New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-03-15

not passed. Even one tenth of one per cent was
too heavy, and if these burdens were heaped upon
the people of New Orleans it would soon be i'm
possible for poor man to live there, in conse-
quenee of taxation, increasing rents and other
expenses.
Mr.. Williamson regarded the tax of one-half OF
one per cent. as oppressive. Where properties
were frequently changing hands it was oni,
question Of time as to the entire consumption OF
the property by taxation. It was almost equva-
lent 10 confiscation.
Mr. Bailey protested against the tax proposed
in the bill, and illustrated in detail the burden
someness Tof the impost. He also anlmadVerteo
upon the unjust designs against New Orleans, so
openly admitted in the argument that the stay law
would prevent the tax falling upon the country.
He thought the whole tax should he omitted.
T Mr.. Eager could not vote for the tax. 1t was
unjust and improper, and he did not think there
was single member who would vote for IT, VINO
, would not regret it. The tax would not fall upon
new comers, but upon old residents, between whom
the great bulk of real estate transactions took
place. He was opposed to the whole system pro-
posed by the bill. 1t would envelope business In
h distrust and fill the courts with litigation.
. Mr.. Tucker appreciated the necessities of the
8 State Treasury, and thought this scheme in the
v main one of the most judicious that could have
Y been devised. Taxation was always distasteful,
i but it was unavoidable. Transactions taxed by
ri the bill business transactions were at present the
If only profitable occupations, and they were prop
er]y made to contribute to the support of the gov
IT ernment He was not seeking to defeat the bill,
d. but to perfect it. This tax upon real estate it
y should be recoected, was not the only tax upon
sf it, There was direct State tax upon that kind
re of property ard then upon all transfers the Fed
le eral government collected tax of oneenth of one
per cent Looking at these facts, he thought the
ID House would regard his amendment as reason
le able proposition. The bill, searching, as it did,
I'd through all the ramifcatons of business, would be
e. found sufficiently productive to the Treasury
II, without imposing so oppressive tax as was pro-
posed upon single description of property
Mr.. Mcconnell again addressed the committee
showing the burdens already imposed upon rea
II. estate in New Orleans by municipal, State anC
is, Federal taxation
Mr.. Eager reiterated his protest against the
We whole scheme of the BILL and thought it should bt
reconmitted.
in Mr. Seaman was opposed to all taxation, if taxa
ton could be avoided. He saw no way, however
he of dispensing with it. The committee had sough
to impose the burdens Of government as equal
of as they could upon all classes and they did no
tai think this tax of one half of per cent upo
transfers of real estate disproportioned to tn
lth taxes imposed upon other transactions. No argr
ment he had yet heard had induced him to believ
the the tax would affect the price or transfer of re;
my property in any perceptibe degree.
nal Mr.. Walker was amused with the contradictor
ing arguments of gentlemen. One said itwouid arre
sales of real estate IN toto, while another COZ
tax tended the revenue from this source would
excessive. Gentlemen were liberal in their appr
of priatons but remarkably ndisposed to tax
his meet these appropriations. Mr.. W. dscusse
again the question as to whom this tax would ff
the upon arguing that purchasers would pay it. III
ent gentleman from St. Mary Mr.. Tucker, was in err
the in supposing that all business transactions we
taxed by this bill. Receipts, for instance, we
the not required to be stamped. Admitting that pr
lks, perty to the amount of twenty millions was so
led, in year, the revenue would be one hundred tho
red sand dollars To realize the idea of the gentem:
the from Caddo Mr.. Williamson, of coniscation, pr
the perty would have to be exchanged two hundre
sgal times in year! He regretted that a gentlem;
had from New Orleans had made sectional issue b
ty tween the city and country. All should be
vas burdens alike and cooperate for the comm
fol. good.
ates Mr.. Mcconnell only asked that laws should II
Ella be so framed as to operate unequaly and nust
Ole upon the city. He was willing to bear an equali
ants but not to admit unjust discrimination. He ca
in toned gentlemen against so accumulating asse
sing ments estate in New Orleans, as to redu
or its value and thereby diminish its capacity to
,ria- taxation.
eing Mr.. McCloskey, meeting an argument winch h
been used in the course OF the discussion that II
for property in New Orleans was now more valual
eng than ever it had been denied the correction of
and position as a matter within his own persol
lpon knowledge.
tive Mr. Eldrdge had been very cautious in his vo
upon appropriations to restrict them within
CON- means of the treasury, and he felt himself auth
re- lied to propose reasonable taxation to meet
expenditures voted He would propose to ins
as the tax in this case one quarter Instead of o
Mr. half of one per cent.
Mr.. Bailey insisted that other taxation could
9 II. DEVISED and should have been. The Final
r.; Committee had delayed their revenue bills to
last days of the session, when everything must
it+oo rushed through without examination, instead
~ NJ presenting their measures early in the sessi
He agreed with Mr.. McCoskey as to the depre
ZIG of ton of real property in New Orleans.
ar. Mr.. Scanlan, as member of the Finance G,
nted lil''ee' itpnsu .n" Wv .....;e., l;na -,
tn of brought III oei'ie .ne S'i'' ~,
,d h,,l
a cir, taxes were for
,o+ Mr.. Walker said that for four weeks he had
ans trying to bring this bill up, and the gentlemen
% III had most persstently opposed the consideration
,.o,, the bill were the gentlemen who compaine
,,r tardiness Mr. Bailey and Mr.. Mcdonnell, the la
81 - of whom had from the first ayowed his hostli
:, ,,ou the measure. Mr.. W. repeated that if anyti
less than one-half of one per cent. was adop
- al the revenue would be insufficient.
tha Mr. McConnell's opposition to this measure,
van F gan at the extra session, was to induce the in
-a1o duction of other and better measures, for II
,oios equitable taxation, but until to day no other
,oee nue. bill had been presented.
ro ~ Mr.. Walker claimed that the Finance Commi
on,a had exerted all its ability to mature measures
ID in could not have introduced them earlier.
,;r;n,r Mr.. Mcconnell said the chairman of the Fins
ybicb Committee had shown his great financial alb
,t;on when, by the timely introduction of measure
paying arrears of interest," he had raised the bt
nate of the State from foryfve to eighty and if he
wos continued an exercise of those great abilities
whole ponus mouio ho" oe a. p''
,oh oo Mr.. McEnery advocated reduction of the