The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-12-05
'ATUkOAY soRNINa. DECEMBER 5. 1868.
Communicated
CITY .MONEY-A DIALOGUE.


Ed, Crescent-Hsppening accidentally, Of
course, to overhear conversation between q
property holder par erceRence tax payer (for
yosk that, as some persons believe. nobody ex
cept -, property holder pays taxes) and labor.
ing Nan upon the subject of the three million loan
bill TO be voted upon to-day. / have jotted IL
down in the colloquial way in which it was Mt.
tered for the benefit of whom it may con.
Germ: ~
P.iH-Good morning, John. Propertv il ant
to address nc property in the most patronizipe
manper by its Christian name.) / hope you are
well.
yqtn-I thank you, sir, am quite well.
N H-Well, John, how does the world treat
you, Are you doing well? Up. Il. had passed
John hundred times before, aud never thougbt
OF lnquirlng about his crcumstances)
Josn-Well. sir, onlyiso-so times are hard, pro-
vlsiots and house rent dear, and wages low; so
Its pretty hard to make both ends meet.
Il. H.-What are you doing John. for a living ,
John-Just now, aid for some time past, have
had job from Tho city, ia repairing the streets
pretty hard work it is, too; but wouldn't mind
that 30 much If they only paid us OF in good
money but instead of that they give US CITY
money, which we can't use. unless we get shaved
thirty or forty cents on the dollar.
P.H-That's hard, John, very hard indeed, AMI
the CITY ought to be ashamed of itself for paying
Its lsborers In such trash. Here p. H. struck
the banquette with the point of his cane very en-.
phateally, as If he would like to drive ii throug
the whole corporate body of the city and string
them all on il like smoked herrings.)
Joha-l suppose, sir, they have nothing else to
pay with, and poor people must do the best they
can.
p. H-By the way. John, (ah P. H., YOU Gun.
ninGold dog, to pretend you had just thought OF
it, shat do you think of the three million bill.
upol. which the people are to vote next Satur.
days
Jstn-Indeed, sir, can't say know much
about II; but 1t seems TO me it would be good
thing for Us poor people II this city money could
be got out Of the way, so that the laborers for
the cty-Dot only such as me, but the school
teachers, and the police, and all the rest-miQht
De PAID IN good money, and think this would De
good way TO do it.
So for believe IL TO be q very injurious measure
TO the property holders because il will add TO oar
already ntolerable taxation; and besides, John.
IT. h. began to grow excited at this pOnD do
NOT think any one but property holders should
have a right TO vote upon the question.
Johl-lt may be SO. sir, as you say about the
taxation, for IL Is not for such as me to question
your opinions upon s1ch matters, and il Won
would only mud out some better way of getting
RID OF the city money. / am sure / would be yerv
glad both for your sake and mine; but when Won
say that only property holders should be allowed
To vote upon this question, | am sorry to say
can quite agree with you. Since you have set
me to thinking about il, remember that when
no money 10 circulation, and when the city wanted
to collect the taxes, the property holders cried
out, Don't attempt to do IT, we are too poor. |
we can't pay, let the taxes be postponed
and let the city issue her notes as
money, and the taxes be the security for their
redemption" which was done. This was the cry
from year 10 year, and more and more city notes
were issued. Atlast, when Mayor Heath said that |
large amount thus issued wasn't worth a-(ex.
cuse me, cir, was mighty nigh being impoliie1 |
wasn't worth anything. the people got scared and |
went and sold their money at whatever they could
get Tor u, ten, twenty. thirty forty per cent dis.
count, but the property holders who had precious
little OF it-hnding that the payment of the taxes
could now be no longer put of, bought it I'D at |
tins heavy discount and paid t into the city treas
nry. Now. think, the property holders. in one
way or other have had all the benefit of the city
money, and the poor people all the loss, and |
think, besides, if this city money is not |
got rid OF these things will continue the rich to
benefit and the laborer to suffer until some day |
the city will be compelled, in self-defense to re-
fuse ii altogether and leave things to take their
course. Whatever that will be don't know, bat |
] believe It will be very bad for everybody who |
holds any obligation Of the city, whether it be in
bonds. OF warrants, or city money. | am sure |
have the right to vote upon this question, and |
shall not only exercise il, but persuade every one
know to do the same.
y. H-(Hghly indignantly Geo. morning. John. |
And he went his way muttering to himself: "how |
dreadfuly impudent these poor, ignorant people |
have become" l..