba''" '' '? election of Uowropr Calrt well belore' the next ? Legislature. ..From the Leglslatuw;oPNorth--1 ?| Carolina we can and will obtain Justice. K 4 fraudulent votes have been cast, and of thia J ho reasonable man can entertain a' doqf#--'t? the patient, honest .and intelligent mv?etlgtft \ ?Jon that tbe Legislature win "giv? tb]?."^d matter will enable the.wprld to seethe txiRnV-^ and the whole truth. Tb*-is all we-ask. .If "vf we have been lalrlybeaten-i-if Avm"sj<)tu^.fO?- ? the legal votes cast, a week ago to-oay, werjsT: cast against tbe Conservative ticket, we do . * * not ask that Judge Merrlmon. be declared ?.1-3 Governor of North Carolina. We'?b demand, however, lt he was legally elected,'that we - shall not be cheated out of our victory." - TBE FRAUDS OF TBE GRANT1TES. Vv \ How the Radicals Operated-Terrorism'' : and Fraud-The Legislature t?**' - ; Strongly Conservait ve lo Manip?late. i . ''-'.?.' . ,: .'-??'??'.>?.."'' ; The Haleigh correspondent of Abe Waablhg< :* ton Patriot writes on the.fi tb iiistants^yrr.' - - f . . Berry and Pool were -"In'' together^lblfa^^^ manipulation of the vote, in thia city, aad both-j.--,:' bad heavy bets on the success of the Bad leal ticket. Both have been very sangultoj ?o'l boastlnl for-the last few days, and^todi;',^ especially, they go aooqt.wUh a euperclllons air of assurance that ls very significant. On ; the other band, at Conservatlve Headquarter^ J .. though confldent of success, If a lair count of the vote can only be had, there is some un-t?t" 1 easiness manifested lest the Badlcals, aftru; -4L.V ' may have succeeded In counting us out. Wa ' know also- but-too well, that the moi?sJr-iK>; sent down here by: -the a4m*jiiattaV*? r'j? oas bad its effect, fat;, we it?w^M?tS?S^ to feel lt. More especially ls li. linlQjfflMWH] since from tbe counties where 0"nlLe?VStates: ; > Marshal Carrow's money has been used, ara returned large Badlcal majorities. Another. glimpse of the cloven foot we have from the - whiskey counties, where' nearly ali the small - distillers were threatened wi th indlotmen 1 s tn .the Federal courts, li ihey did not vote the - "right" ticket.. And. again, when Senator . ? Doolittle was here, he stated that he had- re^"' liable information, derived from one of' Zack - ? ?' Chandler's own secretaries,.that wa^B^talem;. beld Indictments, under the Ku^Kiux. act, . over upwards of four thousand voters" In '"'tue* ' so-calted*' Ku-Klux counties,: 'who, . by the - - ? process, of promising -release and a ?nottste:i prosequU.vtoul?. be.made to vote the admin- ? v ^trallon ticket; The truth'of this statement ls fully borne out by the reports which come ? to us from those same counties in which large Badlcal gains appear. .Governor. VM0?%6&trj?S'' from the west that this process of-ipdletlog ? - ' distillers and alleged Ku-Klux, giving them as their only chance to get off to vote the Badi- ' ' cal ticket, bas been extensively carried on In the counties which- he has visited, and be foreshadows that the result of these dastardly ;j? proceedings micht be 61 more consequence than was generally anticipated and provided ? for. Governor Merrimon ls quite, eatJafled. that, If not elected, it will be solely on account ol'fraudulent manipulation of the Tote, and hb ls determined, In that case, to contest th? fe election en tbe ground of unlawful Federal .. ? Interference. I have repeatedly stated: that. 1 negroes were Imported from virginia, Ten? nessee and South.Carolina, who registered and voted In this 8Laie. The weight of. thia . fraudulent vote can, ot course, only ba eatl-. .. mated, but lt is sate to say that it amounts to at least between five and six thousand. One In-" voice came direct irom Washington, via Nor- Iv io Ik. I spoke myself with negroes who, told, ,_. me that they had been recently in the employ '' of the Board of Public Works, and had come ? down "on an excursion.