New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1856-02-04
OFFICIAL JOURN AL.
THE COMMON COUNCIL.
BOARD OF ALDERMEN.

Members present: Hon. ], J. Lugenbuhl,
President ; Messrs. Bailey, Culbertson, Durel,
Denegre, Dupre, Gilmore, Price, Pride and
Tcmpkihs--i0.
The reading Of the minutes was, on motion,
dispensed with.
Mr.. Durell, on behalf Of the special commit
tee appointed to draft an amended charter for
the city Of New Orleans, offered the following
report, which was unanimously adopted:
The special committee appointed 10 draft an amend.
ed charter for the city of New Orleans respectfully
report 10 your honorable body the accompanying bill
with recommendation that the same, as amended by
your honorable body, he submitted to the Legislature
of the Snte. now In session, for Its consideration.
Your committee, in drafting the bill herewith pre-
senied, have largely consulted the etrong common
sense Of the business portion Of our community; Of
perity Of our ely and the changes important in their
character, which your committee have deemrd il fit 10
eminent, and with regard 10 the enumeration ofobecs
subject taxation, will be found 10 be, your conf
mitee believes supported both by public opinion and
true policy.
Your committee, for the purpose of centralizing
New Orleans, an end in which Its chef economy Is
be attained and for the purpose of breaking down
in great measure the division of populations Which
present exists have divided the city into three as
trics adopting as The divisions thereof what may DC
considered TO be, in connection with our commerce
with the lake, natural boundaries. These districts,
although unequal in area are about eqeai IN popua'
lion and civic Importance and upon them your com
lntee have based representation in city Legislation
In the structure of the legislative de parmen yoar
conmittee have adhered 10 The existing system eo
sderng bodies, acting independently OF each
other, and constituting one common council, 10 pe
the hes, safeguard against hasty and improTdeht
To The several Districts projected, from their close
equality in political strength, your committee nave
given an equal representation In both Boards OF the
Common Council; 1t being supposed that whatever
small preponderance may exist in the numerical vote
of one District the numerical vote of another,
will cause itself be sufficiently felt i'll the election
of the two Representatives taken from The ely al
large: ,o,,m,,,.s nrorox. 10 reduce Nv one.baf The
number of Representatives in the TWO Boards OF The
Common Council, thereby increasing individual re-
sponsibity, and aiming al more efcitnt transaction
of business the doubling of their term OF Office appears
10 be equally called for by the best interests of The city
A Municipal Corporation should be made, se lar as
practicable TO conform in lis administrator 10 wen
regulated moneyed institution and the term OF SET
vice therein should be somewhat longer than that
which barely sufficient 10 enable line servant 10 learn
what he 10 10 d.
Your committee have given to the Assistant Board
of The Common Council The sole power of originating
ssany ordnan resolution, which shall contemplate
any specific work or improvement, or The sale, dspo'
si,ion, appropriation of public property, or Inc eS-
pendilure of public moneys, or the income
the laying Of any tax or assessment the import,
ance of hls reformation, as preventive TO confused
legislation, will be apparent 10 any one VINO mas
served twelve months IN the Councils OF me Guy ~.
method of eecng the Comptroller the Treasurer, the
Surveyor and the Street Commissioner. From The
nature of the and the duties of these officers your
committee believe that they should be made more de-
pendent upon the Council than is compatible with
uppuutmeut which renders them practically lude-
penden, of the authority whose will The proper
administration of municipal affairs, they should
implicitly obey
hands of Mayor where it ought to be, with all lis
accompanying responsibility; and i he be a man OF
energy OF moral courage and of will 10 do right vio
lece will lind quick TetIibuon within the limits OF
our city ....
The duties OF the Recorders remain unchanged
The Recorders perform services which, IN New HuIk
and other Northern Cities performed by justices Of
The peace police magistrates and adermeil and haV-
ing reduced their number three, your committee have
supposed that all their hours OF business would be
cupied in the disposal of the disso!uie and vagranl
daily brought before thetn leaving no time Tor attention
to maeYs of civil nature, in which the city mig be
interested Your committee informed that bill is
now being drafted for submission to the Legislature OF
The State creating criminal court for petty crimes in
Nav Orleans and giving 10 one of the Disrc, Courts
exclusive jurisdiction Of civil suits TO which the city
n n.rtv such an act would remedy some of the chic
evils which now render almost nugatoTy many of The
most impor tant OF our city ordinances.
