New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-11-23

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consider etheR subjects, not properly apper-
taining to tie budget, bat which ass
necessarily 70 DO considered in order to pro-
| sent full exhibit Of the financial condition
of the city and the burdens which it has 10
| bear. f@-t
The tax proposed in the budget IL one and
three quarteEs Of one per cent; but this
does not provide for tho Metropolitan Po-
Ice or tho Park, for which purposes tho law
requires tho city to levy and collect taxes at
the Same time - the other city taxes; NOR
for the Public Schools. Tho park tax i
fixed by law ct one-eighth of one per cent,
which would amount to $4,000. The
Board of School Directors are authorized to
call upon the city to levy q tax for public
schools, and they will require for the en-
suing year $400, 900. The amount demanded
by the Board of Metropolitan Police for the
year ending September next is $72s. 000
Add proportiOnate amount for tho three
months ending December 81, $l8l $50, and
there will be required for police purposes
$9O6, $50, making total for park, school and
police of 81 ,466. $50. To meet this required
amount 1.-THE city being prohibited
from levying . tax of more than two
per cent), We have only a tax of one-qusrtsr
of one per cent left in the limit o: taxation
allowed by law. A tax of ne-quartsr of
one per cent would yield 100000, leaving
a balance of $l,l46,25O for school, police
and park purposes unprovided for, unless
the law with regard to the limit of munich
pal taxation be changed by the coming
Legislature, which we presume will be
done. The Metropolitan Police warrants,
being receivable for taxes, the police assess-
ment will become an immediate burden
on the city treasury, and the schools will
necessarily have to be provided for or
closed. An increase of taxation will there
fore be necessary for these purposes to an
extent which, added to the tax proposed by
the budget, will make two and three fourths
per cent. If the law be not changed, If NO
further taxation be allowed, there will be
an addition to the deficit already shown Of
81, LAG, go, making the aggregate deficit
$4,43l 1888. On the other hand, if
the extra three-quarters of one per cent
tax be permitted and be levied for these
purposes there will still remain the deficit
of 81, 2S4 1888 to be raised by additional tax
az nr1 <o hn AL
In the former case tho aggregate
tax must be increased to five and quarter
per cent; in the latter case considering the
rate at which the deficit must be funded the
debt will be increased by fully four mill
lions Of dollars. Deduct from this amount
one million dollars for bonds redeemed, and
the city Is debt will then stand at the end of
next year 81, 100000.
THE PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS.
l now return to the consideration of
the budget, and to the propositions therein
contained for Improvements to the extent
of $4,000, 600 to be paid for in bonds, which,
of course, involve an augmentation of the
debt to $4,000, 0OO and make total in
crease Of indebtedness, under this admins
tration, of nearly seven millions and half
in less than three years management.
These contemplated improvements are as
follows:
Paving streets. ...............$ 81 500. 900
New draining machinery. ...... 100000
Lake shore revetments. ........ 10000
Total. 50 OOO, 900
ceived, and are under consideration, for
square block paving to nearly the amount
set down as above for street paving. the
lowest bid being s. Is per square yard,
payable in seven per cent improvement
bonds at seventy-five cents on the dollar,
half a square yard-nearly one hundred |
per cent above the prices paid before the !
war, and seventy-fve per cent more than |
the price at which such paving can now be
laid for cash. submit that even the propo-
sition should not be entertained under
The mere Incorporation of this apprOpria-
ton in the budget will have an injurious
effect upon the city's credit, evincing. as
link it does, recklessness of administra-
ion alarming both to capitalists and tax
payers No one doubts the necessity of the
work and of much moro of the sane
character; but first restore public confidence
md credit, and then when bids can be OBJ
aimed at or near cash prices the expendi
ure of million and halt dollars in street
paving will be justitiable and proper, and
lot before.
THE EFFECTS OF ExTRAvAGANCE.
Confidence in the administration of pub
ic affairs is seriously impaired, business
anguishes. property is falling in value, and
apital avoids such excessive taxation.
Every industry, profession and calling suf-
ers under the oppressive burdens. Taxes
nd licenses, though generally paid directly
" those who have some property, are felt
most severely by the poor, from whom these
FACTIONS are ultimately wrenched, in the
hape Of rent and the price of supplies for
heir families. The whole license system Of
he city, though, at present, an unavoida-
lie evil, is a serious drawback to its COM
1ercial prosperity, and should be and might
o abolished by wiser and more prudent
ystem of financial management.
IMPOLICY OF CONCEALMENT.
In the foregoing remarks the present posi-
i'm Of tho oitv nf Naxu Orlaora 10 sLou,,, hr |