New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-12-03
WeYoR Wits INAUGURAL MESSAGE.

/
We have read with great attention the
inaugural message Of Mayor Witt, and
find that the pleasure derived from the
elegant diction employed is to a great ex-
tent neutralized by the difficulties discoY,
cred and suggested by the new Mayor
In the outset, he exhibits to the Council a
catalogue Of the wonderful things expected
Of the new administration, but which he
appears to have found out since his cleo
ton to be star more than can be by any
means accomplished, and more than can
now be promised" There is nothing LETT,
therefore. but to solicit the patient in
dulgeuce ard considerate forbearanee of
all friends of reform" To all which the
REPUBLICAN has merely to remark that
there is no cause for surprise that the task
which seemed to be SO easy Of accomplish
ment before the election, should loom up
into formidable proportions after it. The
evils that exist in our municipal system
are chronic, and arise from other causes
than political mismanagement. Until Mt.
Witt is fully able to comprehend the IN
derlying pridciple, he will be powerless to
carry out any part Of the magnificent
programme which the Reformers have SO
far merely desired, without the remotest
conception of where the means were to
come from to accomplish it.
The message informs the people that
the real estate Of the city has declined
more than thirty per cent since 1867,
which fact is cited as one Of the chief diff
ficulties in the way Of the administration;
yet further on, when he comes to give us
his statistical information, he throws dis
credit upon his own statement by showing
that the total valuation Of property in
1867 was S121, O30, 000and $156, 214, 900 at
the present time, which shows an increase
Of over S37, 1000, 600, instead Of a decrease
Of thirty per cent. Yet, in spite Of this
apparent increase in value, the average
productive value Of property has probably
decreased to some extent, though there
has been a small increase in the number
Of improved premises. And here is the
main cause Of the financial difficulty.
Property that has been rendered unpro-
ductive by reason Of its location or want of
judgment in the owner is still held at ante
bellum prices, With no market. The
owner holds on to what he considers its
intrinsic value long after its exchangeable
value has gone far below it. 1t is accord
ingly taxed for more than the income de-
rived from it. This tax is, of course, not
paid. The owner goes into the tax resist
ing business, and ascribes to radical mis-
the evils which be or his
real estate agent have let come upon him.
Mr.. Wilt plainly recognizes the futility
Of all attempts at reform unless backed
up by promptness in taxpaying. His
first and most pressing demand, Therefore,
is a return to the leash system" But this
is easier to suggest than to carry out. Tn
less he can devise plan to make property
more profitable to the owners, they viii
not imbibe the taxpaying enthusiasm to
any great extent, nor find it easier to push
the load up the hill for the disciples Of
abstract reform than it was for the Radi-
calls, Those superficial thinkers who ex-
pected an immediate sensation of relief
with the Inauguration Of an anti-Radical
city administration felt 2 measure Of dis
therefore, when Mr.. Witt
the plan Of reform indicated
by the REPUBLICAN prompt
payment Of taxes and reduction Of ex-
penses. One portion Of M. Wiltz's con
stituents look with disfavor upon any
plan that requires them to put their hands
into their pockets, while another portion,
the rank and file, hold there are too few
Offices already to give them all a place.
Aside from these drawbacks there is
much interesting information in the mes
sage We learn there that the property of
the city, valued at S158,000. 900, is liable
for municipal debt Of s2l, 100000, and
three-ffths Of the State debt, set down at
SAP, 900, 600 (Which is too high), making
S25, 500, 600 more. Besides this, there are
suits already pending, or imminent, for
licenses improperly paid, running back
for several years, which will foot up
81, 100000 or SIS. 100000 more, making an
aggregate Of actual and contingent iabili-
ties Of more than fifty millions, equal to
nearly one-third Of the total value Of the
in the corporate limits If this
be a correct statement Of the cash account,
We can only see two ways 70 get out Of the
dificulty-one to wait for miracle and
the other to repudiate. But the case is
really not SO bad as is made to appear.
The claims upon the city property are. 50
great as to almost amount to stagnation,
but in the face of all of them, the actual
values may be augmented by wise meas
ures. 1t is not in the power of politicians
to render any relief. Economy NAV be
as a most useful auxiliary, but
the man who has no income must 20
further than economy. He must study
thrift. Every avenue by which profit may
come to this almost stagnant market
should be kept open. We must begin at
the roots, whence increase may be eZ-
pected, as well as to watch and save at the
branches. But this often tried system Of
viii not afford that measure