New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-10-18

L
Wherever there was an exorbitant charge
for specified item, he should stand by the
Mayor; but wherever the charges resulted
only from the state of the city's credit, he
should agree to pass them.
Mr.. Lewis: The Administrator of Ac.
coruts states to the Council that these gro
GERS
Mr.. Shaw: did not say anything about
grocers.
Mr.. Lewis: Well, that these grocers and
merchants ought to be able to hold the city's
scrip till paid by the city, and that we
should not deal with any persons who are
not able to hold on to our scrip. wish the
Administrator of Public Accounts would
point out such merchants to ue. They are
just the class of men who refuse to have
any dealings with the city at all. l have
acquisitions in my hand which have sent
to merchants whom believed able to hold
the city's scrip, and here are the figures
they gave me. Some Of these gentlemen,
whom l considered men of wealth, refused
to deal with the city on any terms
The Administrator entered into detailed
explanation of the items in his account OBJ
jected to by the Mayor, which elected from
the Mayor an explanation that some of them
were mentioned because some of them. sup
piled by the same person to another depart
ment at q different time, were charged a
diffe rent price.
Mr.. Remick called upon the Mayor to
state what items had been satisfactorily
explained to him in committee.
The Mayor: The motion being, as un-
derstand it, to refer these claims, will
withdraw my veto message. Vetoed these
bills in order to bring before the Council
the fact that the failure of the city adj
ministration to reduce its expenditure to
the scale Of its provided assets, was caus-
ing us to pay twenty, fifty and even seventy
per cent upon every article furnished us.
He also desired to call the Councils atten-
ton to the fact that the wise provision of
the charter that all contracts exceeding in
amount five hundred dollars should be adj
vertised and put up to public competition.
was either violated, as in the case of
several of the items enumerated, or was
systematically evaded, as in other items,
by breaking up one bill exceeding five
hundred dollars into two or three bills.
of less than five hundred dollars. further
wished to make clear that while contractors,
by adding on the discount to their bills in
the manner / have indicated, manage to
keep pace with the depreciation of the citys
credit lat q disastrous cost to the tax
payers), our deserving clerks and laborers
are compelled to submit to monthly re-
duction of thirty per cent or more q their
promised salaries: and that this double
injustice to the taxpayers and to our EN-.
ployes had reached point beyond which
it could not 60 without most serious results
to the city's credit. therefore took this
method of bringing the matter to the con-
sideration Of the Council. l wish further to
say that great deal of talk and some dis
satisfaction, which has been publicly ex-
pressed. may probably be cleared away by
the explanations which Administrators
have been enabled to give. Some of these
items have been explained in a manner
entirely satisfactory, and in the cases
where the law has been evaded, it has not
been to the injury of the city, as far as i
can judge, but l think that the charter
should he adhered to as far as possible in
the future.
Mr.. Remick asked if the practice alluded
to by the Mayor had not been pursued ever
since the Council came into office.
The Mayor replied that it had gradually
grown up. SO far as the stationery bills
were concerned he had always advocated
their being awarded by contract. Here
were twenty different officers ordering sta
tionery of whom they chose and at what
ever price they pleased. and the city had to
foot the bills. If it was correct, as the Ad-
Of Police stated, that he 1.-THE
Mayor had paid an excessive price for
eighteen months ago, he was
glad to be told of it even at this late day,
and he would inquire into it. The Admin
strator Of Improvements had explained to
the Council in private matter which he
had explained before. but which he 1.-THE !
Mayor thought should be made public |
with regard to the large sum paid to one |
person for building and repairing bridges. |
1t seemed this was trial, and had thus far |
'esulted in a saving to the city over the old |
system OF employing a number Of persons |
% do this work. Still, as the amount was
arge, he thought it should be advertised.
The prices paid for lumber 1.-THE Mayor
'ontinued) are pretty high, but l think
hey arise from the deprecated ere
lit Of the city. My idea is. and /
ave often expressed it to the Council in
private, but want here, publicly. to reiter-
tie it, that this Council ought not to spend
dollar until it has it in its treasury or can
nticipate our revenue, it should be by Dor.
owing money, to be paid when our revenue
ONES in, SO that we might pay cash for
verything we have. If unable to DO that,
Thy not say to the public: "IIere is an i'm
lense debt pressing upon us, and if by law
7e are prevented from collecting the taxes
'e find necessary, we will spend only the
honey we have, and all shortcomings are
our fault, not ours" However, this does
OF imply anything but difference of opin.
IN between the Council and myself as to
he way city affairs should be managed.
hey were unwilling to take so strong a
tep. have brought this matter forward
'ithout any design of making fuss or
purge. but to give Administrators an op-
ortunity OF making explanations.