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

delegation in asking that the f,ll be given to a
special committee. He appealed to gentlemen
from the alluval districts to assfss in having the
bill committed. One could be drawn mp to tax the
whole State. He did not expect tie gentleman
from DeSoto, Mr.. Elan, would support measure
that would tax his constituents, but as a fair
measure it would secure a passage.
Mr.. Waggarnan believed the gentleman from
Orleans sincerely desired to frame coed blis
Mr. W. thought this an unfair bill to the city OF
New Orleans. The advantages were entirely OF
surface character. The tax the same everywhere.
Tie purchasers of alluvial lands bought with the
knowledge that they were subject to overflow, and
they had no right to demand assistance from Aew
Orleans more than any other part of the State.
The city had as good right to call upon the county
to aid her urban improvements.
Mr.. Walker considered the objection from the
| city member apparent, not real. Every planter
had his own drainage but that did not exempt him
from his levee taxes. She was subjectto overflow
as were all the auvial lands, and should share
with other riparian proprietors in the burdens re-
sultng from her geographical situation. Mr.. W.
did not give faith to the opinion that the people of
New Orleans would object to a tax to secure the
immense tract of productive lands which contrib
uted 80 greatly to her prosperity. He attached
little consequence to the constitutional objection.
An agent could act for his principal, and the inter-
nal improvement bond, as the agents of the people
of the district could constitutionally impose the
necessary tax.
! Mr.. Eldrdge, in reply to Mr. Mcconnell, denied
that the country representatives were influenced
| by unworthy motives. For his own part he had
some little patriotism, little love for his
adopted State, some principle, and he was consci
| entousy convinced it was unfair to tax the up
lands for levees from which they derived no bene.
fit. The parish of De Soto had alluvial lands,
which would derive no benefit from this law, and
it was unjust to call upon his constituents to con-
tribute to that from which they received no benefit.
Mr. Mcconnell dsclaimed any imputaton of un-
worthy motives to gentlemen. He did not intend
his arguments should have any bearing personally
offensive.
Mr.. Fenner withdrew his motion to refer the bill
to the Judiciary Committee, and advocated the
motion of Mr.. Mcconnell, with some notifications,
to refer to special committee.
Mr.. Elam opposed the motion. He feared if the
bill was committed at this late day it would be
lost.
Mr.. Anderson, of Madison, also opposed the
| commitment of the bill.
MFR. McCloskey, although opposed to this bill
| VI
: leVee improvements.
h. Mr.. williamson admitted, in reply to Mr.. Walk
: er's argument, that New Orleans was interested
in the prosperity of all parts of the State but tina
did not justify forcing upon her measures for tht
local improvement of every locality that contrib
/, uted to her commercial prosperity. Having, b.
II taxing herself. secured herself against inundaton
she should not be coerced into an improvement
a district.
MIR. Smonds admired the liberal spirit Of Nj
McCloskey and other city gentlemen in expressin
~ willingness to contribute literally to the prote
f. ton of alluvial lands and thought it became ge
ge tlemen from the uplands to exhibit an equally Ii
al eral spirit. Admitting that New Orleal
i, was liable to overflow, to which she was not, b
cause, at her own expense, she had secured he
CO SELF the effects of inundation in New Orleans we
not near so disastrous in the country, where t
90 loss OF at least one whole crop was the resu
he In this view, taxation should not be the sam
n The uplands had an indirect interest, as had Ne
If Orleans, in these Improvements, and should
taxed for them well as New Orleans.
- The discussion continued by Messrs. NICE
cry, Mcconnell Walker and Fenner.
10 At half-past ten the House adjourned witho1
. | coming to vote.