New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1857-10-17

Thus to recover $40 the City pays sl35 The system
OF indiscriminate and wholesale litigation is unwse
and oppressive both to the citizen and taxpayer and
am convinced that the appointment by the Common
Council of competent, active, and responsible Col
ectors, in the different Districts giving satisfactory
security, and compensated by fixed commission,
would greatly facilitate the collection of the revenues,
both as to time and amount and would be q saving
to the Corporation and to the taxpayer. =
Icommend this subject to your consideration it is
one which commends itself to majority of our con-
stituents.
Il In this connection, deem it to be nv duty to
direct your attention to the present organization of
the Departments Of the Treasurer and the Comp.
troller. In the organization of the Comptroller's
departmentit was doubtless intended it should be
check upon all the other departments Of the CITY
government, and particularly upon the Treasurer's
department; in order to accomplish this object,
which Is attained in all governments organized like
TINS, 1t is necessary that all moneys paid into the
treasury should be first authorized to be paid by
the Comptroller, the entries being first made upon
the books Of that department and then paid into the
treasury, and corresponding entries made upon the
BOOKS OF the Treasurefs Department. This system,
as to the receipts, does not entirely prevail all
licenses taxes, and revenue of all kinds are first paid
into the Treasury, and there entered and afterwards
the entries are made upon the books of the Comp
troiler; there is, nevertheless apparent check all
licenses and tax receipts being previously registered
IN the Comptr0llers Office, and signed by him; still
this check only avoids the true system and theory
which intends that the Treasurer shall receive no
thing and pay nothing, which has not previously
encountered the scrutiny of the Auditing officer of
the government. The Treasurer is intended to be
the custodian of the money of the Corporation and
is to receive and pay out, like the Cashier Of Bank,
only when ordered so to do he should have nothing
to do with collection, settlements or compromises.
Will here remark that there would be little ne
cessty for any change in the present system could
the services OF the reliable, able and intelligent gen
LEHMAN who now serves as City Treasurer, be always
secured to the public this may not be, and it be-
moves Us in the performance of our duty to endeayor
70 establish in the working OF the several departments
sueh system of checks and balances as will at all
tiines absolutely insure faithful record in each.
II earnestly recommend that you will, at an early
cay proceed with reference to these subjects in such
manner az Will procure during the next session OF the
Legislature such amendments of the City Charter as
VIII accomplish the desired reforms.
A connection with the subjects of Finances, Taxes
ana revenue, have prepared the following tables,
! the public: : :
LIST. Statement of the current expenditures and
| revenues for one year, ending July LIST, 1857.
I'd. Statement of the City Assessment on all de-
| descriptions of property for the year 1857.
3d. Comparative statement of the valuation Of tax
| able property in 1856 and 1857.
The statement of City Assessment for 1857 has
been furnished at the cost of some labor by Mr. Jos
Board. "A reference to it will show the total assess
ment all descriptions of property, subject to taxa
tion to be $l06 7lSand reveals the astonishing
fact that in the City of New Orleans there Is $50,
756,3l5 exempt, by the laws of the State from any
tax whatever for the support oil the city government
The knowledge of this fact must necessarily and
/ very properly claim your attention. large portion
OF the property SO exempted, has no claim to the
reiiei which injudicions, anwise and unjust egisa