New-York tribune., 1873-06-18

will reduce the enormous expenses or TINS Stlte uo'or
ment and stop the stealing aud won't ask what IL calls
itsclf."
Business Ia New-oreans is and has been for several
months very much depressed though several OF the
moro hopeful OF the bankers and business men with
whom have cOnversed express the opinion that the
worst is over and that prosperity will soon return
Most kinds of property both in the city and country
10 have been depreeatng during the past Tour OF
five years and there hundreds Of planters and mer
chants who would gladly sell out for half what their
property cost them If anybody would offer them cash
The OF this depression numerous-more so,
think, than the people who suffering from IL imagine
The majority Of them think that II is due entirely 10 pad
government; and have no doubt that TO the extrava
ganoe and dishonesty Of the State Administration since
reconstruction and the consequent heavy taxation may
be ljusty charged much of the present depression
Growing out OF this bad government other causes
such the additional cost OF doing all kinds OF business
here the lack confidence In the courts, besides those
that are the result wrong methods OF doing business
| shah speak Of these in the order in whca nave
named them.
The debt OF the state Of Louisiana. at the time the
State was reconstructed about S,0O00OO. On the
ls Of January the bonded debt was, according TO the
report OF Keloggs State Auditor s0O and II Is
currently reported that Gov Kellogg has since signed
additional bonds for the North Louisiana and Texas
Railroad The miscellaneous debts OF tho State were,
according to the same report 81 AT 4s To this must
raon during the first four months it was in power to
pay the expenses OF its Legislature and all the general
expenses Of the Government before the collection OF
taxes began The contingent debt Of the State which
every body believes il will have 10 pay s5s36o2 A.
This makes the total amount Of bonded and miscela
neous debts for which the State actually and CON
ngenty liable the 1st OF January last according to
Auditor Cuton s29557si9 95 The bonds and warrants
issued since that iime will swell the amount TO some
thirty odd millions Finally the Legislature has granted
State aid TO various corporations, amounting TO sus1-
co., bonds for which have not yet been issued Thus
the present liabilities OF the State and the appropra-
tons voted by the Legislature for which bonds are
yet 70 be issued, are about six times as great
as they were whom the state reconstructed. while
there very little show for the increased indebted
ness And here let me say that make no personal
accusations Gov Warmoth may have been, and prob
ably was, responsible for some Of this exrayaglnce
but the whole tribe of those who managed State affairs
with few exceptions, must share the blame with him
II is idle for Mr. Kellogg TO upbraid Warmoth some OF
his closest friends reputed to have been part
ners in nearly all Of the jobs of the past four years
Judge Ludelng of the State Supreme Court still con-
tnues speculate in railroads receiving State aid, ana
likely any time before his court for the settle
of rOverses in which his interests and those of
the State may conflict Collector Casey and Marshal
Packard still ruling spirits in the party in power
Pnchback. who has the reputation of having had a
hand in almost every job, Is Gov. Kelloggs fright
bower" and brings to him efficient support than
any other except the President. In short, with
few exceptions the men who did most 10 involve the
State in debt and increase taxation the same who
by the grace Of Grant, are in jwer to-day.
The rapid increase In the State debt has naturally been
by an increase taxation. In 1867 and
-Ii~4.-i e. S.--.- 49, - - -
mills on each dollar Of property assessed In 1869 the
rate was raised nine mills on dollar In 1870, ISL
and 1872 was 1l5 mills on dollar and in 1873 it is 2lA
~ m cont In Mt
the rate OF taxation for state purposes snow more than
four times as great as it in 1867 and 1853 Nor Is this
tax based on low valuation such IL made in some OF
the Northern States Auditor Clinton, in his report of
last December, says:
The present mode OF assessing property OF the State
has failed 10 accomplish fair and equitable valuation
thereof Within the Parish OF Orleans assessors are
paid percentage upon the amount OF ther 3ssessGnt
rolls As a consequence, experience has shown that
great injustice done by placing assessments very hlgh
some instances ljJ per cent ABOVE the rue 'aiue oi
property!
That is in some instances a mans property has been
assessed for two and half times its actual value and
as the effect Of this to increase the rate Of taxation in
the same ratio according to Auditor Clinton, some men
in this city are taxed for state purposes alone more than
five and onerd per cent OF the true value OF their
property
Bu outrageous as these rates OF taxation are, they
representefs than half the burdens imposed upon the
peope The city tax assessed and collected separately
from that raised for State purposes and the rate this
wear three per cent the same valuation above re-
fered to- This makes the total taxation in NewOreans
1900 per cent Of the value OF property where the as
sessment fairly made Where the assessmet Is as high
as the Auditor says Is In some instances the total rate
~ taxation is u $40 per cent OF the true value OF the
propertv In most Northern states ths would amount
TO conhscaton Of the entire profits Of business IN ad
don TO all there State and city licenses which have
70 be paid bcoIe man can begin any kind OF business
or the practice OF any profession. Those collected by
the State are at the rate o. S. $t5 $40. $50, i0 and
e. O year for partner according 10 the nature OF
the business. Those paid the city are at the rate
OF S5 SIS, t25. NCO SOO0, and 1850 a year.
Such heavy taxation this would suppose, ought
20 pay the entire expenses OF the Government but it Is
far from doing 80. Very few official acts performed
by any officials unless they are paid heavy fees Begin
ming with the United States Court and running through
all Of the state Courts and then the thousand Offices
held under state authority, and there is scale Of
travagance in fees and Derquistes that would In time
bankrupt any State. Members of the Legislature make
from &C. 900 to $4,000 session. even they keep clear OF
Jobs II often happens that members appointed on
number Of special committees at the time, togo
into different parts OF the State and investigate all sorts
OF things, and though they never leave NewOrleans
they their mileage and expenses nobody ever ask
ing whether IL is possible for them 20 be in half dozen
places at the time Five per cent on the assess
ment rolls is paid the tax collectors in the parishes
believe it been reduced TO ~ per cent in the city
Only last week the NewOrleans, Mobile and Texas Rail
road was sold by decree OF Judge Dure For allowing
their namee be used masters the Court awarded
$40 OO each 10 OF his favOrtes and for acting as
anctoneor duty which required about half All hour
U. g. Marshal Packard WAS awarded an equal sum.
And 30 II runs through the whole chapter. Enormous
taxes ire eating up the substance OF the people, and
nobody believes that the present Administration wiz be
any more honest economical than its predecessor
u general lack OF confidence In business circles
and disposition TO contract rather than enlarge
business.
INDIAN AFFAIRS.