*? There were nearly- : seven hundred on.that "excursion." . That all . these, and similar, machinations'have had a', most decided effect upon the ultimate result of the vote cast on Thursday, there can be no doubt;-vet, notwithstanding this Immense drawback, we shall elect Merrimon If they < will only count fair. But there's the rub i 1 Ali er what Wilson said in hts ?peech down here, the Badlcals fee 1 that they must carry the State, by means fair or foul; and they are . now In such a strait tbat they will; resort to anything. i>. ls the knowledge and assurance that this game will, be played which . made the firm of Pool, Perry & Co. ; look i so hopeful today. No one thought tbat'/ Wilkes County would turn out a Badlcal gain, and yet it gives two hundred, (having been dui y-or- unduly-"rn anlpulated,;') and. . Increased Bepubllcau gains were also, re poja - ., ed from Biaden, Cnrrltuck, Camden, Gates, Puquotank, Chowan, Bertie, Dare and Wash? ington Counties this afternoon, counties from . 1 which, in some instances, Democratic gaina:,. , had been formerly reported. . It Is, altogether, ' the most complicated and uncertain of elec- "* tiona that has ever been my good, or. bad, for? tune to report; but this very fact makes lt one ? of peculiar Interest and excitement. Tue ? latest reports received to-night indicate Bad- " loll gains in Stokes, Surry - and Tad k lu Coun tles. It ls, however, quite certain that .wjial- . ever be the fate ot jthe .State ticket?. wejWW;^ have a handsome majority lb.boto^useev , v The Conservative majority loathe- lower. - bouse wlU be considerable, while in the. Sen? ate lt will amount tot t^Jj-tAii^faV^^.^ . ZOCAL LACONICS. . 1 I >: , . - .". . . i tl j The High School Will be dosed to-day fbi? the summer vacation. "'?.'. .:>-'--' Anunmallable letter ls walting in the Sa? vannah postoffice for Lucretia Robertson, of this city, to send for lr. Tbe sidewalks In front o? Wilsons' grocery were piled high yesterday morning with freshly arrived tea boxes. ?. -. r. . - An enterprising grocery house In thia city received a few days ago a large order for rice all the way from Orange, : New Jersey-the result of an adver Use ment In THE NEWS. The Devereux Brothers are pulling down several old buildings on the east side ol St. Phillp street, near Wentworth, preparatory to erecting new and more ornamental ones io their stead. Work has been commenced OD the improve? ments to tbe large store on King street which ls to be occupied by Furctuott, Benedict A Co A large hole was washed into the sewer in Meeting street, opposite Wragg, last Tuesday. It seems to have been caused by a'defect In the masonry. The work of repairing was commenced Wednesday. If there be old members or friends of mem? bers of Plymouth Church, Brooklyn, N. Y., (H. W. Beecher's) among our readers, they should send their names to the church derk and get Invitations to the great "silver wed? ding" which takes place October 8th to 11th next. Hotel Arrivals-August 8. PAVILION. 8. J. Walton, Northeastern Billroad; H. B. Bates, S. F. Warren, Atlanta; F. L. Brantley, Augusta; M. C. Hall, Savannah and Charleston Ballroad; William W. Bawls, Btdgevllle. CHARLESTON. Thomas H. Trust, Baltimore; H. McRae, Macon; A. McP. Hamby, Georgetown; Louis Lesser, Selma; W. B. McKee, Savannah; D. H. Hamby, Florence; S. V. Bunting, Wllmlng ' ton; Thomas H. Crosby, Baltimore. ENVELOPES.-A large stock of Envelopes al ways on hand at THE NEWS JOB OFFICE, for mercantile purports, which will be printed and furnished at prices to suit the times.