New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-12-25

4
eases provision was made fer redemption
Notes were issued against the unpaid tai
Of 1861, and alss against the batture pre-
perty made by command Of General Butler
During the years 1864 and 1865, the bu
rsau administration suceeede in taking VI
and canceling considerable amounts Of th'
outstanding notes, aRd kept tbs city crsdi
well up by showing determination to re
tire the whole issue as seon as practicable
But unfortunately the return Of "civil gov
srnment'' in 1866, brought with it . large
army Of needy leeehes, who locked to
the City Hall for the means to live
without werk, and to reimburse them in al
indirect way for alleged loss Of fortune in
following Bob Lees banners. The real
fighting men, however, were generally left
out in the cold.
At the same time. in order to court pop.
ularity, the taxes fer all the years of the
rebellion were suspended, and those who
had paid for the support of the Yankee
administration, Yankee schools, aRd other
determinations, were permitted 10 reclaim
the amounts paid in. One family alone
more renowned for being wealthy aRd Or
namental than either patriotic or useful
drew from the Treasury forty thousand
dollars for one years taxes. The Assistant
City Attorney had already poeketed his
commissions for collecting these taxes.
Bis fees, amounting to many thousand dol
lars, were returned to the tax payers by
the Treasurer, but ne attempt was ever
made to have the Attorney reimburse the
Treasury.
Thus, with ineurring the most extrava-
giant expenditures by the creation Of new
and unnecessary sthcss merely to afford
situations 10 returned Conredcrates, and
letting out contracts Of the most shameful
character, the revenues derived from the
ordinary sources were inadequate, and u
resort was SgAin had to the issue Of city
money. About 81, 600 was put out BY
the Monroe administration, which repre-
sents the cost of that affair over and abOve
the rather liberal SUNS derived from taxes.
Fer few months the ci'y's financial affairs
were placed fairly On the downward grade
to bankruptcy, and attained high rate Of
velocity.
This Issue was not Onl y illegal but un-
necessary. The proceeds were never ap-
piled to any useful purpose. The wharves
were not repaird, the streets were net
clsGned-nOthing was done except to pay
contractors and the salaries of officers.
The corruPt administration was at last
broken up hy military authority, to the
great satisfaction OF all honest men who
knew anything about how things were
conducted. City credit had already begun
rapidly to recede, and it required all the
good management of the succeeding Re-
publican administration to avert the ca
lanity which has overtaken the present i'm
co1petsnt concern. The volume of city
money shoAt was reduced by more than
million Of dollars under the Heath admin-
istration.
But another misfortune overlook Us in
April "The people" chose to elect lot
Of thinkers and cobhlers to the city ofices at
time when 1t required men of ability and
character to avert the smash-up that almost
everybody saw was inevitable unless some
thing was done to prevent it. As many
members of the present city government |
had failed in their private business, it is
not wonderful that there has been a want |
of success in the. management OF municipal
finances.
No attempt has been made to cut down
expenses none whatever to compel de-
linquent debtors to pay the city. The time
approaches when prescription will run
against large portion of the sums
due. Laws passed by the State
Legislature have been openly dis
regarded and resisted. Not being able
to serve their friends in the Democratic
party, and being habitually unjust to all
Republicans and systematically contuma-
cious of lawful authority, the present city
government has completely lost the conf.
dence of the people-even the "people"
who elected them. They are, therefore,
worse than useless, and should be turned
out of Office as sooR as the Legislature
meets. Every honest taxpayer repeats
this opinion.
As for the resolution to refuse to take
city money for taxes after the first OF Janu-
airy, we suppose it will be resisted by some
taxpayers. Reputation or refusal to pay
\ debt acknowledged to be due, is an att
tude of sovereign power not possessed by
\ corporation. 1t is doubtful if it would
be permitted to State. The city stands
before the courts as an individual, and
Jan not exercise any greater rights. Its
obligations TO pay may be enforced by the
courts. And the holder Of municipal prom
ses to pay can come into court at any time
md file an affidavit against any claim THE
'ity has against him to an amount equal to
he face of the notes he holds. The reso-
utions of the Council are net law to the ex
ent of impairing the obligation of con-
racts.
1t may be in the power of the Legislature
o relieve the city, in some measure. But
! confidence which it is not in the power
# Democratic administration to afford
viii be first demanded. The time is close
1t hand when the whole matter will come