New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-06-04
PUBLIC MONEY FOR PRIVATE USES.

City Council on Tuesday night, upon IN
proposition to appropriate money to de
fray the expenses of two of our fire com
= panies on a Notification tour to the North
1t is pretty generally known that Me
; chanics' Fire Company No. and Hop
Hook and Ladder No. 3 have beer
designated to represent the department il
some public parade in New York City
But money is necessary to defray th'
expenses, and the boys naturally ap-
ply to the City Fathers for the needful
The gentlemen who are now installed il
the high places of the City Hall, with
proprietary rights and privileges wide Mr.
Enjoys speech, gave the subject care
full cogitation for week or two, and
finally proposition was made to give the
festively inclined youngsters half the
amount they asked for. But as the dona-
ton was to be intended as compliment,
it was deemed desirable to make the most
of it possible under the circumstances.
So it was not proposed to vote the appro-
priation directly to the companies, but to
have it drawn in favor of the Fire Depart
ment, which is very large and deservedly
popular organization, and includes pro-
diglous number of able-bodied voters.
10 lay down claim on the gratitude Of
these voters in good time, is no doubt a
laudable aim and a legitimate object. So
the fifteen hundred dollars is to 60 to the
department, upon the well known prin-
cipie that the greater necessarily includes
the lesser.
But, it is rather with the debate that
sprang up on the occasion than the manner
IN which the donation was given, that we
have to do at this time.
Mr.. West, who had at first objected to
letting the boys have cent OF the public
money for their proposed frolic, had since
conceived the idea that it was q good
investment in Northern acquaintance, and
consequently went in for it, heart and
soul, but wished to have the ordinance
amended SO that the two companies above
named could draw the money.
To this, MIR. Emley, with sufficient gravi-
ty, but very little logic, replied that be
had made it payable TO the department
because he was satisfied that the two |
companies would be fair representatives
OF the whole department of New Orleans"
1t strikes us as little singular that, after
having satisfied himself on this point, he
did not insist that these two companies
should be the boys to 20, and bind it by
stipulating that they only, and no inferior
represe natives, should receive the dona-
ton Of the public money.
MIR. Walton with high appreciation of
the public trust confded to his charge,
raised his voice in warning against the
donation. He occupies the position of
cashier to the corporation, and as such is
given every day to feel the inconvenience
If heavy debt and light purse. Hence,
lie doubted the propriety of bankrupt
corporation to start making donations.
With hundreds and thousands of creditors,
Who ought to have been paid long ago, /.
aging siege daily to the City Hall for
belr money, he evidently thought every
Iollar that came into the hands of the
administrators should be strictly applied
0 the business Of getting out of debt.
Mr. Shaw, while ascribing to Mr.. Wal
n a ypht |
Or his opposition, was disposed to take a
aore hopeful view Of the case. He said,
nd We think correctly, that the city is !,
OF bankrupt concern-ihat all its debts
id not amount to more than eighteen
illion dollars, and could be easily paid
thin the time allotted. Now, it occurs =
us that eighteen millions is very heavy
yure, indeed, for the 'proprietors" of this
ty to raise within a given number of
ars, beside paying the interest on the Z
me and defraying current expenses. 1t fc
far from being a mere bagatelle. Tax B
ayers, who are now asked for two and !,
per cent on the value OF
cir property, do not find it such fun to
y. The Administrator of Public Ac-
UNITS very justly observed that they had
en- placed in the government 10 econo- .,
ze-to do away with all manner of y
ibery and corruption; but he added that
ey were not there to vote down every
penditure that public spirit called upon
EN- 10 make. Possibly they are not
re for such purpose, but the scalls"
The part of the ''public spirit" ought Ii
be very clear and unmistaken. az
Mr.. Shaw rounded off bis speech with 81
npliment to the firemen, and insisted il
on it that the city stands indebted to p'
m for the preservation OF the properly 81
the city, as well as that of the citizens 1t
'lr. Emley thought he saw in the pro- ru
'ed donation great commercial advan- 81
es. He thought it quite worth while II
send to the North sixty or seventy men a.
whom we should all feel proud. 1t tn
ght possibly lead to bringing, at least, WI
3 hundred immigrants to the city. II
ese, with their capital and labor, would fol
y soon repay us for the outlay. co
Mr.. Walton again stated his reasons, on tn
FUNDS of economy, for Withholding his up
tie from the proposition. Even at the Ju
ne meeting several claims against the SUI
7 had been put off for consideration. WI
thought the advantages which Mr.. En- ap