New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-10-15
The City Ordinance TO Force the COLLEGE
lion Of TaSea.

EDITOR EEPeBLICAN:
Nothing within my recollection has go
much calculated to inspire distrust IN a
Democratic council. and 20 impair conf.
dence in political pledges. as the late city
ordinance for the collection Of :axe..
Tina: our city government, elected by the
subtle skill Of ':these fingers" composed Of
citizens identified with the large delinquent
taxpayers, sensible Of their disiuclination
to pay their taxes as long as they could use
the money to better advantag" il shaving
city paper. presumed to be in sympathy
with them: in fact. selected for the very pur-
pose OF impeding the collection Of taxes.
and otherwise amelorating the condition
these landlords who had not paid any taxes
for years. and fel; as if they could not bear
to begin now, and were shaking in their
boots with fear Of being compelled to bear
their share Of the public burdens. should go
back on us in this style. and deliberately
propose to execute an ordinance Of this
kind. is disheartening, and makes us de-
SPAR OF: the future Of that ill-starred bant.
ling. the "Citizens' Tax-vesistins Associa'
ton
Tha, the ;aboring classes WHO. "nici.l.
natelv for Us. and, II spite o; these En-
GERS contro. the State government. have
20 feeiin. in common with US. know little
and care less how much profit we Will lose
il deprived Of the use Of the money we owe
for taxes. are utterly indifferent 20 our
wrath. and only intent on restoring city
and State credit, should invoke all the ter
rors of special tax laws against the rich de-
linGuent tax payer, is naturally TO be ex.
pected. From their standpoint, they
observe that al! men of true responsibility
Of character, Of intelligence and patriotism.
all the !aboring classes. and all good citi-
zens Of whatever grade. interested in the
public welfare. are opposed 10 our cOntin-
ned spoliation of the laborer and the small
tax payer for the benefit Of the aiistocracy:
hence they assume that our delinquency is
fraud upon the public. d violation OF our
duty as good citizens, and au outrageous
imposition upon the poorer classes, who are
compelled 10 bear the public burden which
our superior wealth enables "a to throw
upon them. Therefore strict and searching
laws are enacted by them. Cor she double
purpose OF relieving our poorer classes,
and to compel us 10 do OF: 2aI: az good
citizens.
But tina: the city Administrators occupy.
ing ditieren. position toward Us. and ex-
ercisng powers we conferred on :hem to be
used for our advantage. should make these |
IoTers an eng inc OF tax collection. is. to
say the leas. of it, difficult 20 reconcile, |
with any regard for our future polite ga. ap-
provo, or the remOtest appreciation OF the !
percentage of profit we vii! lose !; com ]
I11l hIyc, Cfp
speculation in city securities al thirty per !
cent discount. They seem 20 be running |!
race OF collection with the State officials. |
with fair prospect of coming out ahead. |
l. it not known 20 every citizen of Ordi- |
nary Intelligence that our delinquency has |
eaten into the vitals OF public prosperity |
BIZ dsprec;ating all classes OF civic securi- |
ties. and compelled the city and State to
enter upon a baleful system of credits.
which by enhancing the price of all labor |
and supplies, has greatly added to the pub
lie debt and afforded Us fine margin for /
speculation IN grinding the faces OF the pocIii
Are the Administrators alone ignorant |
that the failure to collect the taxes from
the rich is nothing less than robbery of the
poor. Don't they know that we can't fool /
the poor taxpayers into another resisting |
association. and that consequently we will
have 10 foot the bill for expenses ourselves.
We expected a diferen: policy from them.
They know that these city tsxe4. estimated
II three per cent. but by jCdcious fixing
for fear OF accidents, reduced. in most
Eases where we are concerned, 70 one per |
zen: or less. when they run on few years
amount Z" something. even at that figure.
md we would lose two per cen: month on
ne money. And when they propose 10
make Us pay UP they seem 70 have alto.
.ether lost sight of interest. In fact. BY
ONE strange haliucination. the Council. BIZ
ssoe;ation. doubtless. with those despica-
lie State officials. have oil late seemed to
orge, that their first obligation is 20 us. and
lot to the common herd.
Now, this state Of things is altogether
improper and must be put an end 10 al
nee; this nightmare of tax collection must
e driven away, SO We can contrive 70 grow
icher and the poor poorer. N.