New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-08-11
THE MAYOR ON TIE RAMPAGE.

THE MAYOR ON THE RAMPAGE.
It will be seen by reference to the ordi-
nance published by the Mayor, that be
has denied payment to one-half the en-
ployes of the Department Of Improve
ments. He excludes all names not on the
pay rolls the first week in March, assert
ing that men who have not worked six
months are not prima facie employees of
the city. The absurdity Of such test
will readily appear. Why men who have
not worked six months are not entitled to
rem ANNEXATION for their services, it is i'm
possible to conceive-indeed, it can be
&C counted for on no reasonable hypothe-
sis, except that the Mayor, spiteful toward
the Depart ment of Improvements, seeks
to crafty his revenge by depriving the
laboring people (whose necessities are
Of course urgent in the extremely, of their
hard earnings. The distress which this
course occasions among the poor it would
be difficult to depict. But it is hardly
probable that any appeal to the Mayors
sense of right, his sense Of justice or com
passion, would be listened to. But upon
the accomplishment of his own political
and selfish devices, trying to manufacture
capital for another nomination, he cares
little who suffers, so he succeeds.
Most Of the names on these pay rolls are
known to the Mayor to be those of actual
laborers and employees who have rendered
services and are entitled to pay. He
should, therefore, lose no time in finding
out the bad ones, if any there are, separat-
ing them from the good, and let the latter
be paid. He has no reasonable excuse for
depriving deserving men Of their dues
while he is trying to find those whom he
suspects of being undeserying.
The pay rolls are not larger now than
they were a month since. If they were
unnecessarily increased why did not the
Mayor stop it at the beginning. He was
aware of it, and, being aware Of it, was
guilty Of neglect of duty in permittingit it.
But his mouth was closed until the mo-
ment arrived for the manufacture of po-
Htieal capital If this be true, the Mayor
stands confessed an unfaithful magistrate,
who is pGrticeps crin1inis in the injury
done to the city, winking at it until be
could subserve personal and political
purpose. He has no conscientious scru-
pies against putting men on the pay rolls
at S125 per month to look after his own
personal interest, in chartering steam
boats out Of the Mayors contingent fund
to convey delegates to political conven-
ton, and in charging citizens seven dol
lars and half for a passport to Havana
as one of the perquisites of his Office.
A year ago hundreds of low dance
houses were scattered over the city, -four
ishing under permit from the Mayors
Office. They defed the police and with i'm
punity outraged society. Many of them
are still in existence. What did they |
pay for these permits and what became Of
the money? These are matters which we
should be glad to see the Council inquire
nto and if no just blame attaches to the
Mayor in the premises, let the public
Know it.
We do not question that the Mayor is a
magistrate, but one who is SO
of the honesty of others must
nave great many temptations, the Sc
luctive character of which he duly ap-
,reciates. Why the investigation he So
,ersistently urged has been so suddenly
topped, we can not conceive; but we
lear no suspicion that it has arisen from
he fear of the Mayor that his own official
is ayerse to inquiry and inspec-
ion. Others may be less charitable, but
o our mind, the Mayor is scarcely less
han a second Diogenes, with his official
antern IN his hand, prowling among his
colleagues, seeking for a man as honest as
himself This, We regard as a praise
only exceeded by its modestv:
md when his search shall have been re-
yarded, we anticipatean official miIlani,7,,
t the Hail., in which the Manor viii
hine forth radiantiy ''the s,eeetest cbey,,b
+ them ALL"