New Orleans Republican., 1871-08-30

ing lOr OF against lnlS medSuIos VA@e %
the history of this ordinances A bill was
introduced into the Legislature, which was
one of the boldest attempts at rob-
berry of which have ever read. IL
was rushed through the Legislature
by enormous bribery. That know. 1t
was impeded in the Senate BY, the active
agency of one of our city. delegates
and the Governor and the Governor has
since resisted the attempt to smuggle 1t
through under the constitutional enactment
as To the limit of time. 1t quietly slept in
this position, with rumors that the Secretary
of State would eventually contrive to bring
IL out one way or the. other. Then comes
in this waterworks Company. Iimpugn no
mans motives-I make no charges, but
say again, that was offered what would
make me pecuniarily rich, if would vote
for the ordinance leasing the works to this
company.
Mr.. Remick asked who it was that offered
this magnificent bribe9 .
Mr.. Walton: The time may come-I don't
consider the time has come yet-when
names and figures may be produced in this
matter.
Mr.. Remick: Let me ask you, was it a
party who had an immediate interest in
this company, or some outsider2
Mr. Walton: You will excuse me from
answering any leading question from which
inferences may be drawn. I merely want
to say my object in'taking the course have
done in this matter was, that the city OF
New Orleans should know what was the
course of the Council with regard to the
Crescent City Waterworks Company. As
for this ordinance, the Council has had it
in it's power. ever since the Legislature ad-
iourned, to take possession of these works,
to extend them, and by legislation prevent
this contemplated robbery from being con.
snmmated. They never have done it
From time to time the ordinance has been
brought up, and quietly laid aside. Up to
this day there has been nothing done fol
the waterworks. Up to this day we have
remained in a. state of quiescence, waiting
for those who were coming to take the
waterworks away from us. That is the
actual fact. don't charge any intention
about it, but propose that the response
bility shall rest where it belongs.
Mr.. Lewis inquired at what stage of pro
ceedings the Council now was.
The Mayor: There is nothing before the
Council.
Mr. Bonzano moved the Administrator o.
Public Accounts be invited to address tht
Council on the subject of the waterworkl
ordinance.
Mr.. Shaw: / understand the Administra-
tor OF Finance to say that the Council has
had it in its power to save these works
from falling into the hands of the incorpera
tors of the bill, which passed both houses o.
the Legislature, and did not become law.
don't think this Council has shown any un
willingness to adopt measures which would
have that effect. Let the Administrator of
Finance introduce a measure which will
have that effect, and think he will get the
votes of the Council. have been opposed
to this ordinance because it is crude; because
it does not contain sufficient safeguards anC
guarantees; because, in my opinion, it i:
equal in its evil results to any measure that
has passed the Legislature. 1t places the
Council in position to expend two million;
and half of eight per cent bonds; it places
no limit on their sale, and affords no safe
guard against the payment of extravagant
prices for the work.
The Mayor: Let me ask the Administrator
whether an amendment to that effect would
not be in order nowl You can make thai
amendment at any time without repeating
the whole ordinance.
Mr.. Shaw: This brings up the question O
whether it is an ordinance or not, and if the
Mayor is disposed to let me go on withou
interruption, as others have, / will explain
The Administrator of Finance has opened
the question so widely that think can in
,dulge in little latitude. 1 say this ordi
nance provides no minimum price at which
the bonds shall be sold. The chances art
that the expenditures will be extravagant
and the loss to the Waterworks will bt
greater than any company can impose. Lee
this ordinance come before the Council; LEI
us have time to look over it; have time tc
consider its details-a week will do for me
1 ask the Administrator of Police to put il
possession of the Council, once more, thi
ordinance, passed by three members, ant
let us amend its provisions. Hitherto, mem
bers of this Council have practiced courtesy
to each other. The first time an ordinance
was ever rushed through this Council wa!
last Tuesday. On all these great subjects
we have heretofore given ample time fo
consideration.
Mr.. Delassize: You have had this three
months.
Mr.. Shaw: will say about that that this
ordinance passed its second reading, ano
when the time came for its final passage
the Council could not come to the determine
ton of giving it third reading. l confess
was opposed to it, and the consequence O.
this feeling of the Council was that wher
the time tor third reading came nobody
called. it up. 1t was forgotten until thii
. f'providential circumstance" as the Admin
istrator of Finance calls it, occurred, which
providential circumstance must be the de
parture of my friend, the Administrator O
Assessments, for Bladon Springs. know
of none other. Then it was ascertained tina
there were six persons left in the Counci
three in favor of the measure, and that th'
Mayor would give his casting vote on tht
Geme side, and consequently the ordinance
,,sft 8 called up, and no reasoning could in
uS ae members to relent. They say they
IA ed it. Now, here is the law:
MI ordinance levying tax, making al
&topriation of over five hundred dollars
'pP, = ,viding for the purchase or sale of rea