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

tax, all ordinances, re90iutlona or 0ther actS passed
BY The Council after the lat day of January Of each
except the ordinance to impose the Consolidated
Loan are null and void unless resolution i'm
posing special lax for the payment OF the interest
on these bonds, shall have been previously passed
can d made after the payment of sx per cent diyi
dends per annum ON the Stock Of the Company held
BY the City which dividends are required TO pc ap-
Piled TO the payment Of the interest and It is further
provided, that whenever the dividends Of the Stock
held ~ the City In these Railroad Companies shall
exceed six per cent. per annum the excess alter pay
ment Of the interest," shall be applied to the
Of the bonds issued fof the subscription TO the STOCK
num- tax is required to be levied for the difference
only between tile amount Of the annual interest and
the annual dividends. e51 .l
Ponsclassrain Railroad Company Bonds.-The
bonds authorized to be issued for subscription to the
Stock of this Corporation, to aid in building road
fun New Orleans to obile, were issued under pro-
precisely similar to those which applied to the
issue Of bonds for subscription to the two other roads
before mentioned.
The original subscription was for fifteen thousand
shares, Of one hundred dollars each a 500 900 and
bonds were issued at the time Of subscribing con
forty with the requirements of the Ordinance-for
Eve hundred thousand dollars. Il
Incorsequence Of the failure Of the Pontchartrain
Railroad Company to comply with the conditions OF
the City subscription, suit was Instituted by the CITY
against the Railroad Company for the return Of the
bonds IL February 1876 were ere
veto Of the Mayor authorizing compromise with me
Company, conditioned that the Pontchartrain Rail-
road Company return to the City Of New Orleans
three hundred Of its bonds for one thousand dollars
each And also repay to the city the amount Of interest
paid on said bonds the Pontchartrain Railroad Com
pany then to be released from any other claims the
City might hare. On the 10th May, 1856 three nun.
dred and twentynine bonds delivered to the City
Attorney ;8hree hundred being received in conform
ity with the resolutions authorizing the
and twentynine being received in part payment Tor
interest already paid the City upon the whole num-
ber Of bonds issued The bonds returned were regis
tered and destroyed on the 23d May, 1856.
Thisreturn Of bonds under the compromise reduced
the original issue to one hundred and seyenty-one
bonds, which are now outstanding for the interest
on which, the City has provided in the same manner
and under the same conditions and restrictions for
the other Railroad bonds. {.f 2
The collections from the special tax on real estate
and slaves, and personal property. are amply suf
mature And with the exception Of the bonds issued
for the subscription TO the Stock Of the P0ntchatrain
Railroad Company a reference to the statements here.
with furnished under the head of Railroads will
show that the condition and progress Of the New Or
leans jackson and Great Northern Railroad, and the
New Orleans Opelonsas and Great Western Railroad,
are such as to warrant the assumption that the City
will shortly be relieved from the necessity Of provd
ing for the interest on the bonds and that finally,
at The maturity Of them, the Stock of these Compa
MES held by the City will have attained value equal
to the amount required to be paid. .5e Il
(ity Reuentte.-Upon an examination and compare
son Of the sources Of City revenue derived from taxa
ton Of every kind under the different systems before
and since Consolidation j am led to the conclusion
that the present system is defective in its operation
respectfully suggest to your Honorable Body that
such action should be taken as will accomplish some
alterations in the laws and ordinances now in force,
regulating this subject. Nh l. sasat.Ls lsss "
The law as it now exists is oppressive, and am
convinced does not accomplish the true objects in
tended to be attained. The fact alone that over five
hnny n
aulting tax payers, not having come forward in con-
formity with the requirements of the law, is sutfi.
cient argument to show that the system does not
complish the objects intended ~
The mode of collecting taxes and licenses at the
counter Of the Treasury was originated with view
to economic in the collection of that branch of the
revenue, and to insure its prompt payment at the
periods provided These objects have failed. The
mode in use does not insure more prompt collection;
and if there be anything saved to the City is more
than compensated the costs incurred by individual
tax payers, who are entitled to consideration and
protection. - ~
The tax payer on real estate and slaves who may,
from any cause, be prevented from paying his taxes
at the time prescribed, although willing and pecuni-
ary able to do should be relieved from the urgent
and heavy costs entailed upon him by the operation
h The postponementof litigation would in very many
cases be great saving, particularly in cases where
the parties are irresponsible or are not to be found.
The Court charges, and many other of the law
small Suits are instituted Unfortunately The
Assistant City Attorney considering he has author
ty but to obey the positive direction of the law
no discretion in institutng them and proceeding in
all cases to judgment. In all cases where the money
is not made heavy costs incurred and paid by the
City. A reference To the account of "Law Charges"
on the books Of the Comptroller, which shows the
enormous of $142, $3.50 Is paid from the Treasury
since Consolidation, and s24,2S0 81 during the six
months ending lst July last, will be sufficient to con-
vince you that litigation in conducting the affairs of
the City, should be studionsly avoided.
i The present system offers premium, and pays
large fees and salaries for the promotion of litigation
and should be abolished.
will cite one instance only there are very many
simiar--to show that the system is an expensive
one to the City. A suit was instituted against an
individual for his license Judgment in due course
was obtained against him for the amount of the
claim; property was seized, advertised and sold
The amount of the sale was ten dollars ($l0) the
costs were as .follows: 5.-5.-Y.5 n =
Printing, .....i...... $l2 90
}fl Clerks Fees IA 90
i NeepeI =, I. h. :. ..s' "a w
sundry Charges. =. ), .,..s,.. --,.. 50 90
as s,N- IT,. slS5 90
Thus TO recover $40 the City pays sl35. The system
Of ndiscriminate and wholesale litigation is unwise
and oppressive both to the citizen and taxpayer and