New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-03-16


Mr.. Stie moved the adoption of the report.
Mr.. Mcconnell would withdraw opposition to the
bill if the tax upon sales of real estate was re-
duced from one-hafto one-fifth Of one per cent.
Mr.. Eldridge moved to FIX the tax at one-fourth
Of one per cent.
Mr.. Mcconnell moved to fix it at one-fifth. To
show how onerous this tax was, few stores sold
lately paid tax Of one,half per cent, amounting
to $500, and had this bill under consideration been
a law $500 more would have been paid.
Mr.. Walker said the very case referred to was
one illustrating the propriety Of the proposed tax
Stewart, the great New York dry goods merchant
had purchased number of stores at the corner OF
Camp and Canal streets, as site, not for stores
but for a dry goods palace, intending to monopo-
lie the silk business of the Southwest. He paid
for the property s105 900, and surely upon such
among people Of wealth, it was not
too much for the State to receive $500.
Some further argument took place between
Messrs. Walker and Mcdonnell. which the latter
closed by withdrawing his motion, and moving to
fix the tax at one-tenth of one per cent.
The amendment was rejected-yeas, 81 nays,
A.
Mr.. Eldridge's proposition for one-fourth OF one
Der cent was then put, and the vote being tie
Q against 3J-the amendment WAS aoopIeu w lue
esting vote of the Chair.
! Mr. Walker moved reconsideration.
Vhe Chair held that Mr.. Walker could not make
tht motion, as he had voted with the minority.
Gr. Blackman, having voted with the majority
Inored reconsideration.
The reconsideration was refused yeas, 81;
nays, Al.
| An amendment proposed by Mr.. Jonas, to
diminish the taxes on probate proceedings, was
| rejected.
An amendment offered by Mr.. Anderson, of
| Madison, to allow compensation of one per cent.
to the State Auditor and State Treasurer upon the
issues of stamps, was lost by the casting vote Of
the Chair.
| The bill was then ordered to be engrossed as
amended. by vote of as to 30.
| Mr.. Walker moved reconsideration Of the
vote.
On motion of Mr.. McEnery, the motion was lait
on the table.
| Mr. Sambola having presented his reasons, ii
writing, for voting against the BILL substantially
that it was measure to impose oppressive bur
dtns upon business, more particularly IN New
Orleans, and that it surrounded transactions will
difficulties calculated to embarrass business AM
produce litigation. asked to have his reason
spread on the minutes, and it was so ordered.
Mr.. Williamson also had his reasons for votin
in the negative recorded, that the Ia was oppres
sive and unequal.
The rules were then suspended for third reaG
ing of the bill, and the yeas and nays were called
Mr.. Tucker said he should vote in the negative
because there were obj ctonable features in th
bill, which he had endeavored to have removed
but failed.
The vote upon the third reading standing 81
II, less than quorum, the House adjourned.
EVENING SESSION.
The House came to order at o'clock, Il
Speaker pro tenn. in the Chair.
The consideration of the stamp tax bill was r
sumed, the pending question being upon Il
passage of the bill on its third reading, when tt
House, for want of quorum, adjourned tn
l morning.
: The bill passed, finally. As passed. the ia
system provided by it goes into operation on Il
: first of May next. 1t is too lengthy to give sati
: factory synopsis, within the space allowed
: these reports. Its general scope, however, ca
be understood from the fact that substantially,
is reproduction of the United States star
act.
i The House next took up the first bill on Il
" preferred calendar, the Senate bill for the esta
6 shment of an internal Improvement district, al
went into committee of the whole, Mr.. Tucker
: the Chair.
l. The bill constitutes the parishes of Caro-
Madison Tensas, Concordia, Point Coupee, We
II Baton Rouge, 1berville, Ascension, Assumptio
" Iafourche, Terrebonne, St. James, st. John t
Al Baptist St. Charles, Orleans, st. Bernard, Plaqr
, mines, Jefferson, and the alluyial portion of
S. parishes of Catahoula, Franklin, Morehon'
S. Ouachita, Ayoyeles, St. Landry, St. Martin,
e Mary, Lafayette and East Baton Rouge, an
If provement district, provides for the election Of
board Of !eyee commissioners, and authorizes Il
e board 10 impose taxes for the construction
N levees.
e Mr.. Bailey moved to amend by excluding fir
e. the bill that portion of the parishes OF Jetiers
Id and Orleans, embraced in the first, second a
third Improvement districts, for which, he said,
IN improvement system had already been establish
N under law of the State, and tax had been
al posed to execute the improvements designed.
Mr. McCloskey said there was no necessity
e the organization proposed by this bill. 1t was
"a sort of State government of itself, with crowc
expensive Offices. The taxes would be consun
le by the officers. Why create this organization wi
e. already board of levee commissioners with am
powers was established and would continue u
u the next session? In addition to the contribut
IN of New Orleans to the improvements under
board of ievee commissioners, it was now 7
y posed to impose another levee tax. This Y
+ < monstrous, and he did not see how an honest
w could support such scheme.
IS Mr.. Halsey reminded the House that MESA
OF almost identical with this was discussed at
90 extra session very thoroughly, and a proposit
al there failed to exclude New OrleG
P He thought the whole city should be embrac
sS Mr.. Scanlan said the odious features OF this
were pointed out at the extra session, although
10, that time the board of levee commissioners
es not been authorized, as they are now, to expen
III IT million and half dollars to repair all the DANA
nd to the levees during the war. The tax of the
ey now before the committee was upon the wealth
ng parishes of the State, and would yield tire
80 four hundred thousand dollars. There was no
is cessity for this measure. Levee commission
" were at werk, and they had all neeessasy pow
ng The general government was also assisting.
'1 Ga Mr.. Mcconnell was a friend of the measure.
would subscribe to any measure for the bqdin
OF levees that would impose o fair tax on New
.he leans. But this measure was badly digested.
tis Constitution Of 1864 must be complied with.
}hi. provides that the legislature shall establish il
hle nal Improvement districts, but gives the peop
pp each district the exclusive power of taxation
tho Shs bill takes it from them. Why? Because wit
,ry Diminished yalue of plantation property tn