New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-06-04

4
| men and Assistant Aldermen the following
preamble and resolution was unanimously
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, 1864, and
| 1865 until the first OF January, 1870, in CON
sequence of the various acts of the Legis.
lature postponing the collection OF state
and parochial taxes due until that period,
which acts of the Legislature are construed
BY many persons to include the city taxes
for those years; and
Whereas, One of the great sources of en-
barrassment of the city corporation arises
| from the non.Collection Of the taxes due the
city for those years, amounting as they do
to over three millions of dollars, therefore
Resolred That joint committee consist
| ing of three members of this Board and two
| members of the Board of Aldermen be APP
pointed to memorabilia Brevet Major Cen
eral r. G. Buchanan, commanding TINS
military 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 smaller rate of taxation than any
other large city in the Union.
In 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-
stroyed upon the payment of the taxes
upon which it was based. This rule at first,
we believe, was generally followed, but in
after years, when other men filed the offices,
the issue of currency was largely increased
and soon ceased to represent that tor which
it was originally intended. In the mean
time the expenses of the city went on.
The exact condition of affairs at present
is that we have circulation of something
less than four az millions of dollars, which
is 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.
After the cessation of hostilities, and at
the next session of our Legislature bill
was passed and approved March 8, 1866, for
the purpose of reimbursing parties who had
paid their taxes. See acts of Louisiana,
1866, liz, chapter ca.
In the same year another act was also
passed exemptipg property which had been
seized by the Federal Government from tax
alton for the years 1862, '63, ga, and '65. See
acts Of Louisiana 1866, p. 2Sa, chapter l2l (,
1872. The last two acts did not receive the
signature Of the Governor.
On the nineteenth day of February, 1866,
by ian act of the Legislature (see act of
1866, page A, chapter 2D all State and par
ish taxes were suspended till January l.
1868, and on March s, 1867 (see acts Of 1867,
page 10, chapter AID this act was extended
to January l, 1870, and by an act of 1867,
| chapter lao, page 2s5, all costs and interests
on taxes were ordered to be refunded.
The act of 1866, chapter l21, page 234,
says. THAT all seizures for city taxes for
1861, 1862, 1868, and 1864 be and are hereby
postponed until the reorganization Of the
civil municipal government
city government, SO far as the people OF
the city of New Orleans were concerned,
was elected and organized about the first OF
April, 1866. That city government has since
been suspended, and one in its place ap.
pointed by the military power.
Now it appears to your petitioners, after
| a careful examination of all the foregoing
acts, that the last cited IS the only one
which applies directly to the unpaid taxes
due the city of New Orleans; still there are
those who hold TO the contrary. Whether
this be so or not, one thing is certain, that a
| fair and equitable construction of the acts
will, we think, show that the citizens OF
New Orleans can not well complain, under
the circumstances, If they are forced to pay
do SO at this time with the city money al
almost forty per cent discount, which dis
count will far exceed, the back interest and
costs which may have accrued.
The citizens Of New Orleans who remained
at home have paid their taxes as they were
assessed, but those who were away are per
mittea BY the Legislature an exemption til
1879.
This Is doing Injustice, and is special leeis
lation in favor Of one portion Of our eitizenl
and against the other, and any State, city
or other corporation which sanctions suct
legislation must inevitably become iRsolv
Your petitioners respectfully ask youl
attention to the said acts, and thai
after due consideration you will b,
pleased to issue an order setting aside all o,
said acts or so much Of them as win permit
the city Of New Orleans TO collect at once
all taxes due to it, believing as we do tina
such an order 1t this time will work for thu
general good Of both city and citizens.
E.W. BURBANK,
Chairman on part Of Board Of Aldermen;
J. p. SULLIVAN,
Chairman on part Of Board Of Asssistan
lie. SCOTT,
ALFRED KEARNY.
The following resolution recommends,
therein was adopted on It's first reading
Resolced, That the Controller warran
on the Treasurer for the sum Of nIneteeI
hundred and ffty-thre2 dollars and lively
cents (Sl963 I'D In favor Of a. d. Cried
agent for corn and cattle purchaes
through J. F. Belknap, under ordinanc
No. 6026, in 1862. 70 supply the suGerin
people Of New Orleans.
The following report from the Committe
"a Streets ana Landing was recelved:
coAuxnz Or sraEEaa Asp I.Aspnsoa,
Clig Bal. Jnne 2, itla
70 ~ helolstle Beard Of Aldermen.
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