The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-12-11

l
In assuming this responsibility, or rather
in the performance OF this moral obligation
they will remember that the DEGREES OF the
! fraudulent and spurious Legislatures are o.
no binding or legal force whatever and are
null, as illegally depriving the people OF this
city of their inherent and constitutional
rights Of self-government, and as enacted fol-
the open and avowed purpose Of spoliation.
But the obligation. as a revolutionary right,
to disregard these laws is yet stronger, as
they stand a complete bar to every hope OF
restoring prosperity
i Let the Council. then, rise to the dignity
and magnitude of the occasion. Assume the
responsibility, and act; as they have an in
herent and constitutional right to do:
as if they were Empowered to legislate
in the interest of the people, untram-
meled by any foreign body whatever, and
at once proceed in the exercise Of their duties
to decrease city taxation to about three-fourths
of one per cent; suspend thu payment of the
police and the expenses Of the public schools
until they are placed under their control,
suspend indefinitely the park tax and all ex-
penses not absolutely necessary.
Let her appoint committee composed in
part of members OF their own body, and in part
| like the Committee of Fifty-One, of reputable
citizens, to investigate the circumstances and
condition Of the tax delinQuents- this
| committee in a spirit of indulgent justice and
| wise policy, ascertain the amounts equitably
due, by rejecting over assessments and those
spurious and illegal taxes which are recognized
as frauds. And mark my words, If encourage
ment is given for the speedy payment Of the
balance, the Golfers OF the treasury will soon
contain at least million of dollars out of the
FIVE millions alleged to be due.
This would put the administration in funds,
and enable them to meet pressing demands
as well as to defray current expenses when
cut down to the lowest possible point, and
what is OF more Importance, would so enhance
the value OF property, and increase the gen.
eral prosperity. as would enable them with
justice to the property holders to increase the
assessed value Of taxable property, and thus
to commence to lquidate the public debt
without increasing the public burdens.
Our Administrators will note the fact de-
ductively proved by political science and
confirmed by experience that the point has
been long passed when an increase of tax
alton. with Il just assessment would add
anything to the public revenue, us the real
value OF the property would decrease in Il
corresponding r.tiO. Indeed, it is one Of the
effects Of taxation, that after exceeding GER
tain point, to decrease the marketable value
OF property in Il much greater ratio than the
mere increase OF the tax would warrant. be-
cause texation by its reaction would affect
business, and thus contribute to reduce the
revenue Of property by decreasing the demand
for houses and thus reduce the value of pro-
per.y, in addition to the effect produced by
the amount levied upon the property itself.
It also follows as cOrollary that decrease
OF taxation enhances the value Of property in
the same degree. and i'll the same manner rs
an increase of taxation causes its deteriora-
ton in value.
With tax as Indicated above, l have a
moral assurance that the real value OF our
taxable property would soon increase from
about fifty millions, its present value, to its
even beyond, say to one hundred anh fifty mill
lions. This act on the part Of our Admins |
traitors would thus, in all human probability |
add S100,OOO,O0O to the available capital of
the city, which would in few months stimu- !
late business into unwonted activity and pave |
the way to speedy restoration OF prosperity |
In taking charge Of city affairs, let the I
Council remember that credit is the result of I
prosperity-is acquired by the possession of
property. and increased by it's enhancement |
in value.
Let them restore the value of property by !
decreasing taxation, and credit will follow |
spontaneously. Let them, however, remen- !
Der that the only use Of credit is to enable |
them to contract debts, and that no truth is
better established than that ''public credit is
a public curse" 1t is the parent of debt,
and the certain forerunner Of extravaganza.
corruption and excessive taxation great
est evil that can be inflicted upon 4 commit
nifty.
would ask the members of the Council,
was there no significance in the unexpected
with which the Returning Board
canvassed and promulgated the city returns
Does any man with intellect above idiocy be-
Geve that it was for the purpose of unseating
their predecessors, who had been used as in
the interest of their party, to seat another
Council fresh from the people. bitterly hostile
to their administration? Was it not rather
in the hope that, in the embarrassing circum-
stances OF city affairs they would probably
embroil themselves with the citizens in fore
ing the collection of taxes to supply their i'm
mediate wants? This solution Of the matter
is confirmed by the course taken by the press
in the interest of the usurpation, which
clamors and hounds on the Council to the
work of extortion with pertinacity inexpli-
cable upon any theory consistent with the de-
sire to promote the public interests.
The Republican is especially clamorous in
goading the Council to this course. Should
not this consideration alone induce the
Council to pause before inaugurating the
policy Of force? on the principle Of never
doing what your enrnies desire"
The present State government should not
be cautiously opposed, merely because it is
an usnrpation, but only SO far as may be ne
cessary to protect the people against its cp-
pressions.
It will be impossible, with the present State
tax. to restore any portion of our former pros
perity: then let the City Council, with that
moral force which their position gives them,
counsel the people to withhold all State taxes
in excess Of those levied before the war.
Unless struck with judicial blindness they
must see that half measures will be effective
for no good, and will not even be permitted.
The usurpation has already given assurance
by its first act, that it intends to force them to
independence, no alterna-
tive remains. If the council act for the inter-
est of the people as suggested in this commu-
nication, the people will sustain them. Other
wise they will go down without regret. Unless
hey act in these trying times with discretion
md frmness, by entirely disregarding all
hose laws framed for the purpose of opDres-