New Orleans Republican., 1872-04-04
THE CAUSE OF HIGH TAXES.

| lllS, Dut tlC )OlAt ID AOI ulAlCA L1l, do II
will readily be conceded that the taxes are
high and burdensome. Our object in re-
, terring to the matter is to point out some
of the causes Of this taxation, other thar
those usually assigned by superficial
writers and orators. 1t is favorite hobby
with the opposition that the great burden
upon the people complained of is solely at
tributable to the extravaganza of Repub
iican officials and the multiplying of offices.
This is not the case. 1t is undeniably true
that we employ, on an average, two men tc
do one mans work, especially in the City
Hall; that the salaries of all officials, State
and municipal are to say the least, lber-
a.. That is, they are nominally SO, though
not really excessive, since by the time the
State warrants and city certificates of ap-
preparation are converted into cash, the
ofice-holders find their incomes materially
diminished. All officials are compelled to
receive these uncurrent money orders, as
there is a chronic condition of depletion in
both the State and city treasures But the
taxpayers are compelled to pay the bills at
| their face value.
One of the chief causes, then, for the
apparently high salaries and all other ex-
ceSsive expenditures is the inability of
fiscal officers to pay promptly in cash. For
no one, not even sovereign State or
great city, can get as much for the same
amount of money on long time as can be
| had for prompt pay. This cause is pro-
duced by the backwardness exhibited by
taxpayers in discharging their duties, and
| also, in large degree, to the depreciation
in property.
The assessed value of city property does
not exceed one hundred and fifty millions;
probably one hundred and thirty is nearer
the mark for practical purposes. This ex-
hibit shows no material increase. On the
other hand, the city grows in size and
population, and the current expenses keep
pace with this growth, without reference
to the decline in the value of real estate
The REPUBLICAN has pointed out time and
again the causes of diminished valuation
Of property and consequent decline in
rents. We have no steady business. New
Orleans does not manufacture any Of the
articles Of domestic consumption. Our
sole reliance is upon the tolls we collect
from products passing through the city
al 10 IL VI
produce the raw material nor add to its
value by skilled labor There is, there
FORE no demand for business stands for
manufacturing purposes; no market for
labor. The bulk OF our capitalists are
either foreigners, who never come to re-
gard this city as their permanent home, or
are agents of New York and Boston
houses, who remain here five or SIX
months in year to dispose of the pro-
duets Of their home shops
Our business men do not sally out and
look for work. They sit still, although
they expected prosperity to come to them.
Some endeaver to keep up a lucrative
business upon the capital of an old and
respected name, forgetting that the sys-
ten that worked successfully twelve or
fifteen years ago is untitled to the changed
condition Of affairs. The profits of busi-
ness, therefore, diminish; rents decline in
consequence, and real estate falls in SYM
pathy. The aggregate value is under one
hundred and fifty millions, when it should |
be double that amount. 1t does not re-
quire any very abstruse mathematical |
calculations to prove that the lower the |
value Of assessed property the higher
must be the rate of taxation. And we
know of no better way to tighten the
burdens Of the latter than to improve the
value OF the former. How is this to be |
done: By falsely charging the response
biEty upon the laws? By decrying the
successful political party officials for no
better reason than to replace them by
men that can do no better? The fault is
with the people themselves. Each man
owes duty to the public. He should
study out the problem and do lis best to
solve it intelligently He should ask
himself what he has ever done that tended
to promote the public credit and prosperity.
Where does he send his orders for sup
olies: Does he ever indulge in the
wicked pastime of frightening strangers
'ut Of the city by invented stories of yell
ow fever? Has he ever rallied against
quarantine because he happened to have
ase Of fireworks, or a consignment of
igars or half-decaying fruit, detained for
en- or twelve days? Has be never laughed
t the idea of yellow fever in one breath
nd magnified its horrors in another, ac-
ording to the impression be wanted to
make on the mind of his victim? Has he
lever given currency to evil reports against
portion of the people Of New Orleans, to
fleet local advantage, which were cir
ulated abroad to cur injury? Has he
discharged all his political duties with
ldelty? In short, has he at all times con
iacted himself as a patriotic, public
spirited citizen should?
lhe public prosperity depends upon the
)rohts derived from business. If there are
10 profits, Or if they are misapp,ied. there
Vii be L" prosperity. And Yet the ex- :
lenses Il: lie political household run On. =
They can not be diminished by COMPLAIN -,
ng. They can only be made light bv put-
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