New Orleans Republican., 1873-03-26
city COUNCIL--OFFICIAL
REGULAR MEETING.

The Counci! me; this day at l. NJ. in
tegular session.
Presentation. Louis A. Wilt. Mayor.
presidipg. and Administrators Brewster.
Calhoun, fitzenreiter. Lewis. Schneider.
s,urcL"n and Turnbull.
1h. minutes OF last meeting were 'p'
prCved.
S'onmunic 4tions from the Mayor ana Ah'
miuistratOrs.
Tho following message hom the Mavor
w4s .ead: .o,..u
March -. 1873.
10th. CITY Council Of New Orleans:
,eturn herewith. not approved, an ordl-
narce adopted at your last regular meeting
10 levy a tax of one-tourth 0i one per cent
s.for the support of the public schools OF the
ci.v for the year 1873, in accordance Win sec
,;';,, fnur of act No 36 OF the session Of the
General Assembly of 1873" Properly IN tins
s.ity now paws q State tax OF 81 ID ana
ritz tax Dt s. - on each 500 OF assessed
valuation. besides practically bearing the
~,eight of nearly a million dollars ID IL
xrnsAs amounting TO nearly SIX per cent on
,,ooarfV assessed at l3O,0OO,OO0, but well
known to be over estimated. An increase
a: this enormous tax IS more than the
taxable property of the city can bear.
upe-fourth of one per cent added TO the
,,,assnt tax would produce a further depre-
cis.ion in the market value OF taxable
f,-orertv to the extent OF several mlllOns.
/ am not willing to do this enormous dam
age 10 this city, nor to give new motive
and excuse for delinquency IN the payment
q. necessary taxes. The times are too hard
for immoderate taxes. / am not willing to
increase the present burden, already by far
zoe heavy.
The tax in question is a notable example
Of the evil practice of legislating for the
sity. without the advice and consent of its
sgeflts, concerning matters which pertain
&c the city exclusively. Legislators from
other parishes are not qualified to deter
eline how much the people OF this city are
Akle to nav for free schools. 1t is evident
Go ~. that New Orleans can not prosper
uAtif left free in raising and expendlDg
Le- own funds for all purposes purely local.
u is not necessary for me to say that my
feSnssl TO approve the extra tax ordinance
tmplies no Indifference to schools and teach
ers ! have always taken deep interest in
the education Of our youth. | know its in-
pertance to society to be very great; that 1t
iuyotves the public safety; that it is essen
tiai 20 the preservation of political liberty:
shat st is necessary to progress, and an IN
slispensable aid to morality: that 1T lessons
che labor and cost of maintaining law and
order in society, and that it promotes the
.gslfare of ind Jiduals and of the State
more powerfully than any other known
agency | know that the laboriOus, patient,
faithful teachers Of our schools are bene-
tactors deserving gratitude as well as
prompt payment. In honorable usefulness,
ss in learning, they rank with the educated
guardians of public health and the revered
Teachers of religion. | know that they
have long been annoyed and distressed by
the tardv pavment Of their inadequate
salaries, and especially by depreciation OF
pav certificates, which they are Obliged to
selt at enormous discount. But 1t Is not
now in the power of the city government
20 come to their relief, and that fact ought
to be known. To return to the expedlent
Of issuing pay certificates against empty
CcSfers would give but deluslye show o1
relief while the attempt TO raise school
fund by adding to the already excessive
city tax would result in damage to pubic
interests more serious than any now felt,
q damage that wOuld in few months have
r. destructive effect upon the free school
system of the city. | ran not hesitate be
tween a course which temporarily suspends
free public tuition and another course
which must involve the complete overthrow
Cf our free schools by bringing on the tinan.
Cia! yIliQ of the city.
LOUIS a. N'ILTZ. Mayor.
SIR Calhoun moved 10 persist in the Ordi
T.nce vetoed, notwithstanding the OBJ
iec!ions of the Mayor. and called the atten-
SioH of The Council to the eighth section OF
the city charter. relative 20 the duties and
powers Of the Mayor. IN which il is pro
Viied: "He fine Mayor! shall have the
pawsr 20 veto any ordinance or resolution,
~ any specific appropriation not required
by law OF the State" which provision, Mr.
Calhoun held. denied 20 the Mayor power
t0 veto The ordinance under consideration,
because il was v measure introduced and
passed in compliance with State law.
The yeas and nays were called upon the
notien 10 persist and the vote stood:
iess-Brewster, Calhoun. Eitzenreiter.
lsewis and Turnbull-.'.
Eays-Schneider and Sturcken-:.
iiye Administrators having voted for the
otfinanc.. the Chair declared it passed.
notwithstanding the objections.
Reconsideration.
On accordance with previous notice. Mr..
Lewis moved to reconsider the vote by
which the ordinsncs entitled "an Srdi-
rance TO provide for further reduction Of
expenditures" was passed AZ the last meet
In.
Ill. yea. and uars h.,n. hceo called oh
tAe motion. the vote stood:
Seas--Lewis and Tmgbul'-:::
:avs-Rrews>er. CaIhuun. v.'I"nroi.cg.
Schneider ..fd Sturchen-...
SO the ,not!oY failed.
FiSanciaP Business on Final Passage and
Ordinances on Third Heading.
!ir. Calhoun called u. ;'c ordinances de.
e.:ibed as follows. which had been read
tw.ce at the meeting Immediately preced.
ing. and passed the second readings. Said
ordinances being now on their :hird reading
~e.e severa!ly passed by a uuanimoue vote.
the yeas aad nays having been called on
each:
"hu c,iinnncs providing Cor the payment
Ci the several accounts therein named,' be.
ginning with the item. James A. Gresham.
$!li 20.
"Au ordinance providin: for the payment
OF the several accounts therein named.' be
-inning with the item. James y. Gresham.
Sll: 80.
IAN ordinance So provide for the issue OF
duplicate certificates OF appropriation -
Henry Weber. transferec.
..An ordinance TO provide Tor the issue OF
duplicate certificates of appropriation and
certificate for tve-eightS excess due. alleged
TO be lost by Patrick MeGinn.
Reports of Committees.
The president in behalf of the committee
=. .ho whole renorted upon the petition o.: