The New Orleans crescent., 1868-11-19
REGULAR SESSION.
CITY HALL, NEW ORLEANS, |

november IL, 1905.
The boardmet pursuant to adjournment.
In the absynce Of President Kearny. Mr.. Thos
Fisher was called to the chair.
Present: Messrs. Athens, Walker, Pemberton
Camp, Montgomery. Fisher, Morphy. Pandely
Wynne and Farrell.
The reading of the minutes of last meeting was
dispensed w,th. on motion Of Mr.. Pandely.
The following message from the mayor was
read, and, together with the accompanying pa.
pers, was referred to the finance committee:
MAYoRALrY OF NEW ORLEANs,l
City Hall, Nov. IL, 1868.
To the Honorable Common Council:
Genaemen-H with is transmitted the demand
of A. Belot, together with certain documents
from e. Filleul, his attorney, claiming from the
city of New Orleans twenty-six thousand eight
hundred and seventy- three dollars damages for
the destruction Of merchandise and furniture on
the 26th October, 1868, by "mob or riotous as
semblage." 1900. r. ....-..
Also demand through their attorney, E. FIJI.
leuI, of Jules Lanabere for four thousand dollars
and Of Victor Belotfor twelve hundred and eighty
dollars damages for personal property alleged to
have been " carried away and destroyed by mob
or riotous sssemblagen on the same night.
These demands being made upon the city
through me, as its representative, makes 1t my
duty TO suggest the following objections to the
payment of the respective sums:
1. Remuneration in such cases Ii predicated
upon the fact that the city has q police force
ample to protect the property of its citizens, ap.
pointed by the mayor and paid with the approval
Of the council. Such In not the case now. The
Legislature. in adopting, and Governor warmoth,
in approving the metropolitan police bill, deliber.
ately deprived the city Of any power to protect
either life, limb or property. The whole power
of keeping the peace and protecting citizens in
the enjoyrsent Of their rights was, by this act,
vested in board of commissioners who in viola.
tion Of the will Of the corporation, and without
Difference either to the will or the rights of
Taxpayers, assume to supply the place Of the
former police force. ltis simply preposterous to
hold the city authorities, powerless they are to
account for the acts of rioters when il was i'm.
possible for the mayor to take needfu steps for
the preservation of property. 1t would be pilfer.
ing the city treasury to take from 1t dollar
der such circumstances.
2. By reference to the assessment rolls of the
city 1t will pc found that A. Belot rendered bat
four hundred dollars capital and money at inter-
est for the year 1868. No furniture, nor other
valuable stock in trade was returned as the SUBJ
iect of taxation. By what remarkable process he
now sumsup catalogue amounting to the large
sum which he claims for damages, is unknown to
me. ra'
I therefore, In laying the inclosed documents
before you, beg to suggest that Belot Lanabere
and all others who consider themselves damaged
by rioters, and prefer claims against the CITY, be
referred 10 the source from whence the metro
politan billemansted for such remedy or remedies
as they car: obtain. Very respectfully, etc.,
JNo. r. CONWAY, Mayor.
The treasurer's report for the week ending
Nov. IA, 1858, showing receipts s576,2S3 81. ex-
psndituresi $s4,776 70. balance on hand $751;
500 27. was referred to the finance committee.
The following communication from the city sur
veyor was received, and action on the subject de.
ferred until future day:
SURVEYORS OFFICE,
Room No. l9, Cry HALL.
ttr9 City Of New Orleans, Nov. IL, 1868.