The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-11-13
COLLECTION OF. CITY TAXES.

The city of New Orleans finding its treasury
empty, its credit at a fearfully low ebb, and 10
paper at ruinous discount is seeking to I'M
prove its financial condition by resort to the
prompt and speedy collection Of the taxes Que
by the property holders.
Finding that the Fiscal Agent Of the city was
becoming FESTIVE and impatient, under the
long delay of payment by the city for advances
made to the extent Of about four hundred
thousand dollars, and unwilling farther to aid
the present municipal authorities unless as
sured Of some vigorous measures for collect
ing the taxes, the Administrators promised to
take immediate steps and adopt such plan as
would satisfy the Fiscal Agent and induce him
to continue his aid in saving the city from pro-
test.
Finding, too, that its present City Attorney,
Mr.. Geo. S. Lacey, with his two assistants,
Messrs. Fl. H. Walsh and Lewis, and two
clerks and messenger, costing the city in the
aggregate the sum Of s14S5 per month OF
81, 800 per annum, have not been dong theil
duty in the way of collecting the taxes, they
have concluded to employ another attorney, Mr..
BIC. Miller, for the express purpose Of attend.
ing to this business, withaa commission Of two
and half per cent on his collections, to be
paid BY the city-not by the taxpayers, as
enormously stated by the Republican.
Every one knows Mr.: Mill-r. His charac-
ter as man is above reproach and his abili-
ties as lawyer are universally acknowledged.
We have no doubt at all. that in his hands the
taxes of 1874 will be collected with that
promptness and fairness for which the reputa-
ton of the collector is full guarantee. MOI
have We any doubt that these collections, SO
made, will inure to the general benefit of the
city. Whilst representing the Fiscal Agent,
Mr.. Miller will collect these taxes and pay
them over to the city Treasurer, who will, as
provided by law, credit the various funds with
the sums thus paid in. Naturally, the Fiscal
Agent will benefit by these collections, pro
rata with every other creditor of the city. We
are assured that in this arrangement, the Fis-
cal Agent will derive no advantage over any
ordinary creditor Of the city, but will be bene-
ited only to the extent of his legitimate claim
upon the taxes as they are paid in and applied
to the different classes Of funds and accounts.
The only objection that we can see to this
ordinance Of the board, is the creation Of a
new Office, with commission OF q per cent.
on the collections, when there is already en-
ployed city attorney with all the necessary
assistants and with liberal salaries, and whose
duty it is to make these collections.
That the taxes due the city must be paid at
some time will be admitted by every fair and
intelligent man. Without this income the
city government cannot be economically or
satisfactorily administered. Our people, we
know, have held back in the payment Of their
taxes because they felt, and justly too, that
their money was going to be used in the in
terest Of the miserable Radical plunderers,
who have been robbing the State and city for
the past five or six years. They did not feel
justified or called upon to supply the
''sinews Of war" to our political enemies who
we're doing all in their power to crush the
people and ruin the country.
But q brighter day has dawned upon US.
The State is redeemed and the people are
free. We will have henceforth Government
Of our own choice-one that we can respect
and support. With the Inauguration Of this
new era we expect our people to come for
ward manfally and promptly and show their
loyalty and their devotion to their own Gov
eminent by giving it that substantial assist
ance which will enable it to bring prosperity
to the country and relieve the people from the
heavy burdens that have been put upon them
by most infamous and VIGOROUSLY illegal
and fraudulent government.
Since the above was in type we have re-
ceived the following communication from one
Of the officers in the City Attorneys Office,
which would appear to relieve that depart
ment from any blame in the matter of collect
log the taxes
The BULLETIN, Of the evening Of the 10Th,
is in error as to its statement that the City
Attorney and his assistants are remiss in not |
having collected the city taxes.
Neither the City Attorney nor his assistants |
have anything to do with the collection of city |
taxes.
Their duty is to institute suit against the |
lcuuqucut taxpayers Whenever LIE TAX Oils
are filed by the Administrator of Finance, and |
70 prosecute them to judgments. This has
Always been promptly done, and since the
opening OF the courts over 1900 judgments
or the taxes of 1874 have been obtained by
he City Attorney and his assistants. Here
heir functions cease. The Sheriff receives
rom five to seven and half per cent COM
mission tor collecting the taxes The money
passes through his hands into the City Treas
Try, and it IS his duty to collect the f. .tas.,
or which he is paid the above commission.
Neither the City Attorney nor his assistants
receive any commission whatever. The sal
lry is for City Attorney $1,000, and for each
$4,000 per annum, payable in certii-
Gates Of Indebtedness, known to be almost
worthless on the market.
The present City Council by ordinance gave
control OF the tax judgments to the Sheriff.
WHOLESALE JUSTICE.
The Superior District Court for the parish
# Orleans is a working court. Eleven