New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1855-12-06
THE FARMING SYSTEM.

branches OF the revenues and other portlonS OF
the machinery Of municipal government, has be-
come excessively popular. This is no matter
for wonderment Il is the besetting sin of the
age, and the especial idiosyncrasy Of our people
to carry matters to. extremes. Mediums do not
suit them, They must be for ahead or away
behind, or else they incontinently 'shy off the
handle Because, forsooth, the wharf contract
sold well--surprising the most sanguine antici-
pations Of its able and far-seeng originators--
all other contracts must sell well, also!
Shortly after the wharves were farmed out, a
proposition was made in the Board of Assistant
Aldermen to farm out the liquor licenses. What
became Of the proposition we cannot now call to
mind. We preaume it is quietly sleeping in
come nook or corner Of the secretary's desk,
where it will probably remain undisturbed until
the trump of . new election superinduces gen
eral rummaging.
Then came up the proposition to sell the con-
tract and management Of the Fire Department,
embodied in two ponderous columns of Ronpa-
reil, almost as long as the constitution of the
United States, for term Of five years, to the
lowest bidder It was argued that economy
and efficiency would both be subserved by the
contamination Of the contract; and public ex-
pectation was on tip-toe to learn the result.
After protracted advertising of three days,
the Comptroller proceeded in compliance with
the acquisitions Of the ordinance, to sell the
contract, when 10 and behold two bidders APP
peared to contest for the prize, and it was ac-
cordingly knocked off, (the city being knocked
down at the same time,) to two estimable and
experienced gentlemen, at the rate of 100000
per annum.
Here the farming system and economy did
not work well together--in fact, didn't work
together at all. They travelled in opposite di-
rections. We have no doubt that efficiency
would have been secured, but at what cost
Why, 100000 in five years, over and above
the estimated expenses Of q volunteer organi-
zation! This was paying too much for an ex
pertinent which has been stimulated into life
by the captivating words, economy and eff
cheney. 50 the people thought, and 50 the
Board of Assistant Aldermen thought, when
they rejected the adjudication Of the Comptrol-
Ter by an almost unanimous vote.
We have alluded to this incident simply to
show that because the wharves sold well to the
highest bidder, it did not necessarily follow
that the Fire Department would sell equally
well to the lowest bidder. There is wide diff
ference between the two kinds of farming.
With the same parity Of reason might our gov
eminent order that, because the Russian soldier
revels on black bread and tallow, the American
soldier should have nothing to eat but black
bread and tallow-as for our municipal rulers
to imagine that, if one contract brings good
price, all contracts will bring good prices
Not abashed, however, by the enormous price
at which the fire contract was sold, Alderman
Durell, (who is the putative author Of the Fire
Ordinance proposed in the Board Of Aldermen
on Tuesday evening, to farm out the entire
Police of the city He was sustained BY Alder
man Lugenbuhl; and both criticised severely
the ineficiency Of our present meagre police,
the members Of which would have to multiply
themselves ten-fold to perform the duty which
is expected at their hands. Alderman Tomp-
kins suggested an Improvement: that of farming
cut the Police Board. This was an excellent
suggestion; for, under the administration of the
Police Board. the police are continually becom-
ing more incompetent and unfit for the places
they pretend to fill. Aid. Bailey sustained
Aid. T., and finally the whole subject was laid
on the table.
The proposition to farm out the Police Board
meets with universal commendation, SO far as
we have been able to learn, We're it possible to
take vote to-day on the question, we doubt not
It would carry by majority of ten to one. The
sentiment prevails generally that the Police
Board is nuisance, that it ought to be abol-
shed, and that the Mayor should be invested |
With the exclusive control of the police, and be
held directly responsible to the people for the
good or bad management thereof
wicked wag OF our elbow suggests that, |
While farming-out projects are popular, it would
20 first rate plan to lease the whole city gov |
'rnment to one OF more capable and honest men,
such can be found in this poor and much ma
igned corporation, to take charge Of and put
to affairs in proper shape, paying them for their
eryices at least 100000 per annum salary.
7 is supposed that if these lessees would attend
0 the city's business as they attend to their own
rivate business, that at the end of five years
Jew Orleans would be in comfortable financial
ondition, with taxes reduced fully fifty per cent!
WV, ncIe ~ proposition worthy consldera-
ion Il is none of your picayune propositions.
is veritahle mammoth. Who bids Going
DING going!
PAID FIRE DEPARTMENTs.-We have lately
cad, says the Washington Evening Star, every
hing within our reach likely to inform us relia-
ly upon the question Of the success or failure
the new system Of relying, for the protection
property from fire in cities, on the services Of
paid fire department. The conclusion to
hich we have come--and we have carefully
,nned English, French and Prussian, as well
8 American, Boston and Cincinnati,) statis-
6 bearing on the subjects, that in most
sses the decrease in the value of property de-
royed by fire, brought about by the change.