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

Administrator Shaw has evidently
found out by this time that the duties i'm
posed upon him by the drainage law are
not of such nature as to add to ms
leisure time, or to tighten the responsible
tiles of his official position, which was in
no sense a sinecure before the passage Of
the act. The provision that requires the
city to become the possessor of the
drainage boards, for the purposes of
auditing and paying the bills out of the
assets, may properly be regarded as
rather unwelcome mandate; = for the claims
are many, and the claimants pressing and
positive, while the assets are few and ex-
tremely doubtful. The great difficulty con-
nected with the claims presented against
the drainage boards are not only unac-
companied with evidences of their cor
rectness, but bear on their faces presump-
tive evidence of defect. Thisis especially
the case with the bills for professional SER
vices rendered since March, 1869. On the
second day of that month, the board of
commissioners was dissolved by an act of
the Legislature. Any expense incurred
since that time can not be legally liqui-
dated or satisfied out of the drainage
fund.- but we consider that Mr.. Shaw has
adopted the correct view Of the case, when
he recommends that the bills of Kearny,
Blois & Co., for oil; Bridge & Son, for
cement and lime furnished for the drain
ing machine; of Geddes, Shakespeare q
Co., for foundry work; OF Field & Bell,
for coal; of Wingield & Bridges, for coal
also, and possibly that of Oh. G. DeLisle,
for survey books, are proper debts against
the drainage fund, and should be paid
after examination and verification by the
Mayor and the Administrator of Finance.
But the following claims reported by
Mr. Shaw for legal services should, no
doubt, be rejected, or at least carefully
examined:
Warrant of the Board of Commissioners of
the First Drainage District No 552, Nav
10, 1871, in favor OF James D Hill, Oh the
treasurer of the board for Ave thousand
dollars signed N. Il Bailey, president
end L. Laroque, secretary per resou-
ton No. 1872, authorizing this payment
Nav IS, :. .. 5000
Cash advances to board of commissioners
by J. Davidson Hill, at various dates
to June 2, 1871, for sundries correct per
report of treasurer OF board of commits
sioners annexed. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. I<U2
Bill Of Fellows & Mills for fees in suits
tladictorily with Ship Island Cana
Company, dated march,, 1871 approved
by Moses Eastman, superintendent, and
& GF1be tor
pore of finance committee; the LAT
teIs approval subsequently erased. 500
Same parties, for balance of retainer III
same suits. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. 5tD
Ana for balance of ices in same suits. lOJo
Bal of c. Roseius, dated March, 1871, for
salary as attorney of board for 1858,
1869 and 1870, at $500 per mouth. 1900
And balance OF fee for services contTadic-
torily with Ship Island Canal Company
both items approved by Moses Eastman
superintendent, and J. L. GuberuatOT
chairman pro temp0Te finance com
mittee-the latters signature subse
quently removed. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. DO
Biz of Alexander Walker, dated May 1871,
for services ia suits contradictory
with Ship Island Canal Company ald
8. Bloomfield, in Fifth, Seventh and
Eighth District Courts, and III the ST.
preme Court and with lockwood (
Brott in the Sixth District Court and
before Recorder H0UghtOa.............. 5,Q5p
Bill of J. l. Gubernator Terry, dated May
Is. 1871, for three years storage on three
boilers and one heater, approved by
Moses Eastman, superintendent, and
illiam T. MAY, secretary ............... 1870
1-.., -, 900