New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-10-15
CITY C0UNCu-oFFIc1AI
SPECIAL MEETING.

SPECIAL MEETING.
CRY HALL, Nsv ORLEANS, !
Saturday, October II, l37l.
A special meeting Of the city Council wa.
held to-day. at two o'clock, to take actio,
upon the estimate and apportionment of til.
Board Of Metropolitan Police, for the fisca
year 1912.
Mayor Benjamin F. Flanders presided
and there we're present Administrations Johr
Cockrem improvements. Alfred Shaw lac
cOun:s,. L. T. Delassize (Waterworks and
Pubic Bu;ldinss), F. c. Remick (Commerce)
James Lewis (Police), and H. Bonzano (As
sessMents)
The Mayor mentioned that Administrator,
John S. Walton tFinaace). who had beer
sick for some days, would probably be able
to resume his duties on Monday.
The metropolitan Police Assessment.
Mr.. Lewis said the estimate and appor.
nonment Of the Board of Metropolitan Pc.
nee tor the coming fiscal year had been re.
lcrrei to committee consisting of himself
and the Administrator of Public Accounts.
lie lad prepared report which lie would
ask the Secretary to read.
The report was as follows:
WHEREAS, The condition of the city
finances demand rigid economy on the part
OF every department Of the city government.
on tAe part OF the several departments at
The City Hall. as well as on that Of the
Metropolitan Police Department, and
v nereas, In the matter Of the assessment
by the Metropolitan Police Board, for the
expenses Of the police department for the
next year. the amount is 80 considerable as to
seen capable of reduction. and the law
makes it requisite that the Mayor should
make uie Objec ton to this estimate within
ten days after said estimate has been pre-
scented to him. in order that it may be re-
visei and if possible. reduced by the Board
of Metropolitan Police Commissioners, or
thereafter he shall be estopped from making
objections: now therefore, lie it
Resolred, That without claiming to be add
vised Of the exact amount requisite to de-
fray the expenses of the police department.
and Il order 10 make objections within the
time allowed by law, the Council hereby di-
reefs the Mayor to make objection to the
whole estimate. and respectfully. but ear
nes-iv. recommend that the Police Commits
sloners revise and reduce to the lowest pos
sible figure the estimate for the expenses of
the department for the coming year.
JAMES LEWIS, Chairman
Mr.. Shaw said he concurred with his col
league. tie Administrator Of Police, in the
leading features of the above report. but he
had himself prepared a report which he
deemed little more specific, stating the
grounds of objection little more fully and
clearly, which he would now offer as sub
stitute for the report offered by the Admin
istrator Of Police.
Mr.. Shaw's report was as follows:
To theCi:y Council of New Orleans:
The undersigned, OF committee to whom
was referred the notice Of assessment and
appor;ionAent for Metropolitan Police for
their fiscal year beginning October |. 1871.
and ending September 80, 1872 begs leave
to report the following objections for the
consideration Of the Council.
The amount of S72i.i60 % is too large
and impracticable to raise. 1t will require
a tax Of nine-sixteenths OF one per cent on
ali the real and personal property in the
city Of New Orleans. II is respectfully
submitted that this is too great a tax for
property to pay for police purposes.
1t is found BY comparison with other
cities having a greater population and
them Is not so great either in the amount or
the rate per cent upon property.
soiNe OF the particulars as set down by |
the Board of Metropolitan Police are in
definite and difficult to specify objections
to. except as to the amount.
Tie salaries are fixed by the Legislature.
and the Board of Metropolitan Police is not
responsible for them. 1t is not the less.
however. our duty to object to them, if ex-
orbitant. If paid irregularly, and. as hith-
erto, not in cash. the salaries are certainly
not TOO large. But if a tax could be fixed
upon, possible Of collection. so that pay
ments would be made in cash. and promptly.
the city. or the Metropolitan Board repre-
senting it. ought to have the benefit of
paying such salaries for officers and men as
would be to the mutual advantage Of both.
1t is not TO the advantage Of officers or men
to swell the salaries at the expense Of pune
iIalty and certainty Of payment.
The items of Central Department, sala-
ries, s32.5C0.' and "Superntendent's Office,
salaries. $1,000" aggregate largely and.
De objected 70. Cost of prisoners rations.
blankets, $1,000. does not appear too high
.ven if carefully expended. Stationery.
printing and advertising. $4,000, and law
:harges. 5000. are the result of a separate
organization which makes the city pay the
same sort of expenses OF each establish
nent, Contingent expenses, $1,000, ID in
lednite. Secret service, $4,000. would
eeln to De necessary item. There might
'e propriety in appropriating. such sum
o the disbursement of the chief executive
'ticer of the police under due system of
but the appropriation Of
il400 year to each commissioner ought to
re objected to.
lht number Of patrolmen assigned to the
PARISH Of Orleans is 800. with salaries
amounting to $500. 900. These are fixed by
he Legislature, and the number seems too
arge tor time Of perfect tranquility. such
IS we have, and are likely to have through
ut the year. for which the present assess
Nent IL made.
Tie military organization of the police.
While it contributes to efficiency, and would
'e perhaps necessary in times of riot and
excitement, is always expensive and ex-
ravagant. 1t is perhaps unnecessary and
lnsuited to the SIMPLE policing the city now
equires; and it is by no means certain that
.reat efficiency eau not be attained with.
Tut it.
1t may be said the METROPOLITAN expen-
iitures will stand criticism fully az we'll "a |
hose Of the city. but that is no reason thew
hou!d not be objected to; we should neither
We afraid nor hesitate to acknowledge and
'etorm the one, or point out and object to
jhe other.
Justice to the Metropolitan Board requires
t to be said that they have reduced ex-
lenses greatly NEARLY SlO0,00O) the past
year.
But the police of New Orleans have been
costing twice as much, or nearly so, as the
chooling Of all her children; and the tax
or the police has been so great as to crowd
nut and prevent the assessment of any
chool tax by the city. Of what other Of
mr. larya cifiaa ran This he said