New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-06-07
New ORLEANS, La, June /, 1868.

NEW ORLEANS, La, June l, 1865.
Breyet Major General R. @. Buchanan, Commanding
Fifth Military District
At the last sitting of the Boards of Alder
men and Assistant Aldermen the following
preamble and resolution was unanimously
adopted:
WHEREAS. Grave doubts exist as to the
power of the city of New Orleans to enforce
the payment of the unpaid taxes due this
| city for the years 1861, 1862 1868, 1854, and
1866 until the first Of January, 1870, in con-
sequence of the various acts of the Legis-
, lature postponing the collection of State
and parochial taxes due until that period,
which acts OF the Legislature are construed
by many persons to include the city taxes
: for those years; ana
Whereas, One of the great sources OF emf
barrassment Of the city corporation arises
;, from the non-oollection of the taxes due the
t city for those wears, amounting as they do
to over three millions of dollars, therefore
Resol6ed That Joint committee consist
ing of three members OF TINS Board ana Two
members of the Board of Aldermen be ap-
pointed to memorialize Brevet Major Cen
eral p. G. Buchanan, commanding this
military district to order the collection of
the taxes in arrears to this city for said
years Immediately.
And your petitioners were appointed to
act as said committee.
The city of New Orleans has less debt in
proportion to the inhabitants and wealth
and smaller rate of taxation than any
i other large city in the Union.
In 1869 when many of our citizens were
absent the unpaid taxes were funded by the
issuing of currency equal to the amount OF
said taxes, which currency was to be de-
stroyed upon the payment of the taxes
upon which it was based. This rule at first,
we believe. was generally followed, but in
after years, when other men filed the offices,
the issue of currency was largely increased
and soon ceased to represent that for which
it was originally intended. In the mean
time the expenses of the city went on.
The exact condition of affairs at present
is that we have circulation of something
less than four a. millions of dollars, which
is the property of our citizens, While
on the other hand the citizens owe to the
city in the shape Of unpaid taxes nearly the
same amount.
After the cessation of hostilities, and at
the next session of our Legislature bill
was passed and approved March s, 1866, for
the purpose of reimbursing parties who had
paid their taxes. See acts of Louisiana,
1866, III, chapter 64.
In the same year another act was also
passed eXempting property which Lad been
seized by the Federal Government from tax
alton for the years 1862, '63, '64, and '65. See
acts of Louisiana 1866, p. 234, chapter III,
100. The last two acts did not receive the
J signature Of the Governor.
On the nineteenth day of February, 1866,
by Ian act of the Legislature (see act OF
J 1866, page Al. chapter 24) all State and par.
] ish taxes were suspended till January l,
! 1868, and on March 8, 1867 (see acts OF 1867.
page 10, chapter I'D this act was extended
/ to January /, 1870, and by an act of 1867,
chapter l49. page 2S5, all costs and interests
on taxes were ordered to be refunded.
The act OF 1866, chapter l2l page 234,
says; 'That all seizures for city taxes tor
1861, 1862, 1863, and 1864 be and are hereby
postponed until the reorganization of the
civil municipal government
A city government, so far as the people Of
the city of New Orleans were concerned,
was elected and organized about the first OF
April, 1866. That city government has since
pointed by the military power.
, Now it appears to your petitioners, attel
a careful examination OF all the foregoing
e acts, that the last cited is the only one
q which applies directly to the unpaid taxes
! due the city Of New Orleans still there are
! those who hold TO the contrary. Whether
this be so or not, one thing is certain, that 3
fair and equitable construction OF the acts
will we thiak chow that the eitigens OF
l New Orleans can not well complain, under
! the circumstances, If they are forced to pas
! up their taxes, and particularly as they car
Z do so at this time with the city money al
Z almost forty per cent discount, which dis
count viii far exceed the back interest anc
costs which may have accrued.
& The citizens Of New Orleans who remained
i at home have paid their taxes as they wers
L assessed, but those who were away are per
Il mftted by the Legislature an exemption til
I 1879. fan
4 Thisis doing Injustice, and is special legis
) lation in favor Of one portion of our citizen,
and against the other, and any State, city
or other corporation which sanctions sucl
legislation must inevitably become insols
ent.
e Your petitioners respectfully ask YOU
attention to the said acts, and tina
after due consideration you will b
pleased to issue an order setting aside all Q
said acts or 50 much of them as will perni
J. the city Of New Orleans to collect at ono
d all taxes due TO it, believing as we do tina
such an order at this time will work for I'd
I general goodof both city and citizens.
p. W. BURBANK, -
2 Chairman on part Of Board of Aldermen
d j. p. SULLIVAN As
e Chairman on part Of Board Of AsssistsH
i J.E. SCOTT.
!, ALFRED KEARNY.
! l. The following resolution recommends
sAerein was adopted On rs asst reading
! Rssoitsd That the. Controller warra1
Z on the Treasurer for the sum Of ninetee
I hundred and dfty-thFee dollars and tWelv
3 cents (Sls53 I'D In favor Of A. D. Grief
4 agent, fef corn and cattle purchase
= Through y +. Belknap, under ordinanc
\ NO. s02e i'll 1862, to supply the sufferin
X PeopAe 81 Nes Orleans, ~ if
i The following report from the COMMITTEE
g stres;s ase Handins vas received ~
ce, 81 srpztfs Aisp l.AspiFss.
CITY HAL Jpng 3 1s5ai
s. Sise AeHdEane Hesfd y Atdarmsni sas
sef GAsgLa4E orr committee have til
E t'T6teffeu u tAel, ~ ssi
Upon the petition q adfs " "a
permission ~ GrBct q cdIp14 Hon an Al
of Ihat4 and White sifeeis Won
if5te Wouisl b sft ~ 80 / u. \ .5siIII 4 n
p eHasafy reso5dNon
on -. 81 the petition Of u surgl asking Ga
81 tive years = granted hirn "a
1Iqn ~ his Contracts vain IA
nz O several slre1Ag WITH snl,sl
ZEE 9i9cAs mmistaa Would asI5rf Is
10y p p4sirg been rens 1
snsEylpss sea ~ Work hafl ~
lss Sa. .'.. ~. I. -. eo4tlacta they tne4
e. bp9A nv feN he Asalstal
$500 q Alast 1oloHfTGnee fhI
US tAqfieea 80 build * M fs1ifba
tstM thB present ferIlIs1 h IS N
aaltfa ground. intetsa
eF Old tlaYte. NaH tanat siSeet
4Es 81 t1a FltSH street Of 01Ha
H Aat, thence 10 cross to Tie Wi
- e tsal street. fox the use Of ii