New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-09-06

Recorders Courts 3,2I 81
civ cemeteries IS 90
City Park. ........... .'.......'-. - W ~
Public pounds. IA 80
Parish Prison, medical supplies. l23 %
Rurving INDECENT dead, etc. 14S 25
Total .S28,737 90
JAMES LEWIS, Administrator.
Mr.. Bonzano presented his monthly re-
port, as follows
Hon. Benz. r: Flanders, Mayor
During the month of August the assess
ments of real and personal property for
1871 taxes on which are payable in 1879
have been exposed for examination by the
taxpayers Upward of seventeen hundred
applications for reductions have been re-
ceived.
BONZANO, Administrator.
Department Reports.
By Mr. Cockrem:
DEPARTMENT OF IMPROVEMENTS,
September 5, 1871.
To the City Council of New Orleans:
The undersigned TO whom was referred
the petition of property owners for square
block paving and new banquettes of stone
flags and stone curling on Bourbon street,
from Canal to Toulouse street, in accord
ance with the provisions of section twenty
five of the amended city charter, respect
fully submits for the approval of the Coun-
ell the accompanying plan and report of
estimated cost of same, say: Citys portion,
about sl3,50o; property owners portion
about 100000. Total, $43, 800; and recon-
mends the adoption Of the annexed resolu-
ton.
JOHN COCKREM, Administrator.
Resolred, That the Administrator of In
provements be and he is hereby authorized
to advertise for proposals for making
square block pavement and flag stone ban
quotes and curling on Bourbon street.
from Canal to Toulouse street, in accord
ance with petition of property owners.
Laid over to be printed.
By Mr.. Cockrem:
DEPARTMENT OF IMPROVEMENTS
September 4, 1871.
To the City Council of New Orleans:
The undersigned, TO whom was referred
the petition Of w. Rosentrater, claiming
condensation from the city for moving his
fence on Phillip street, FIVE feet back, in or
der to make thewidth of said street uni
form, respectfully returns said petition with
favorable report, and recommendation for
the adoption of the accompanying resolu-
ton.
JOHN COCKREM, Administrator.
Resolrea, That the Administrator Of Pub
lie Accounts be and he is hereby authorized
TO warrant on the Administrator of Finance
for the sum of one hundred and fifty
dollars in favor of w. Rosentrater, as com
pensation in full for the removal of his fence
on Phillip street. corner of Howard street,
to make the width of said Phillip street
uniform.
Adopted.
Pv Mr. Shaw:
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIc ACCOUNTS,
September s, 1871.
To the City Council of New Orleans:
On the petition of J. j. Meylor and others,
of the teachers of 1862, for payment of salary
due them, | respectfully report as follows:
The petition was referred to me Noven-
Der |, 1870. and | apologize for the delay, of
which so righful a claim might justly com
plain. But old claims lose much OF their
strength by time, and the conviction of
their Justice, however widespread, weakens.
l have therefore given special attention to
all the legal and other objections opposed,
at various times, to this claim, TO guard the
Council against the fact or appearance of a
hasty or ilnprovident decision.
Near the end of June, 1862, the public
schools throughout the city closed under
/ their rules for their usual summer
vacation. The boards of directors
were out Of Office, or at least were
unrecogniZed, and had for some time ceased
all practical functions. The teachers, how
ever, had continued, in charge up to the
vacation, and were ready to resume on the
reopening.
On the ninth of July during the second
week Of the vacation) the Bureau Of FL
nance passed resolution discharging the
teachers and vacating their places so far as
it could have any effect.
This resolution was never published nor
notified to the teachers as body. | have
found no evidence of it being notified to the
principals. and even if communicated to
some of them, it was not TO all, and was
only known by rumOr to the hundred OF
more OF persons interested.
During the vacation the schools were
placed under a new governmental Bureau
of Education, with district boards of Wis
itors. These reopened all the schools on
the fifteenth of September with the same
organization and departments as formerly.
They re-employed as it seems, all teachers
who re-applied and took the oath of ale
glance, which was required by military or
ders, forbidding the. payment of public
moneys to or the holding of public employ
ment by those who failed to comply with
order No. IL.
These facts establish that no new schools
were opened. They were the same schools:
and the positions of the retiring teachers
could only be considered vacant on that
date. Up to that they were entitled to re-
ceive pay.
But the Bureau of Finance intended to
discontinue salaries by their-action of July
9, and pay none for the vacation. In this
they and the Bureau of Education, how
ever, wavered. The teachers who continued
pefitioned for pay, and, after long consider
alton, We're told that the granting OF it to
them. would secure it to the others upon
their resuming allegiance, and 1t was
Il question to be determined by future policy
or by the end of the war.
Tie teachers considered themselves by no
means refused, but-awaited the end of the
war, when all could be on the same footing.
When that time came, new administration
was in charge of the city government, which
seems to have entertained doubts of its
powers, being temporary and of military
authority, though not in charge of military
officers.
The question was put before this city
government (which decided to test the
question in lawl; and before the Board of
School Directors, which postponed it, on
the suggestion of member that Congress
would object, and '1the very walls had ears
Messrs w. F. Mead and John McNair
then sued the city in the Fifth District