The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1873-03-22
The. City Taxes.

Very relevant to this subject is an in
cident which occurred some days ago, in
connection with certain franchises for
which a prominent business man ap-
piled. The Administrator to whose de-
partment the question pertained, con-
ceived the idea of calling on that gentle
man and having a little conversation
with reference to taxes. The following
conversation ensued:
Administrat0r-"I thought I would
see you, Nj. -, and inquire why your
offer is so much lower than the price we
have always been receiving heretofore
Mr.-HOh, you see, all property
has deprecated. / would have given
a great deal more six months ago, but
now the thing is quite different. City
property, particularly, is down; war
rants are down; bonds are down; all
your paper is down. Of course we fall
too"
AdmIistrator-"Well, what do you
suppose is the reason? 2"
Mr.. - "Couldn't saZ-perhaps it is
because you have no money, and your
scrip is only paper"
AdministratOr-"Jus so. I want to
ask you q personal question, Mr.. -,
and | hope you will take no offence.
Have yOu paid your licenseW
Mr.. Certainly. Did it the first
thing" ~ al G
Administrator-"Hav you paid youl
city taxes?"
MI. no; not just yet"
Administrator-"Do you intend to
MI. -"Wen, you see, I am think
ing about it. | want to see what the
others are going to do first.n
Administrator-"Very well, Mir
come and see me when you make uL
your mind, and then I will talk to YOU
about that little favor you want from
the city. As far as I car see, the city
would not be doing q very 1atiOna,
business to heap benefits upon those
who are unwilling to do their duty by
her. Good morning, Mr.. -.n
We ask Dur readers to consider the
meaning OF this conversation. Here il
a business gentleman who applies tt
the city for a franchise. He offers &
reduced price because property-anG
especially city property-is down in the
market, and, five minutes afterwards
acknowledges that he has helped to de.
preeiate city finances by refusing tt
pay his taxes. at
But we I very glad to hear that tho
Council will hereafter make it. primary
condition, in considering all kinds o:
petitions, applications, etc, that thu
party interested shall have first paid hi
taxes. It is altogether too pretty 1
stroke of business that q man SHOULD
systematically labor to depreciate city
property and then proceed to speculate
upon the result. ,,4=s.
lie the circumstance we have related
does nothing else, it at least proves tina
some of our tax-resisting friends keep
piOus eye on the main chance.I[ROund
about in New Orleans Times.
In january Of last year when one-hal
of the General Assembly were fghtin,
to get rid of WaTmoth and had establish
ed a Legislatureof theiroWna at the Gen
Saloon, that INSCRIPTIONS functi0nar,
used the Metropolitans TO dislOdge then
and took possession of the building
Now, the Warmoth-Mc Enery militia at
tempt to capture police stations, but.a at
thWarted. and, in turn, the Metronoli
tans take possession Of Odd Fellows
Hall and arrest several members of tina
Legislature. In the first instance, til
office seekers of New Orleans assisted i
attempting to depose Warmoth, and il
the latter. they make even a bigger fgh
to sustain WarmUth and get themselVe
into positions. The political cat has !
queer way of jumping, soft has!--ESu
gar Planter. Il 1a# "