New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-06-05
NEw o.. Juno !, IsGs

NEW ORAEAHot . NAAN A. ACNts
Brevst Ma OF General Robert O. Buchanan. Com.
handing klttn Military District;
At the last sitting Of the Boards of Alder
men and Assistant Aldermen the following
preamble and resolution was unanimously
adopted:
WHEREAS, Grave doubts exist as TO the
power of the city Of New Orleans to enforce
the payment of the unpaid taxes due this
CITY for the years 1861, 1862, 1868, 1854, and
1865 until the first of January, 1870, ia con
sequence Of the various acts of the Legis-
latuTe postponing the collection OF State
aud paroohial taxes due until that period,
which &C to of the Legislature are construed
by many persons to include the city taxes
tor those years; and
Whereas, One Of the great sources Of en-
barrassment of the city corporation arises
from the noracollection of the taxes due the
CITY for those years, amounting as they do
to over three millions of dollars; therefore
"ResoIUed, That Joint committee, consist
ing of three members of this Board and two
members of the Board of Aldermen, be ap.
pointed to memorabilia Brevet Major Gen
eral r. G. Buchanan, commanding this mil
itsry district, to order the collection of the
taxes in arrears to this city for said years
immediately
And your petitioners were appointed to
| act as said committee.
The city of New Orleans has less debt in
proportion to the inhabitants and wealth,
and asmaller rate of taxation, than any other
large city In the Unien.
ii 1862, when many Of our citizens were
| absent, the unpaid taxes were funded by the
issuing Of currency, equal to the amount of
| said taxes, which currency was to be de-
st-ssJsca :s.ssa the payment Ct III taxes IiEan
which it was based, This rule, at first, we
| believe, was generally followed, but in after
years, when other lnen filled the Offices, the
issue of currency was largely increased, and
/ soon ceased to represent that for which it
was originally intended, In the meantime
/ the expenses of the city went on. =
The exaet condition of affairs at present
is that we have circulation of something
I less than four millions OF dollars, which ID
the property of our citizens, while on the
/ other hand the citizens owe to the city in
| the shape Of unpaid taxes nearly the same
amount. Z
j After the cessation of hostilities aud al
the next session Of our Legislature bull was
| passed, and approved March s, 1866 for the
purpose Of reimbnrsing parties who had
paid their taxes. See acts Of Louisiana,
lsl866, p. IL, chap. 60. ~
Ia the same year another act was also
passed exempting property which had been
seized by the Federal government from tax
alton tor the years 1862, 1865, 1864, and 1855
See act Of Louisiana, for 1865, p. 254, chaps.
i III and 122.
The last two lets did not receive the sig
nature OF the Governor. e4t 80 7
On the feth day Of February, 1866. By Al
act Of the Legislature Gee act Of 1856, pagS
AZ, chapter 2A5l all State and parish taxes
j were suspended till January |, 1865 and Oh
March s, 1867 (see acts Of 1867, page g9
chapter 4gl) this act was extended TO Jen.
Il nary, / 1870 Aud BY an act of 1867, chapter
40, page 2es, all costs and Interest on taxef
i were ordered to be refunded.
The act 81 1855, chspter l2l, page 2sk
saya. THAT al seizures for city taxes foI
postponed unfll the Reorganization Of thl
civil uaasiclpsk government M W.
a aitY government, 90 far as the people o.
the city Of New Orleans were cOncefne0 wal
elected sad organizRd abeutt the hrst Of A phil
l6des THAT city governments Aas SINCE b e
aupefseaea, aaa ere p its plAee nPpointet
/ BY the military power. NoN, y appears 4
gour petitioners AFTER 3 eAfefHl examination
J of al Che foregoing acEa that the laat eitef
Al IL the only one which spnlies directly To thl
uepsid tazss due the eily Gf New Orleans
a sta there are those who held 20 che tontfa
n ~. whether tbs be g Or not, one thing I
) ceEtsin. tkAt fasf ana e9uitaeil
ifsxens a hes "a leans .chn GOT wen con
piain uade1 the oiEt uussaanoRz Il fsHe ari
/ / f6f5eS g H1f I'D taeir taxes a1d Na9tien
q lsfS Aa &ilsf eau de "a at tala a A1G with ~
city money e almost fartS per eeut dis
codat Whieh diaeoent ~lll ~ exceed 81
kAck tn&ersAt ang costs WAAan NAY AnFi
& lFltns 81 Sew erles1a Nhogeina,n
hlHit h4qa qstd titeir taSe9 S. fhel
si8 bn3 thoae silo were Hw&$ 81
p f1ed ~ SO slae4se ta e&amisibi
~ IS Hoiaa ia;azt1ces ana
49as - aue geftieu q
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