New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-06-12
Communicated.
AFFAIRS IN Sr BEKN AKD PAR.
ISf.
Complaint Against the Metropolitan
Police Tax.

Complaint ASAtHsC the
Police Tax.
PARISH OF ST. BERNARD, June II, 1870.
EDITOR REPUBLICAN,:
Through the thick mists of partisan poll
tics there are CLEANS Of sunshine in the
columns OF the REPUBLICAN, which show
that the pulses about your heart are not en-
tirelv in unison with the course OF those who
would rule this country oy system of op'
preston, and it is with this conviction that
am persuaded to present statement of the
deplorable condition of our parish.
The citizens of st. Bernard are composed
of the following classes: Planters, farmers.
fishermen and laborers. The planter is In
many instances but the nominal proprietor
OF the estate upon which he resides, for
with mortgages, advances from his mer-
chant, unpropitious seasons, and the high
price of labor, the end of the year often
finds him but the more hopelessly in debt.
The farmer is the small landed.proprietor
who cultivates potatoes, onions, and garlic,
for the New Orleans market, and thus with
q rigid system of economy, endeayOrs to
support his family.
The fishermen of the parish, the poor, do
much to contribute to the luxuries of the
table for the citizens of New Orleans. And
lastly, the laborer, who, with great de-
mand for his services, works by the day,
month or year, as he may select, and who,
with the high wages. and greater certainty
of reaping the reward of his labor, might,
but for his improvidence, do well.
Aud now sir, Can people so lmp0Ver-
erlshed bear an excessive taxation? Last
wear, with the State and parish taxes, these
f., poor people, because it WAS law, struggled
manfuliy to pay the one per cent tax. With
some of US it was hard thing TO do, yet
when done, it brought sense Of relief,
with the reflection that 1t was only for one
year. But we find ourselves in the condition
| of the half-drowned man, who has struggled
| for his life to reach shore, and, upon touch
| ing land, is told that he must swim back to
the other side. Like this man, we can't
swim always, and unless permitted to land
somewhere, must drown. In lieu of the one
! per cent we are called upon this year to pay
| q Metropolitan Police tax. And here the
| question arises, why have we this police
upon US? qua bono The people Of this
parish are peaceable and law-abidlng,
| busily and laboriously engaged in the culti-
walton of the soil. Eacn person thus en-
| ploved contributes something to the general
prosperity of the country. Knowing and
caring little about the politics which agitate
the outside world, they are content to
| be let alone in their peaceful occupation.
Provided with civil officers amply sufficient
for the administration of the laws, in our
straitened circumstances we are compelled
| to endure this enormous and extraordinary
expense. viii you not call the attention OF
the Metropolitan Board to this subject? Il
the law requires that there shall be 8 Me
tropolitan police in the parish. even within
the limits of the law our burden could be
much lightened. If the writer be correctly
informed, at one time but three policemen
were assigned to duty for this parish
from which the number has been in
creased to consist of one sergeant
| corporal and ten men. the support O
whom, with their houses, is very serious
matter. A reduction of this force to The
smallest number requisite to do duty abou
| the Barracks, where their services may b'
needed, would in measure relieve us O
this incubus, which weighs upon our peopl'
like nightmare.
This, Mr.. Editor, by no means exhauts th'
chapter of our woes, there being others yer.
grievious which we have to bear, and which
may be the subject of another communica
ton, if this awakens your interest in ou
behalf. Yours, V. V.