New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-12-15
THE CITY HALL.

The subcommittee of the Fifty-one
namely: committees On police, assessment
and improvements, visited the several de
partments to which they had been assigned
yesterday afternoon. Having paid theil
respects to the Mayor. in body, the visits
to each of the three departments tran
spired.
The citizens committee on police inter
viewed Administrator Lewis, ascertaipine
from him the system of the department and
the theory OF its working, making inquiries
in regard to the keeping of accounts and in
reference to the disbursements.
The citizens committee on assessments
Likewise interviewed Administrator Bonza-
no, requiring from this department list of
employees, the residence Of each and sal
| aries, with comparative statements of the
expenses of the office for three or four
years.
Precisely similar were the questions in the
department of the Administrator of Im-
prOvements.
The visit was in accordance with a resolu-
ton adopted in the Committee of Fifty-one,
authorizing the expedition and directing its
conduct.
Nothing definite has vet resulted from the
executive meeting of the Council to take
into consideration the grant by the Legisla-
ture OF the levee for railway purposes. From
what has been heard outside of this meet,
ing, it is ascertained that majority of the
Administrators favor a ratification Of the
legislative grants, in view of obtaining
rapid railroad communication with Texas,
and that certain irregularities in the de-
mand Of Charles Morgan should be over
looked. The Mayor. however, is opposed
to the plan. The City Attorney was directed
to make synopsis Of the legislative grants,
and it seems the general impression that
the Council will, by the next meeting, grant
the privileges asked for by Mr.. Morgan.
The Department of improvements is now
busy in filling up the caving in the wharves
and in patching up the levees 50 far as
down to the old cotton press. There is
DOW an unbrOken chain of wharves from
the Lower Market to Thalia street by the
present. arrangement A plank road is now
being laid on Calliope street in front Of the
jackson railroad depot.
, The Disappearance of 4. w. Walker.
1t appears to be generally admitted that
the suppOsitiOn Of suicide of A. w. Walker
is not well founded. 1t is stated that he
has relative in Cuba who is a wealthy
sugar planter, and his destination is held to |
be in that island. He was seen on Satu1-
day, one day later than the last glimpse of |
him in this city, on the mail boat going to |
Mobile, where it is reported he had arrived. |
Had he committed suicide his body would |
have been found
He was a man who. from his political |
and business transactions. was
widely known. and day would not have
elapsed before some traces would have
been revealed giving evidence of his death.
The suicide is improbable, and by those
who knew the fibre of his mind it is deemed |
Few certainties have come to light be-
7ond those already mentioned. He bought
! large amount of French gold on Friday
from a broker. in whose office he appeared
With IAN armful of bank notes. to be cashed,
md as the letters are dated on this day, it
ppears he could not have meant bust
less when he spoke of suicide. Mr.
Walker had not passed a year Of his life
or the past ten that he was not engaged in
litigation, and, compared with his means:
e probably had more lawsuits on his shoul-
ers than any other man in the city Judg-
nents against him were many. He was
ersistent and tenacious, never yielding ex-
ept at the decided expense of his adver-
ary, whether the latter was assailant or
ssailed.
The late reverses which are presumed to
ave led him into the suicides grave were
My of the same kind and weight which he
ad often received before. We incline to
le opinion that he will sson be found. and
lat the reasons for the step he has taken
i'll then become apparent. But his suicide
not to be thought of for a moment