True American. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1835-18??, 1839-01-31

exercised no direct agency in the administration Of
the Finances | learn from statement recently
transmitted to mo by your Treasurer, that 1857,
62l 81 in notes have been paid or renewed without
tho igna,urc of the Mayor, and without any par.
ticipation in the measure by him. Most of these
notes, which have examined bear no signature,
besides those of the Treasurer and Comptroller but
that of the Chairman OF the Committee Of Finance,
and others have not even the signature of any
member Of that Committee. At this moment there
are in the Banks Sl52, 400 in notes due and have
reason to believe that these TOO are Of the same
ture Such state of things, of which am con.
WINGED that not only most OF the members Of the
Council, but even some Of tho Committee of Fl.
nance arc ignorant, appears to me, and pre-
sumo it will to you, intolerabe. Far be it from me
to raise doubt OF the cnpuci,y or integrity OF the
Chairman OF your Committee; it gives me pleasure,
on the contrary, to acknowledge his high standing
as financicr, and to ecoguizo the many services
which he has been enabled by his personal position,
to render to the Second Name pality. But. gen
tlemcn, you cannot expect always to have the
distinguished person in your honorable body; the
time will come when, in the course of natarc, you
can no longer be guided by his abilities; and then
you will feel tho fatal consequences Of the prece-
dents now being established; and it is for this
son that feel obliged TO recommend to the Coun-
Gil thorough change in lis measures.
There is another observation which feel bound
TO make, as it has beer one Of the motives for
Lte 10 WHICH nave CUilie ACCDT-
ding to the weekly account of your Treasurer sub
mitcd to tho Council of its session uthe 22d inst.
there remained N tho Treasury, at that date, but
S2,O5O,22, Notwithstanding the discount of $500,
900 Of onds, obtained al the City Bank, in accor,
dance with the resolution OF the 4lh of De, embcr,
1885, for the purpose of withdrawing from circula
| ton the Municipal notes emitted by you, and yet
there $l37,7l1 81 of these notes still in cir
culatlen at the date, the 22l of January
| Whatever may be the resources ut your disposal,
they must inevitably be exhausted, il when prov
dcd they may be perverted from those which
you have dcsi grated by your resolutions. Your
resolution of 4 h December declares expressly thai.
the discount OF the 100000 of bonds. should he
obtained to withdraw the MunlcpA notes; this sun,
is absorbed on the 22A Of January, there being but
So $50 % in tho Treasury; and still there remain
in circulation Sl37, Ill 81 of these notes. Gontle>
men l am persuaded that all tho members of tls
Council cannot be acquainted with these >acts, or
tuadaT that all tho members Of the Council have
no accurate idea of the details committed to the caro-
OF each officer; and this fact must DO evident TO ALL
when it is considered that at tho last session the
Coun Gil rejected resolution auorising each AL
derInan TO enquire into these details whenever he
shoNid think Cxpcdicnt or necessary, to enable him
to fulfil his duties. is scarcely credible that the
Council should refuse information to the individual
| members composing it upon those very subjects on
which they are called 10 act in their official capa-
city. There certainly ought to be no details in
public administration that gt not be known by
the whole people. And it is lnco ceivab!e why tho
Council should refuse that information to the reps
resentalvss forming its own body, which ever, in
aIvidual has right TO possess.
exceedingly regret, Gentlemen, that the oppo,
sition which l am compelled TO mako to your reso-
luton may conflict with the engagements
OF the Municipality, should the wants
be immediate ans! pressing; but have sufficiently
exposed the dlngcr of tho mode heretofore pursued
IN Sbtaling discounts OF the notes wi ch you emit,
to persuade you, | hope that cannot subscribe TO
it. therefore, take the liberty to recommend to
the Council the appointment OF a Special Commits
tee to enquire into al! matters relative to notes
emitted, paid, Or rendered by the Municipality, and
to present to the Council report the subject
expressing It's opinion on The legality illegality
OF what has been done, and to Indicate, at the same
time, what course it is cxpedi4nt to pursue for The
future Suc! precautien appears to me indispcn-
sable. and cannot subscribe TO your resolution till
the Ccuncl! adopts some measure which will have
tho effect desire.
In support otthe which have above
submitted TO your honorable body, controlling
my conduct, could not, perhaps, do better than
submit to you the annexed opinion OF your atlor-
ney upon three questions, which l addressed to
him:
"Sir-You have requested mo to give YOU an
answer as Attorney Of The Pad Municipality, to tho
following questions:
-S"' any Hohey Do Fulu out OF Inc rcaSury OF
the End Municipality, without resolution for |
such payment, having duly passed the Council
OF SAID Municipality, and upon warrant to said |
Treasurer signed by tho Mayor? |
any Alderman in office make any con.
tract soever on his account, or for that of his
commercial fifla with the Municipality?
jrd--Can any Alderman in office, be employed as
AN Attorney for the Municipality of which he
Is an Alderman, without salary or compensa-
ton i1r snch services?
answer to the frs, inquiry, in tho ncga,ive do
go 1t is not necessary TO turn to the various acts of
The Leg stature relative to tic city of New Orleans.
or tho act of 1896, dividing the City into three
alunlc 'pa!ltcs--or to inquire whether these laws
demand th't all payments by the Treasurer should
be upon resolution duly passed by the Council,
and uPoA warrant signed by tho Mnynr-Thc
Council OF The Pad Municipality have declared, by
A clause in the 9Th article OF an ordnance apuro.
we'd May llIh, 1886:
81 hat no money shall be paid by the Treasurer,
i "n'ess authorized ny resolution or ordinance Of
i the Council certified by Inc Comptroller and
= drawn for by the Mayor"
answer the 2"d aud 3rd questions, in the mega.
i've:
BY rcso!ation, pissed by tho Council of tho
NJ uL!cipa!t'y, on September, 1888; il Was then
csuveG:
"lhat no Alderman or other officer of this MI
nIc'palty stial ho either directly or indirectly in.
'erestcd IN contracts for works to be done for or
: Tor supplies to be furnished t" this Municipality;
that no Alderman other officer of this Munici
Pat!ty, shall either by himself by any other
person Tor him. be irssoo farmer of any branch
OF the reVelaes OF This Municipality; and that no
Alderman, during ais aaIIcc IN Office shall
rscai"o OF be paid any commission or compen.
sltlon Tor scr. ices rendered, TO bu yeadrrcd TO
this NiunciPalHy."
Aud lhluk that this Ordinance is in lust con.
orIns'y with the intent and meaning OF the laws
The Leg stature, intended 10 prevent Aldermen
ON brlns employed aud receiving conpens alton,
AZ their scrv.ces. | very respectfully your
edlcut servant.
L''Sigucd,l |,
RICHARD NJ. CARTER, Auy. Ny. No. ..
New Orleans, january els, 1889. Il
renrin respectfully, Il
Gentlemen,
YuGr most ii'hr Servant