Your committee have added checks and safe
guards for the pro. ecton OF The city Treasury; Hnt
nave given 10 the Chairman of the Finance Commit
tees nm extended supervision over The TWO leading
Offices Of thai department.
maid the Comptroller, Treasurer and Cisy Attorney
should increased Men of large ability and hltet
by education and practice and strictintegty, for The
several duties Of these Offices expected 10 I'LL Them
Such qualities merit, and can command elsewhere
higher remuneration than is allowed under our peseli
city charter.
In The enumeration of the objects of taxation, you
committee have proceeded upon the broad and equitable
sumo, should be required TO contribute, III an equu
proportion, 10 the support of our municipal Govern
ment and of proper administration OF its affairs
Your committee believe, that upon an examination o
the bill submitted for your considerations il viii
found hat in no instance is property subjected thercb
10 a double taxation. Your committee have define
and limited the meaning Of the term ':income,' as a
object OF taxation, SO us to exclude from It's comnre
henson the revenues of property which is in itself tax
able under said bill.
The provisions with regard to the assessment Q
property for the purpose Of taxation, are fus an
~ cad The. a
lion of The Stale of New York ,for its commerce.
capital and now in successful operation they may b
declared IL be both practical and equal TO the obec
Dronosed These provisions constitute the founda,io
upon which the c,y's prosperity must mainly res
determining, as they do the value OF me nsSessmeI
should be re, forth in the citys charter, andnoilsf
the uncertainty OF future legislation, or to that liabiii
10 frequent change which must exist We're The powt
10 provide rules and regulations 10 this matter, d.
posted with the Common Council.
Your committee believe that ali assesmen, roll mad
in accordance with The requirements of the bull no.
presented for your consideration. would show proper
subject TO taxation within the city of New Orleans,
an aggregate value of not less than one hundred ar
ff,y millions of dollars Should such prove TO be Il
result of tho proposed charters operations your con
mee upon careful investigation of the subject, hay
arrived the conclusion that annual tax OF one p
cent the hundred of valuation. would, with the re-
enues receivable from other sources, cover the tot
annual expenditure of the city. In connection wi
This matter, your committee would direct the aen,ie
of your honorable body TO the provisions of Section
104 and los of the proposed bill, touching licenses.
They supply means, at this time wanting, 10 enforce
very important portion of is4 al legislation of the Cor
mon Council, and would, consequently, add greatly
the annual receipts of the city treasury.
Your committee DESTROYS of SO changing Il
fiscal year bring it 10 close with the 30,h day
June but an immediate reform in this rect is o
postd by difficulties Which may be better met hezeI
ter when the bill, If 1t should become a law, shall ha
been twelve months In operation. 1t Is deslTnbe III
The assessments of property should be made during
business months of our city and your commute
looking this end have fixed the LIST of March as
period at which The Assessors to commence the
duties. They have also, in furtherance of the sal
object, fixed the first Monday in July as the period
which the successors of the present Comptroll
Treasurer, Street Commissioner, Surveyor, City
torney and Assistant City Attorney TO enter up
their several Offices thereby avoiding the evil Of ne
men coming into places with which they ate untaIn
lar, at time when business is mos, aclive, mt
pressing, and imperativey demands sklul ate
lion.
The special tax 10 be levied for the payment of
sinking fund, together with the special tax to be lev
bonds issued by the city subscriptions stocks
railroads. your committee have made demandabIe W
all tbs property taxable under The provisions ofthc
and further, with regard TO the general sinking fu
Your Commute have equaliZed the TAX TO be levied
payment of the interest on the same upon all porto
of the city. Such an equalization appears 10 y
committee 10 be both polite and just We all hi
the same and should aim at and enjoy an eq
nrosperily The lakes will be rendered less burd
some In proportion 10 the increase of the agsree
valuations of the assessment rolls, and the condition
the bondhoder will be improved in the ratio Of I5t
TO- or in portion of the total valuations OF props