New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-07-28

The following communication comes 10
us from a member of the city administra-
ton. We publish it for the benefit of all
concerned:
NEW ORLEANS, July 25, 1868.
! EDITOR REPUBLICAN,:
Is there no paper in this city that takes
a sufficient interestin the proceedings of the
Board of the Common Council to even re-
port correctly their proceedings, and to
warn its members of the headlong recll-
lessness with which they are acting? Night
after night they meet, and the result of
their proceedings are all detrimental to the
community.
will point out a few of their actions
to you: They have failed to appoint any
Republican on any important committees;
they have violently elected good and faith
full officials on account of political princi.
pies, to the detriment of the interests OF the
city and community. They have renewed
contracts with parties from whom said
contracts had been taken tnTg fin MANY
Gases compIeIed the works, the renewal Of
these contracts is simply giving money to
these individuals for doing nothing. Thev
have determined to sell the contract for the
repairing of the bridges in the Third Dis
trict, when these bridges as a general thing
90 not need repairing, and the selling
q the contract would be simply making
TIE city pay twice for the same work.
it is estimated, Mr.. Editor, that the work
generally given out by contract is a sham
tT tavoring set of individuals who never
by the contract for the same district twice
II succession, but they leave the CITY TO
IKE up the work which they have neglect
q: and when it has been put in good re-
pir 1t is again bought by them, to be kent
util they (the bridges) are totally ruined
ad they are again returned to the citv
tat they may be built anew, as is the case
apresent with those of the Third District
When Mr.. Baker took the department of
tb street commission no one could he
fund to buy the contract for the repairin0
OF the bridges of the Third District: If
thretore fell to the city. But Mr.. Baker
fond no bridges in the district: thew had
a gone TO ruin. lie therefore had to 'build
TIM all anew Qor the contractor who had
BID Thorn had left them go TO RUM, and now
wen these bridges have very nearly ali |
ben built anew, and that for the next five |
yrs they will need very little repairing.
she man that had the contract before will |
8 1t back, that he may let them 90 10 |
I'm again, whilst he will be reapinR The
hefit of Mr.. Bakers labors and the citv,s
flds.
And this, Mr.. Editor, has been the pro-
gimme all along, that when one set of
bdges was worn out it reverted to the
@, and as soon as it was nut in
Ger some favorite got a contract for the
kping of them in order, and invariably
ltthem go to ruin.
ly experience teaches me that the svs.
e Of contract is detrimental to the citv
a tends to corrupt the Council, and that
its q gigantic system for sWindlinp the
cl They have cancelled and are can
cdng the taxes levied on the property of
poems who have refused TO pay for the
lafour or five years, and they are refund
IN TO certain persons who were made In
plby military authority, thereby DESTROY
iHthe only means at their command TO re-
az the city currency. They have had
Pushed resolutions for reirenchmentS.
anat every meeting they make appoint.
mts Of officers to situations which are
puly illusory; such for instance as keeper
oilwderhouse. They are about TO grant
70 e Carondelet Canal company twenty
nvthousand dollars on illnsoFy claims.
IhCommittee on Ways and Means have I
ialA to report. and the Council has taken
no cps to relieve the many applicants who e
areInfiering from the depreciation of the t
which has gone down ten per
cenSince they have taken their seats and Q
aaVestablished the grab game. In fact, y
VT, ditor, the poor laborers and mechanics
RnqaVe been cleaning our streets and re- n
'airlg our bridges and other city property a
lavebeen discharged without their paw. Il
ND lur school teachers, our policemen, Il
nd fact all those who have labored or T,
ervq the city in any capacity are left
'ith4t their pay, and in the face Of this .,
reaHdistress the Council has taken no 4
iepsoward relief on the contrary thew n
ave lassed resolutions that the city shall !,
az p more claims in its currency, and "
royied no means TO pay them in other re-
Inds, thereby depriVing these people 81 ii
mans of subsistence and throwing 4.
greet number of needy persons on ne
10 the most helpless condition.
JACQUES.