New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-01-12

aud capacity in those VINO enouAO law w.
in charge With that view, l made my seuS
tons to the several positions, and' hsI.e;
myself, with success, for they nave e.sinoe
The resnect of all parties for fidelity OF man
agement: and all who were canaioatee "1ie
elected to the same or higher positions o.S
triumphant mai0rities. The funding pro
visions OF the charter requiring the issue o1
three million Of bonds to take up the Eoa :
ing debt, have been found inadequate. a.
least eight hundred thousand dollars more
will be required to take up audited ara, ~
vet, unpaid portions Of the Gebt. ne i.es's'a
ture omitted many just debts and claims ~
the peculiar phraseOlOgy Of the bill wlcn
limited the obligations provided for 70 lon p
classes, viz: Judgments, registered cer''n-
Gates, warrants and city notes.
The large proportion which the assessed
property, taxes and population OF the CITY o.
New Orleans bear to the whole State, earn
estlv claims your time and attention durinc
the present session. The questions involved
are not without great difficulty. Prominent
among them is one arising oft OF the care
fuI and scrupulous compliance OF the ADMIN
istratOcs with the provisions OF law rcits-
tive TO the consolidated and railroad debts
and the one million loan. The city has re-
deemed half a million back interest, nearly
halt a million Of capital, and al the current
interest Of her bonded debt. Itpurposes 70
continue 10 DO 80, but the strain upon us
Golfers has rendered deficit inevitable
during the coming year, which the tNy
Council is unable to pcet under EXISTING
laws.
Among these Jaws are cited those which,
take {, large class OF public expenditures
ont OF the control OF the city, such as prison
expenses, police, printing, expenses o. the
Criminal Court, fees Of various public Off
<nr .YNon thn ritz
jurors. etc. The city has 20 ar. the
part of !. mere paymaster. i'll MANY cases,
and the laws nave taken it out OF its power
TO comply with it's municipal function, anc
duties. by making contracts to the best adj
vantage OF The taxpayers. In al these
abuses. which have existed under one party
as we'll as another, and which have grad
na!ly grown more and more serious. the de-
man,ls Of the time require reform.
] have no tiOub: the subject Of municipal
police VIII bc fully impressed on your at
tent.on. The city should have the control
O! It's assessments, expenditures, and the
numbers. salaries and distribution OF lis
police. is regulation, for all local and
domestic purposes, and the enforcement. OF
its ordinances; while the power OF the State
should he carefully reserved, 10 be ezer-
cised and asserted as primary and supreme
in all cases where q necessity may exist.
such as riot. insurrection, or public danger.
1t ought to be out Of the power Of any city
any other times. separately orindependently
OF those OF the State, which should
have precedence in enforcing the laws
and ma ntaining public Ordc-. The example
OF the past in 1866, ard at other times. and
under various administrations, shows the
danger Of permitting any question Of The
paramount control OF the State authorities.
when proper occasion arises for THAI power
20 be exercised.
Lended deficit will approach two millions o.
dollars, which the city government must meet
IN one or all of'three ways: by retrenchInent
o.: all expenses now within its control. ard
Of legislation, to enable it 10
rU!tal expenditures now out Of its cortrol
by the issue OF toEds; or BY increased .aXa-
ton.
The bonded debt IS now $l7.3l5. COO and
the taxation is TWO and hve-eighths ue..
cent. both high enough mall conscience.
Bonds OF the :;ty of New Orleans bring hu.
IN 1.sc'. augnlentins by onc-thirl the debts
'Eey arc ;ssued to pay. Increased taxation
Ola the other hand il, perhaps. equally
serious. This question had best be let. 10
the City Council Of New Orleans. win the
power ~ levy tax not exceeding one per
ten.. OF issue bonds. not at present author
led. not exceeding two million dollars: or
20 exercise part of each Of these powers
This will place the responsibility where j:
belongs. and IL. ;ity Counci! cannot
safely. ard VIII not probably. &c. n tr.s
natter without full discussion and concur
renee on the part OF taxpayers as 20 VIA:
may be the wiser and better course
The city government has now pove. %
Issue bonds for wharf and street improve
ncnts. a power which has been ,iudiciously
and sparingly exercised. Relative 70
wiaEves this was probably the best ard
Only disposition ;ha. could be made: but
The new charter takes away the powe: 10
REQUIRE street paving 10 be paid in pars by
The property facing. To at,cnlp, % NEE,
.hc paving requirements Of New Orleans
by issuing bonds would create az le--
'u,ean debt, and ! recommend return -
the cid law requiring pr0prie:ocs 20 pay
their proportion oi the paving.
I. is highly expedient and proper :hat
tut one treasury should exist Tor custodv
and payment of city or local funds in he
parish of Orleans. 1t is unnecessary. merely
Oh account Of the different purpose and Ges-
'ination OF the Curious funds. - multiply
treasures.
The defaication in the METROPOLITAN
Treasury is an example Of the error OF so
Doing. l am satisfied tina: the Police
Treasury, and the fourteen ward scnoC,
treasures, should he done away with, and
hat all their business should be performed.
by the City Treasury, which is under prope.
guards and securities in the bonds REQUIRED:
and in the fiscal agency regulations, which
nave been carefully provided by the expe-
'ience OF the past and are necessary as e
;hcc.- and preventive against s,NantIs:irr
,Li mbe.zlement.
FINANCES OF TIE STATE.
] transmit 20 YOU the annual reports q.
he auditor and Treasurer. Youwili there.
Il find complete statement Of the tinancia,
condition o! the State. ! can not .oo
seriously urge your careful consideration OF
he matters discussed and the information
furnished by these officers.
Our State is not well Oft, but it is far from
,elnG bankrupt. We are burdeued WIKI
heavy debt, but we have immense re-
sources. Our recuperativc powers are
perhaps greater than those of any other
SECTION OF the country; but small fraction
u our Tlch 2roducts-sugar, rice and COZ
.on-s used in heme consumption. TIE say
ng-the wealth OF the State-increases with
wonderful rapidly. Therefore. am hove
III TOR the future, and look forward 10 q
lay, not far distant, when our finances
shall have attained a most p-osDerou. -or
,j:ion.
Several wsc financial measures were
by the last Legislature. and rave
,ondiiced to a more healthy condition ~
me treasury. Prominent among these I
',esard the requisite provision for funding
.he floating debt OF the State. Thee
measures. and others, will enable the STATE
% very soon assume a cash-pay;ng basis.
! earnestly recommend YOU to eyarc:s.
.gld economy III making Approximations.
Il must be borne IL mind that tho consti-,,.
.ion now limits .he debit Of the STATE 70