The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1868-12-13
MORNING STAR AND CATHOLIC MESSENGER
NEW ORLEANS. SUNDAY. DECEMBER 10. 1868.
[For the Morning Star and Catholic Messengerl
Real Estate Owners Association and City
Reform,

Reform.
The result of the election held on Saturday
the 5th instant, clearly shows the power that
the Real Estate Owners Association Is deaianed
to exercise on all subjects affecting the great
interests of the city of New Orleans!
The three or four hundred votes cast for the
issue of bonds would have probably been eiveu
for that measure under any circumstances; but
we doubt If this Association had not used its
influence to bring out the property owners
that o single citizen would have taken the
trouble to go to the polls and vote against the
issue of bonds.
AS the Association has used it's influence ia
defeat the measure prepared by the Council for
the redemption of the city money, the respon.
sibility now rests with them to have prepared
for the next meeting of the Legislature an act
revenues in United States currency, and there
by save to the taxpayers the immense sums
that have now to be paid to those furnishing
ahhyfhin or doing any work for the city, over
greenbacks to meet its current expenses
mat great reform is necessary in the city
government Mt must be apparent to all; and the
Association to mature and perfect those mea-
sures. The Finance Committee reported last
December the anticipated revenue of the city
for 1868 at three million six hundred thousand
dollars, and the expenditures at two million
six hundred Thousand dollars. The anticipated
surplus OF one million of dollars for 1865 has
al! been swallowed up.
In the same budget the anticipated income
from licenses was set down at one million of
suggested.
through the Times that the Council ought to
reliexethe business of the city by abolishing
tho whoie'iicensing system rs source of, rev.
enue; for in no other city in the United States
or in Europe is commerce, business and profes.
slons clogged, trammeled and oppressed Inv
state and city taxes, in the shape of licenses
as they are in New Orleans.
In the great city of New York thew license
some callings and employments for the purpose-|
OF regulating and controlling them, but not
for the purpose of getting revenue. For in.
auctlOneerS ar
public drays 81 So boarding houses and cart
men fifty cents each; hack, omnibus and car |
aaiEers ~ each' and SO on, with some other
man requires or pays for any license.
Inc assessment and collection of State and
city taxes requires also to be reformed. We
have now twelve City and four State Assessors
Five is all that would be necessary to do the
work for both State and city.
1--WE We have a now four State Collectors, and
large ana expensive bureau called the CITY
Ireasurers office, when the collection of all the
taxes imposed upon the city, by State or NUM-
ciPai authority, ought and could be economi-
caily collected by one Receiver and a few
clerks. The plan of electing Assessors and
Collectors of Taxes is-to say the least of it
abandoned. o'-
For several YEARS amendments to the CITY
Gharter nave been under consideration by
AegsiatfVe committees, who have generally
spent the whole session in CONSIDERING the sub |
1ect, without any result, except the expense for
printing long reports We have now before US
CharterV rel
ported to both Houses by L. Gastinel, as chair
man OF joint committee of the Legislature of
ls65; another reported by Mr.. Sambola, as
chairman of Committee on Amendments to
City Charter, in the first session of the Lepis- ,
lature OF 1866; also one reported by Mr. NOLAN
as chairman of similar committee in the SEES,
sion OF 1867 and in the late session of the
Legislature of 1868, joint committee was an
pointed, which sat during the whole session,
and we believe are sitting-or standing-still,
at an expense of eight dollars day to the
unfortunate an,r ,l,or ~ |
committee and for each clerk employed.
We believe that the nearer our City Charter
conforms to the model of the old Constitution
of the United States, the better city govern
ment we shall have.
Give our city administration an executive
head, with power to compel the observance of
the laws and ordinances of the city by all |
whether in or out of office. Let him nominate I
all city officers, with the exception perhaps.
OF the Controller, who being the city book :
keeper, is intended as check on the other de- !
partments.
Do this and hold the Mayor responsible for
all the acts of his subordinates and YOU will -,
very likely, have a better and more economical
city government in the future.
But whatever measures are thought neces- .
sary hereafter, either " to secure the enactment
OF laws deemed beneficial to property {; to re- !
strain OF annul, by legal means, improper legis-
latlon, whether State municipal: to pro- !,
mote mote necessary improvements, encourage pro-
ton and the proper application thereof" have
been undertaken by the Real Estate Owners :
2esocialion- from Wnat they have already =
done, and from what we know of the character {
of the members of the Executive COMMITTEES.
we have every reason to hope that a new and I
bright era is about to open for New Orleans.
In view of the resignation. of the Board of =
Assistant Aldermen, the Bee, of Wednesday, :
advises the Real Estate owners Association
to prepare ticket containing the names of -,
citizens willing to serve as Assistant Alder .
men" We trust that the Association will do 7
no such thing. Let the Association prepare I
proper measures to be passed into ordinances :
and laws, but let them not be responsible for
any man or any party, but trust to the good .
sense and interest of the voter to elect the =
men that will carry those measures into effect .
LORD STANLEY ON PAuPERIsM-Althouph ]