New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-11-28
THE CITY HALL.

Our reporter interviewed the Mayor yes
terday, for the purpose of ascertaining
whether anything of Importance had taken
place under bis official cognizance, and
found him in social confab with Admins.
traitor Alfred Shaw, quoting to that gentle
| man copiOus extracts from "Poor Richards
Almanac" This book, it seems, constituted
the Mayors entire library when he was
school boy in the city of "MOtherly Love-"
Having been, in his infancy. christened
by the name Benjamin Franklin" he nat
uraily took to initiating his illustrious
namesake by adopting his parsimonious
habits. and with a few pennies saved up
from the luxuries of cakes and candy, buy
ing copy Of ''Poor Richard" which he put
under his pillow, thus absorbing its maxims,
such as "a penny saved is a penny made"
take care of the pence and the pounds will
take care of themselves and such like
trite sayings, with which he interlards his
conversation, and insists on carrying out in
his administration of the city government.
After the Mayor had grown to mans
estate he left Philadelphia, came South,
and being still poor, notwithstanding his
economical habits and the precepts of Poor
Richard, engaged in the laudable occupa-
tion of school teaching. His principal text
book was "Poor Richard" and its prccepts
he endeavo-ed to instil into the craniums
Of the young idea with pertinaclty that
was perhaps crowned with too much
success
In dealing with the youth who were under
his instruction he was imperious and over
bearing. and that habit he continues to
carry out in his dealings with the city Adj
ninistrators, and by the frequent use of
that crushing term, reto or II forbid tre-
quently ovesr:des the unanimous opinion Of
seven Administrators as well informed as
himself
This school teaching experience of the
became a teacher in the public schools OF
this city. and had access to other books on
other subjects than those treated OF by
Poor Richard" 1t was. therefore, very
natural that Mr.. Shaw should have imbibed
the liberal ideas on finance, by which he is
now controlled in the administration of his
department Two or three millions, more
less. in the citys expenses are bagatelle
in the estimation of Mr.. Shaw.
Mr. Carter, superintendent Of public
schools. gives notice that the schools will
be closed on Thursday the thrtieth in
stant. the day set apart by the President
and the Governor as Thanksgiving day
City Attorneys Office.
George S Lacey. Esq, City Attorney. at
the request Of the Mayor, has prepared
careful statement of the city litigation. By
this it will be seen that there have been
granted judgments against the city which
have been appealed to the Supreme Court.
amounting TO Slt2.2sl. The suits not vet
tried in the district courts reach $6oS.5ll,
making a tota. OF Sl,050.,s2.
There are judgments in favor Of the city |
to S.l9,S47, which have also |
been appealed. OF this latter sum the pre- |
sumption is. that the Supreme Court will |
reverse the DEGREES of the lower courts. and |
thereby increase the above sum. The claims
not tried we have no doubt the amounts in
many Of the suits will be decreased. and in
others sustained. but from the rulings of |
the Supreme Court heretofore, the udg-
ments against the city will be affirmed
The following is list of the judgments
a sainst the city. 4 portion OF them have
been maid.