New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-12-13

:, Laid over to be printed.
BY Mr.. BOnZanO:
: DEPARTMENT OF AssKssxrsT.
! December T. 1871!
To lie City Council of New Orleans:
The petition Of TheOphile Mihez asks r..
city to lease him a certain lot of ground All
, 'uated on the levee between Toulouse an.
st. Louis streets.
recommend the petition be not granted
believing said lot of ground to be require
H. BoNZANo, Administrator
Adopted.
tIr. Lewis introduced a resolution that z,
proposals to sell land to the city for the
erection Of public buildings be referred t.
Committee of the Whole, to be acted on a,
The mex: meeting.
Mr.. DelaSsize seconded the motion. which
was adopted.
The Administrator Of Assessments was
authorized to advertise for proposals to
lease some property of the city near the
powder mil in St. Bernard.
Petitions.
4 petition OF property owners on Franz
lin street Tor banquettcs was referred to tie
Administrator of Improvements.
A proposal of A. Brugier, B. Wiser. and
others, 70 purchase city property, was re.
| terred 10 the Administrator of Assessments
as was also petition Of =. Donelly to lease
land.
petition of Mrs. Brown, PRAYING for re-
lief from payment for banquettes on az
count OF extreme poverty was referred y
the Administrator Of Finance.
4 communication from the Board oi
Health relative to the condition of the
streets was referred to the Administrator OF
Improvements.
A proposal Of the Southern Express Com
pany to lease the iron building was referred
to the Administrator of Commerce.
a proposal of E. L. Jewell to collect
taxes was referred to the committee of the
whole.
A petition Of j. j. O'Hara for extension OF
time on contract was referred to the Adj
ministrator Of improvements.
A petition for market in the Fifth Dis
trict was referred to the Administrator u
Commerce.
Citizens Meeting.
wa AASA1Sh SdIu. DIS lUC regular UuslEtss
Of tie Council seemed now concluded, lie
asked as matter of privilege to be allowed
20 make al explanation.
Permission being given, the Administra-
tor read the following written remarks:
Mr.. President and Members of the Cour-
eil-During the recent discussion of the
management of city affairs by the citizens,
Il
iEg the several Administrators. certain in
terrogatories have been propounded and
statements made, which, as the intent was
to throw discredit upon myself as an officer,
beg permission of this Council to explain.
First desire to correct the. false in
preston started by the query of Mr.. Ken
nard at the citizens meeting, to wit For
$4,000 was enough. why now So ,000 -
Mr.. hennard. although lawyer. appears
not 10 know that the city charter was so
changed at the last session of the Legisla-
ture as TO impose upon the Department OF
Commerce the management OF the commerce
OF The wharves, and the expenditure o.
$500 additionally in salaries to employees.
which was paid by the Department Of I'm
provemeIts last year. This SIS. 800. added
20 the $4,000 of last year, makes $500.
which. compared with the $4,000 com
planned Of in this years budget. shows that
my department is running $500 inside Of
the astyears budget. The friendly infer
ance should be that l have commenced the
much desired retrenchment as well as the
Mayor. | desire also to state that during
ry administration of the wharves isome
-lSh- monthsl the collections have been
100000 II excess of those of the same period
u time last year, more by $4,000 than
enough TO run my whole department year:
and Steamboat agents. steamboat captains
and Others interested assure myself and nv
employees of their appreciation of our dispo-
iltlOn 20 accommodate business men an,
business interests.
nave made diligent inquiry of the Admin
strators of Public Accounts and Finance as
% how much was realized from the markets
asst year. and they have failed to give the
niorlnation- but feel confident that under
he system inaugurated by me. of selling
he revenue OF the markets at public auc-
han $4,000 in excess of the amount rea,-
zed last year during the same period.
SecondlyAI dosire to correct the perhaps
untrue statement of Satur-
lays Times that the Administrator of Com
nerce proved unwilling to afford the
public an insight into the workings of his
'tiice.f My office is open to the public every
week day. from nine o'clock until three.
ma any taxpayer, or citizen, or any gentle
nan who is neither taxpayer nor citizen.
Who respectfully asks for an insight into
he workings of my Office, will be respect
ully received, and any desired information
my possession or that of my employees
viii be cheerfully gwen: but when any man
ONES to my office with the apparent pur-
'ose OF seeking something to find fault witt,
II TO embarrass the efficiency of the dcpar,-
nent over which preside, l shall not trea,
i'm with so much consideration. The
'""'s also says that 1.-The Admins
rator o: Commerce was entirely will
lg for US to publish an elaborate defense
'hich he had prepared" This statements
lso, perhaps. unintentionally untrue. nre-
AIRED no defense. The Department of Com
lerce will stand any fair investigation.
owever thorough, and needs no defense.
he fac, ia, met one of the reporters of the
Tunes. Mr.. Armstrong. in the hall one dav,