The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1868-03-11
General Hancock's Financial Order.

be read with great interest by all classes of
citizens, especially by those who pay taxes,
and those who receive the benefit Of them.
Owing to the fact that the depreciation
of State Warrants and the absence of the
usual appropriations has left the State Off
GERS without salaries, and our charitable in
stitutions without support, the General has
ordered that the taxes be hereafter collec-
ted in United States Treasury notes, and
that oil payments from and including the
last quarter of'1867 be paid in that curren-
cy so far as regards salaries, public schools,
rent of the Mechanics Institute, and the
support of State conyicts. He also directs
the ASSESSMENTS foe 1867 to be adopted
without further expense as to 1863.
This has been very perplexing matter
to General Hancock, but it was so hecessa-
ry that the machinery of the State should
be kept in motion, and SO impossible to do
this without the requisite oil for the works,
that he has been in q manner compelled to,
do that for US which the Legislature would
doubtless have done had it been permitted
u session
HEADQUARTERS FIFTH Mn. DIsT.,
New Orleans Feb. q, 1868.
Special Order No. 40. $}E
Extract.
l. The Auditor and Treasurer of the
State ofLouisiana have officially represent
ted to the Commanding General of the
Fifth Military District, that "the indebted
ness ofthe State is such, that under pres
ent revenue laws, the debt cannot be paid"
and the Governor of the State has, in ain
official communication to the Commanding
General, declared that the State Treasury
is totally bankrupt, that the Judges and all
the other officers of the State cannot be
paid, and that unless some remedy be APP
piled, the machinery Of civil government
in the.State must stop. The collection Of
arrear taxes for four years was, by act Of the
Legislature, suspended until the year 1870,
and the appropriation act of the State,
passed on the 25th OF March, 1867, to meet
the current expenses OF the State, expired
on the 3lst Of December 1867, SO that no
adequate provision for the current year
now exists, and no payments can be made
by the Treasurer. The emergency of the
case is SO pressing and immediate, and
prompt action so indispensable to pre-
vent anarchy and confusion, and the loss of
all semblance of civil law, that the Com
handing General feels it his duty to use his
duty to use his authority for the relief Of
the State in this exigency. Upon the re-
4 commentator of his excellency Gov. Baker
| it is therefore ordered is3 2ilf e.tllI I.
I. That from and after this day, all the
| licenses on trades, professions and occupa-
tions, the revenues, dues and taxes, Of the
State of Louisiana, shall be payable and
collected in United States legal tender
Treasury notes. tt is made the duty of the
State Treasurer, and Of all other persons
charged with these collections, to exact
4 payments as above. /, ttlt .eai5
Ii. The Auditor and Treasurer Of the
State shall be required to keep special
. and separate account of all dies, taxes,
funds, or other public moneys, which will be
received by them, hereafter, from any and all
collectors Of taxes, or from other sources;
and it shall be their. duty to appropriate
4 the same to the payment of the salaries oil
| the judicial, executive and civil officers ol
the State; and to pay and discharge all the
appropriations made in favor ofthe charita.
BILE institutions, the FREQ public schools, fol
the rent OF the Mechanics Institute and
for the support of the State convicts. The
act of the Legislature making appropria
tons for the general expenses of the State
ending the 3lst Of December, 1867, so ia,
as the appropriation therein SET forth ap
|ply to the above enumerated officers and in
situations, will be adopted by the said
Treasurer and Auditor, and other officers
. as if the said Legislature had passed the
same act providing for the year 1868, max
ing appropriations for the objects hereinbe
fore specified in this order, for the sums
contained in said act; provided, however
that the Treasurer ofthe State shall moi
pay any other outstanding warrants or 9th
er obligations Of the State than those tina
are issued against appropriations for th'
last quarter of the year 1867, restricting
!, himself in the payment Of these last men
: toned obligations, to those applicable to
and issued in favor of the officers and in
stitutions hereinbefore referred to in this or
der, and for whose special benefit and pro
, lection this order provides, and fox no 9th
ers. ll6aaaa IL g&za.
. III. For the purpose Of carrying out thi
order without delay, the tax collector
throughout the State of Louisiana will re
: port immediately under oath, to State Treas
I uref, the kinds and amottnts of finds ant
moneys collected BY them DIP to this date
! . w. Forths purpose ofavoidlhg expens
throughout the State; the assessment whicl
have been made for the year 1867 are adop
ted, as if the same had been made for tn
year 1868, and the collectors will be requir
ed to perform their duties under existing
laws. g ll sHe o
x e. 80
By command Of Major Gen. Hancock,
GEO. L. HARTsuFF,
Assistant Adjutant General
observation-disclosures
STARTLING Facts, s