True American. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1835-18??, 1839-11-07

Ordinance of'the General Council, taxing all art-
ces of produce. and merchandise landed in and
Snapped from this Municipality respectfully re-
spnrt-.
Tint they have given to the Ordinance submitted
Tor the consideration OF the ConnCi all tue utttn-
lion its vast ir1pnrtancs demanded, and suhnitlhc
following result Of their investigation to the Coun.
ell.
A direct tax on the commerce Of a city, whose
prosperity IS dependant on its trade, must, under
any circumstances be Of questionable policy, and
admitting; the legality of the tax proposed, it
to the Undersigned that most Imperative necessity
INV exist to sanction lax Of this kind, which
| necessarily must he vcxltious TO owners and cap-
taIns OF ships and steamboats, coming to our port,
and to our merchants, aud tend to turn from us
through other channels considerable portion Of
the commerce which now annually contributes to
the wealth and prosperity OF our citizens.
In the opinion of the undersigned. no such
ccssi,y exists with the Second Municipality. Its
resources fully equal to its annual expenditures
and the payment OF the interest OH its debt. The
public debt is eqaly well provided for by the sink
ing fund, now amounting to upwards Of sS40O,uOO,
while tho proportion it may have to contribute to-
wards the payment of tho interest and principal of
! the debt OF tho former Corporation Of New Or
leans will DO fully provided for by tho sale Of lots
between Canal, Co nmon, Tchoupitoulas and Mag
azine streets, which unquestonably belong to this
Municipality, and are estimated ut $40, 900.
The tax in question cannot bn necessary in this
MUNICIPALITY Ter tie purpose of giving Increased
accommodation 10 the articles upon which it may
be levied because tho wharvcs and landings arc in
excellent condition TO accommodate ships, steam
boats and other craft, which! bring US the produce
! OF the interior, and take from the produce of
LOUISIANA and the merchandise e our citizens
given IN exchange therefor.
i Nor can it be said, that streets need improve,
menl to facilitate tho transportation of produces and
i merchandise All the principle thoruughfarc sit,
4 THIS Municipality arc Paved Tho expense OF
!, thcs" improvements in this Municipality since
1896, has been not IS than s1,3O0,OO0, all OF
which has been borrowed on bonds payable many
years hence and which will be cx,ineu;shed by
the operation of the sinking fund.- without any ne
ccssI,y TO resort to ad itlonal taxation. SO far
from requiring any additional axation, these very
| improvements, besides having augmented to great
extent the intrinsic value of all the property within
the limits of the Municipality, have tended to IN
crease the revenues of the Treasury far beyond the
int rest their cost. 1t is not unreasonable tc
predict, that the surplus revenue will, in less than
five years, cxngush the hoating debt, and cnab &
the Council to make a considerable diminu,ion OF
thu present rates Of taxation.
Your Committee have not taken into consldera
ton the eonstilntlonality of the Ordnance sub.
mlltod to them, which is question Of great doubt
and about which your Committee not think proper
at present, TO enter into any argument or detail
Your Committee therefore respectfully subn
the following Resolution
Resolved, That in the opinion # tins Council
there Is no necessity for any additional tax alton
on the real personal property of tho citizens q
his Municipality ; and, Their fore, it Is dccmc,
inexpcdicnt to adopt the Ordinance cmana,ins
from the General Council to impose a wharfag
Mum ipullty.
H. LOCkE1"T Chairman