New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1856-01-24
MEMORIAL.

TO the Honorable the Senate and House Of Representatives Of
the State Of LOuisiana in General assembly cOnrensa
The of the undersigned real estate aud slave
holders within the city of New Orleans respectfully
PRESENTS that the tendency of the legislation Of the State
in relation to this city for past has been to
throw more and more upon property in real estate and
attendant upon this city government whilst the
other hand the defective system Of collecting the
from other Sources contained under the act Of con-
sodation of 1852 has materially reduced those
of their most important branches, compared
with the under the previously existing municipal
governments
Illustrate the above representations the undersigned
would call the attention Of your honorable body to the
following facts and statements:
BY the act Of division the city New Orleans into
the three distinct municipalities, in 1856 and by subse
uuent acts large of assets and funds had been
assigned and apart sinking fund to meet the
listing debt of the city previous to the said act Of division
hut under the interpretations Of the acts of consolidation
aud annexation in 1852 made by the subsequent city
ernmen the funds and assets assigned have been used
and absorbed in the expenditures of the console
dated and annexed Cities and the whole weight of the
debt of the old city has thus been made to bear eAcu
syey upon real estate and slaves within the three former
municipalities of New Orleans, the First Second and
| Third Districts.
By the act of May 1s47 the derived the
markets and harbor of the different had
been assigned and apart the additional heavy
debts contracted respectively by the municipal
but by the act Of Consolidation of 1862 these
nues were released from their ane the Whole
upon real estate and slaves within each former munich
paty, respectively
|
city subscriptions to stupendous works Of internal i'm
provemen extending to the farther most limits Of The
State and from their general character equally bene-
fetal if successful to the State OF large md to every in
erest in society ordained that the whole weight of
city subscriptions should bear real estate and slaves
in the consolidated cities of New Orleans and Lafayette
Whilst laboring under these accumulated burdens the
hodersof and slaves New have been
exempted by the city charter from heavy taxation
for ordinary and current expenditures police admins
traitor and public works. and for any and every object
which the folly wastefulnes of municipal government
| srHt Of aI.rap Of thn
limited powers OF taxation thus vested in the city author
tiles homes and the roofs and iresides of
families has brought city taxation to the present
| nous rates to wit:
In the First District. 50 q per sent.
/ In the Second District. .........2 IS do
| In the Third District. ...........2 SO do ..,
In the Fourth District. 25 do
When it is considered that in addition to the above,
real estate in this city subjected to annually ncreas
ing State taxation that under existing special laws the
adjoining proprietors bear nearly the whole expense
the construction Of pavements of streets end sidewalks
that improved property is subjected BESIDES heavy
ruling rates of to the destruction and and
tear and to the frequent losses of rent be sub
ect of astonishmeut that nearly all confidence in the
property Of the soil in this city has been distinguishing
the march of improvement is checkedthat many large
and small property holders have been runedthat others
who are poor suffering bitterly existing ex
aetions-thst many who are otherwise thriving in
midst deferred from in real estate and
from permanent establishment here and that the wealthy
ay snd seek favored spots whore they may estab
sh their homeseads expend their wealth and adon their
sbods being subjected to such extortons under
| the name of city government.
Under this aspect the present condition of New Orleans,
which the undersigned have sought exagserRts
advancement of this city is seriously
dangered and the which the Stats itself
of emergency might seek to derive from it, equally
ieopardzed, unless prompt remedy be applied. The
undersigned therefore, having sufficient control in the
premises since the formation of the city government
every branch of its administration is left entirely
lar election by universal suffrage compelled to seek
relief from your honorable body They huaby pray that
law be passed. restricting the municipal authorities of
New Orleans such taxation real estate and
be necessary to meet the existing debts of the city
and to that effect the uDdersigued further
that the present total debt Of the city amounting
nearly twenty millions of dollars represents about
sixth of the whole assessed value Of real slaves
within limits. That the interest of this debt
and the gradual reduction of the capital under existing
provisions of law, would require annual tax of about
81 so per centum. That although this would still be
heavy burden they would willingly submit it in
sderaon of the guarantee and security it would give
them for the future.
The undersigned would also represent that the reliable
annual revenue of the city, from other than real
estate and slaves amount to about million of dollars
under the present rates of charges That from the rapid
diminution however, which has occurred year to
year snce consolidation in the derived from the
licensing of certain trades and professions aud from the
great falling off therein below the estimates previously
made exhibited BY official statements it is reasonable
luppoEe, that by better system of collections ander
f.ers specially appointed to that effect subject to
accountability and interested by their commissions
realizing the greatest possible returns those
might be materially increased Your petitioners there
fore respectfully submit that under city government,
practising moderate degree Of economy, and confined to
its proper and legitimate sphere of action the ordinary
administration of the city might well be conducted out
of these other various and abundant revenues
In praying for this limitation in their behalf, oz
for any equivalent Of relief which your honor
able body may DEVISE the undersigned far from desr
ing that any other interests in society should be oppres
sively taxed-they would be happy thnt similar limta
tions should be granted a-hey are too well aware
that excessive taxation wherever applied defeats the
end it's object by destroying or erhausting the sub
which feeds 1t is therefore, they humbly
dpem the good that they protest against the
Emporium impeto exercised by municipal authority,
that they appeal for protection to the only legitimate
sovereign-the State ITSELF
And, as in duty bound, your petitioners will pray
etc. etc. jana 2plt