New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-11-20
By Mr.. Shaw:
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS,
November IL, 1872.

! To the City Council OF new orleans;
1t seems proper, as far as possible, 20
report the condition of all claims which 1t
| has not been deemed proper to recommend
| for final passage by this Council, but which
at the same time possess merits, rendering
unjust final rejection.
Mrs. Patterson, widow OF E. 4. Patter-
son, has presented a claim for payment OF
| 1881 Sc, amount assumed in favor of
her late husband by the then city author
tiles on the dissolution of the wharf leases
in 1861 and 1862 This claim was sued
upon and final judgment rendered against
1t by the Supreme Court. The city authori-
ties, before the termination of the suit,
| registered and assumed as debts for a
second time all the other claims, this being
| untouched because it was in court.
When the present administration went
into power it was called upon to settle these
! registered bills, including bills separately
| registered for accumulated interest 1t CON
tested them but under the decisions Of the
Supreme Court they have all been finally
settled amounting to over $4,000.
Thus Mrs. PattersOns claim, entrusted IN
all honesty to suit, is lost, while the more
cunning holders of the other claims, by the
action of the former city authorities in
registering and acknowledging them, have
realized their debts.
Naturally, it would seem matter OF
courts should be entertained. It it stood
by itself, perhaps it should not. But gross
injustice like this would seem an excep-
tiOnal case.
The city first recognized the claims when
it dissolved the wharf contract. The next CT
ty government disputed them But one claim
(the present) ventured a suit. Another ad-
ministratiOn recognizes and assumes all,
not suing. The next (ours) denies and con-
oil lxr
The right to recognize a debt which is
merely one of equity, and can not be en-
forced in the courts particularly case Of
res jltdiedtG, should be exercised with great
hesitation, as 1t is the taxpayers, and not
the Administrators, who must pay. But it
is not the policy of city more than an
individual to take advantage of a wrong.
On the whole it would seem if two sue
cessive administrations should deem this
claim proper one to pay it ought to be
done. |, therefore, propose an ordinance
to be passed to second reading, leaving final
action to our successors.
ALFRED SHAW, Administrator.
An ordinance making final settlement of the
claim of Mrs. E. A. Patterson.
Be it ordained by the Council of the city
of New Orleans, That the Mayor and Ad-
ministrator OF Finance be authorized and
directed to settle the claim of Mrs. E. A.
Patterson for the sum of $7981 Sc by the
issue of new consolidated bonds, general
series, at the rate for said bonds of ninety
cents on the dollar, she relinquishing all
claims for interest.
The ordinance was read twice and laid
over
BY Mr.. Shaw:
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC AccorxTs,l
November 10, 1872 !
To the City Council Of New Orleans:
In the matter of the claim of William z.
Mayo for $1,000 of back salary as secretary
of the Second District Drainage Board, the
facts seem to be as follows:
During the litigation of the board with
the Ship Island Canal Company, drainage
taxes were almost entirely tied up and
withheld. The board, having no assets,
reduced the secretary's salary from 5000 to
500, subject to contingency of future re-
ceipts of tax. The transaction of business
by a small board is usually conversational,
while the acts carried into effect only are
written down. Mr. Mayo, with proper deli
cacy, recorded the written motion, but did
not feel authorized to put the real inten-
ton Of the board upon the minutes,
the members having omitted to offer this part
Oftheir proceeding or deliberatiOn in writing.
They have since supplied a written state
ment substantially as here described. There
is no dispute of the intention to make up the
difference when assets should be realized.
The books and accounts show for themselves
quantity Of work covering the nineteen
months involved, such as no man could be ex-
pected to perform for less than the whole sal
ary,including the present proposed addition.
Mr., Mayo is a most faithful and competent
officer, and even under our own administra-
ton, has performed services in preparing
drainage tableaux for court, involving iU-
tricate details, and extra or Out-Of-hOurs
labor fully justitying such an appropria.
ton. But it is only claimed as a debt of
the drainage boards. The appropriate Or
dinance is appended
ALFRED SHAW. Administrators
An ordinance making final settlement with
William 7. Mayo, for salary as secretary
OF the board of commissioners of the
second drainage district.
Be it ordained by the Council Of the city
of New Orleans that the Mayor and AID
of Finance be authorized and
directed to settle with William I. Mayo for
claims of back salary due, as secretary of
the board of commissioners of the second
drainage district, for the sum of $1,000, to
be paid in new consolidated bonds, drain
age series, at the rate, foT said bonds, of
ninety cents en- the dollar.
The ordinance was sead twice and laid
over.
By Mr.. Shaw.
An ordinance relative 70 the expenses of
cancellation Of the bonds of Administra
tors
Be it ordained by the Council of the city
of New Orleans, That after the bonds Of
any Administrator or ex-Admini5trator
shall have been Cancelled from the books of
the mortgage Office if it appears that the
hos iT1u+ grounds Of Gujt or rpploJna-
ton against him, and he shall have we'll |
and truly performed the duties Of his office, |
be shall be entitled to payment from the |
city of the costs incurred by him as follows: |
For clerks costs and fees OF mortgage Of |
fee in giving bond, and for costs of adver !
Using and other expenses of releasing the |
same, and of canceling the record.
Passed two readings.
By Mr.. Shaw:
An ordinance providing for the pay ment of |
the several pay rolls and accounts therein |
named.
Be it ordained, That the following appro-
priations be and are hereby made, aud that |
5he Administrator of Public Accounts war
rant on the Administrator OF Finance in
payment Of the same:
Officers clerks and employees in the
Department of Public AccOunts$3266 65
Mrs. L. Dunn, services as keeper Of
archives for month Of November,
1872. Observation-Disclosures. $50 90
Clarendon Davisson, for services
as librarian for month of NOvem-
Der. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. dJU w
Nary DAWSON. for services as
S sS55s taIs 'o',t'., ~. -"or.D =, SO 90
I. Conquest Clarke. Secretary OF
II 1