New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-08-03
STATE FINANCIERS.

STALL f1N6N C4bhSs
The crippled condition in which Lorisi-
ana found herself when the present State
administration was inaugurated rendered
it important that its financial department
should be conducted by no. only honest,
but skillful fnarciers. The loose and dis
honest manner in which the finances Of
the State had been conducted through
the four years Of Warmoth's admin
istration had placed matters in 4
very embarrassing condition for the
succeeding administration. The down
right dishonesty Of Wicklife's con-
duct as Auditor. followed ty the
equally positive dei;nquencies and ex-
travagance tina: marked the administra-
ton of Auditor Graham 70 meet the de-
mands Of Governor Warmoth, his politi-
cal parasites. and hordes Of hungry
brokers and unprincipled money chang
ers, had we'll nigh driven the State to the
verge Of bankruptcy. I. was soon dis
covered that the last year Of Governor
Warmoth's administration had added
nearly two millions Of dollars, in
the shape OF rnredeemed State
warrants. to the debt OF the State. This
was bad enough, as it helped materially 20
crush what little credit the State might
yet have; but the story OF mismanage-
ment does nc. end here. Governor kel-
iogg's administration was made to face
other difficulties that had been entailed
upon the State by Governor Warmoth and
his new political allies-Liberal Repub-
ncans, Reformers, and Democrats, who
fused and fought the Republican party in
the last State and presidential election
under the Fusion banner.
The chief CT these other difficulties
sprang from the action Of an organization
of property holders known as the Tax
resisters' association" They were the
rich men of the city, who had combined
to resist Republican rule. These men alb
solutely refused to pay their taxes. and
were IilllloIS III dA lCd4o ASA AAS I!SS~AAN
State administration came into power:
and instead of enforcing the collection Of
taxes from rich and poor alike. the
tax collectors Of Governor War
moth. during the last year Of
his administration. no doubt for 4
political purpose. suffered these men 70
become tax delinquents to still larger
extent. They We're then acting with Gov
ernor Warmoth and the parties who were
conspiring to defeat the Republican party.
and had plenty Of money to give Tor that
purpose, but nothing to pay taxes for tie
support Of government that was not Of
their own choice; and as Governor War
moth was then il the same beat with
them and had determined that if the cleo
ton Of Republican administration could
not be defeated at the polls it should be
crippled in q manner that would make it
apparent tina. it was not sustained by the
people, he was not anxious to have the
collection Of taxes enforced against his
new political confederates. The scheme
in any other country but this might have
been considered a clever political trick to
defeat the popular will: and there We're
those in Louisiana whose selfish ambition
doubtless led them TO wish that the few
rich men Of the State. aided by Governor
Warmoth, might thus be enabled to
finally overcome the &c .facto government:
bu: with the great mass Of the American
people and their representatives at Wash
ington, the trick will be regarded as dis
graceful and branded as such. Yet. it
must be conceded that it has had ;r in
portant bearing On the finances and credit
Of the State since Governor Kellogg
came into power. /: requires time,
honesty, economy and financial skill to
overcome the financial difficulties Of the
State: and although sufficient time has
not yet elapsed to correct tie evils Of a
former administration, yet sufficient has
been done TO materially help the credit Of
the State. and in the course Of time lessen
the burden Of taxation. The taxes ere
being collected without fear. favor or
Affection" and disposed Of in the same
manner with an eye single to the
interes. Of the State by those who
are our lawfully elected State fnan-
ciers: the men who are charged with the
raising. investing and disbursing Of the
public money. The determination oS the
Governor and Auditor to break mp the
ring Of brokers that was monopolizing
the public money, to the exclusion of
other creditors, as fast as it found its way
into the public treasury. is now regarded
as one of the best measures that could
have been devised unde, the circum-
stances. And in view OF the popularity