Baton Rouge tri-weekly gazette & comet. [volume] (Baton Rouge, La.) 1865-18??, 1868-01-30
CITY FINANCES, sc.

L
A decrease Of some $4,000 ia noted
in the revenue yields of 1867 az
compared with those of 1866.
Independent of the current ex.
pepses of the city government, means
will have to be provided for the pay.
ment of Treasury Warrants amount.
ing $9,9S1 ~ and Bonds falling due
this year, amounting to $4,000.
The outstanding dollar bonds to
be redeemed amount to 81 ,I3l.
There il balance due on Tax
Roll of 1866, OF $l,436 %, and on
that of 1867, Of $4,464 SO; besides
license dues for 1867, OF $500. The
above constitutes the resources OF
the city government, independent OF
the licenses and tax roll for 1865
for paying the debt Of 1867.
This brief abstract Of the Auditors
report suiiices to show formidable
round OF figures attending the ex-
penditure OF tie city government,
and an array OF figures on the income
side Of the municipal ledger, which,
however hattering in one sense to
the pride OF our tax paying citizens
in beholding how generously they
contribute toward lubricating the
wheels OF their local government,
tells with dire effect upon the scanty
individual resources OF great many.
With a view to tightening the
hurthens 80 seriously telt and com
planned OF by tax payers OF the Cor
poratiop, the Select Finance Com
mittee of the Board of City Council
submitted a Report nj the last meet
ing of said Board, providing for
curtaIment of the expenses Of the
city government, by fixing the
number and compensation of city
officers and employees, upon making
an appropriation for the current year,
and to establish an uniform rate OF
taxes aud licenses to pay the ex
penses of the city government" &c,
also, limiting the charitable fund at
$500 per mouth, or $4,000 per an
mum, in addition to the appropriation
from the Police Jury,-were APP
proved and adopted.
1t is to be hoped that this policy
OF retreuchment which has at last
been set on foot by the city admin
istration, viii not talter in its course
until taxation and expenditure shall
be reduced to standard commensu-
rate with the straitened and impov-
erished circumstances Of our people |
1t is awful to think Of the excessive
rates OF both city aud parochial tax
alton prevalent among us. 1t has
long since become a crying evil with
our citizens. 1t il worse: it is a |
grooming burthen, which threatens to
grind into the very dust what little
there remains Of the recuperative lite
and resources OF our industrial popu-
alton and home proprietors
Competent and faithful officials
are dpservedlv entitled to salaries
'omporting with the dignities and
iutles OF their positions but, surely,
hese are times when little self
abnegation is demanded Of all The
people are not in condition to foot
he bills of former periods. They
ire all obliged to sacrifice more OF less
# comforts and to endure even pr
'ations for the want of means, and
II many cases, too, where toisome
abor barely secures to them a PIT
ance Tor the support, of themselves
md those dependent on them, much
ess enabling them to meet the ever
occurring and increasing demands
# the taxgathrrer Then, gentle
nen, reason this out among your
elves, and let your fellow citizens
ee and feel whether there is not
ONE hope Of reliet left to them, some