New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-02-26
THE CITY GOVERNMENT UNDER a NEW
ETECTION

| ordered by a committee report, we have
often seen his honor the late Mayor upon
| the street. well dressed, clean shayen, and
walking with a remarkable aEacrity. 1t Is
very plain, as the British seaman on the
Belerophon remarked on seeing that Ma
| poleOn l. was not an old man, that his
honor the last ex-Mayor has twenty cam
paigns in his belly yet" 1t Is evident
that if q new election be ordered his honor
could resume his duties and salary, when
he administered with such punctuallty'
a. a wink. or the drop of hat. or accord
ing to any other popular similitude OF IN
| stan.auaous action. There would also
| arise. with the same commendGble promr-
titud9. all the colleagues Of his honor, tor
| such is their chartered relations. and with
them the noble and numerous army OF
contractor, and employees, small and great.
| This resurrection of detunc: officials would
reign during the period appointed for pre-
pairing and holding the election and
counting the returns. This would occupy
three months We are admitting for the
period of contests by injunction. 0: pos
sb,e appea! 10 Congress. l: il not nee
| essary to bring into this view the conse-
| uuences of reinstating the last ez-GOv-
emo. and saf4. Thi, would form sepa-
rate tableau. which we need ne: now eiab-
crate.
The presen. city government is COM
posed of men who are admitted to have
the public confidence. 1t is believed that
they have an honest determination to
maintain order and economics expense.
This administration asserts that they found
the city finances in great disorder. They
desired to restore the city credit. How
was this to be done: The demands were
pressing, the resources in arrears. Two
authorities claimed the right TO collect
taxes. It is true that the doctors of meta
physics assured the taxpayer that he had
right to determine in his own mind
which was the rightful collector and to re-
pudiate any other and a portion of both
1t is on record that the same advisers as
sured the taxpayer that he had right to
withhold payment TO any collector unless
he was satisfied that the tax, when col
lected, would be properly applied, and the
same adviser assured the taxpayer that be
(the adviser was satisfied that the money
paid the city authorities for licenses to do
business would be properly applied.
Yet under this right Of individual in
iuction, this editorial garnishee of the
taxes to be applied exclusively to support
the city government: it is notorious that
this government could neithe, raise
enough money by forcing the Legal limit
of the city debt, nor by collections.
Their alternative was between the sale Of
warrants at an unwarrantable deprecia-
ton, the negotiation of a loan 70. current
purposes on the collateral. Of current col
lections. or bankruptcy.
An assertion will be made upon the au-
thority of newspaper and public state
ments. which, it is hoped. will be cor
rected, if erroneous. We will give the
same circulation to tie correction as to
the statement. The statement is: That
when the present Mayor and Admlnistra-
tors were inaugurated they found it advi-
sable to change their fiscal agency; that
they appealed TO leading banking insti-
tuition to accept this position, and to pay
upon their order stipulated sum per
month, to meet, not .he deferred demands
upon the city treasury. but the weekly
current expenses: that this institution
declined to compromise itself by placing
and lroyiiing the several millions
needed to execute such contract unless
assured that the city governm 9nt would
be so permanently in position as 10 guar
antce the faithful performance of the con-
tract upon their part: that conference
was then held with Governor Kellogg by
both parties to this contract, which re-
suited III a conviction upon their minds
that he would use no undue influence 20
overthrow this city government: or to dis
place its Otic:a! inCumbents: that upon
such assurance and conviction the con-
tract was consummated. the banking i'll
stitution accepted the fiscal agency. and
the checks Of the city authorities are paid
by virtue thereof. 1t is assumed for argU-
ment agains. new State and city election
that these statement, are trla
/. It will D. conceded that IA &C. of
Congress which annu,s the last State cleo
ton, annuis also the city election conduct
ed under the same authorizes and recog-
nized by both board, pronounced Illegal
by the Senate committee report.
= The frs: efec. of Wi. Of election
would be to rsinstate for time the former
city administration. This would. Of
coarse, evict the present city adm!nistra-
ton with its personnel. Among other
consequence. i: would cancel the contract
between the present Fiscal Agent and the
city: would make void Tie appointment Of
the present agency and reinstate the Saw
ings Bank agency. It is proper TO call the
attention of merchants. landlords. labor
ers and city employees of every degree to
these consequences somewhat in detail!
The instantaneous e:.ec: o. . writ OF
election being % annu. the official COM
missions Of Mayor Witt. Administrators
Schneider and Lewis and their associates.
al. the secretaries. heads OF bureaus. with
al. the other employ, .. all the depart
ment5 would be turned into the, street.