The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-12-01
THE CITY HALL.
THE NEW ADMINISTRATION.
ITS ORGANIZATION.

During the two or three weeks just passed
the City Hall was place almost deserted il
appearance, every department Of the NUM-
cipal Government being on its oars, as it were
all business suspended and a perfect apath!
noticeable throughout, the reason Ct which Il
explained in the delay, attending the adven
of the newly elected administration.
Mayor Wilt and the several Adninistra
tors Of his government were prepared long
ago to deliver municipal affairs into the hands
Of their successors elect. but the delay Oh the
part OF the latter to come to the front, winch
is in part to be laid at the door of that CIR
cumlocutionary Office yclept Returning Board,
is sufficient explanation as TO the stagnation
in business whereabouts OF which has
been 50 repeatedly put forward through the
press that the public is doubtless well posted
in regard thereto before this.
However, as announced, this suspense was
not to prevail beyond Monday, and at an
early hour Of the morning there was observed
in and about the hall little groups composed
of those who have aspirations in the direction
of livings under the new regime. The EN-
ployees OF the hall were all at their posts,
ready to deliver in the most affable manner
the positions which they have held to those
who are to be favored by the incoming heads
of departments
1t was supposed that the new Council would
direction Of affairs, but the following commu-
nication shows that the hour Of II NJ. was APP
pointed for that ceremony
...M NEW ORLEANS, Nov %, 1871.
Hon. L. 4. Witt, Mayor Of the city of Sew o.
Dear SIN compliance with a resolution
adopted last night, at meeting of the mem
sbers Of the incoming Council, l have the
honor to inform you that we propose to wait
upon you at the hail, on Monday, at y
O'clock M, to assume the functions Of the
city government.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
z. L. BorNY, Acting Secretary.
The Council met at noon, and WIS called to
order by Mayor Wilt.
Mr.. Charles E. Leeds, followed by the other
members of the newly elected government,
then entered.
Mayor Wilt read the above letter, and il
was ordered to be spread on the minutes.
Thereafter Mr.. Witt read his valedictory,
which is herewith given.
Mayor Wilt, addressing the Council, re-
turned thanks for the uniform kindness, un-
changing confidence and generous assistance
which he had received from them. and dwelt
upon the harmony and concord which had
marked their association. He referred to the
two years OF their administration as the
gloomiest in the history Of the city, and to the
fac. that their hands had been so tied from
the frs, by untriendly State legislation, as to
render it impossible for them to relieve the
city of enor nous expenditures. He reviewed, |
hastily, the financial difficulties they had
labored under, aud dwelt upon the fitct that, |
under the laws, they had been compelled to
collect enormous taxes TO support schools over
which the city had no CONTROL for a City Park |
which he'd no existence and to fulfil a large |
number Of onerous contracts with which the
city had nothing to do, and to which the peo-
pie were opposed.
As the result Of the enormous taxation and
of the financial difficulties which had assailed |
the people, he asserted that the people owed
a debt to the city Of $1,000, 900, of which |
more than $4,000, 900 was due eighteen
months ago.
He declared that, though the council had
not been able to decrease the cty's debt, they
had not increased it, and said, 'you have
been on duty during the last watches of
gloomy night of adversely, and you leave your
posts just when the light of prosperity is be-
ginning to dawn upon Our CITY," In con-
GLIDING, he said:
We welcome here our successors. the Mayor
and administrators elect, and congratulate
them upon the marked and emphatic express
sion OF the favor and confidence OF their tel
low-citizens We deeply regret that bad laws
and the delinquency of taxpayers should
oblige MS to leave to them an empty treasury
and many debts. They will encounter en-
bafrassing difficulties from the beginning
which will require their best efforts and EN-
p!oy all their time and talents, but We trust
that the incoming General Assembly will re-
lieve them of the most serious of the burdens
under which the city government has hitherto
labored.
IL tHC pTOpTletOiS ituu culttES VI Tue puDnC
journals of New Orleans give many thanks
for the kind, liberal and commendatory terms
in which they have SO often referred to me |
and to my official action. Their appreciative ,
and generous appreciation have
greatly encouraged me, while their sugges-
lions as to city affairs have given me equally S
valuable assistance. I
Upon leaving the post to which the parti- {
ality of my fellow-citizens has assigned me, I
wish to express to them my gratitude for an l
honor which l shall never undervalue. In re- {
urn for their favor and confidence have un- a
Ter most unfavorable auspices served them G
aithfully and to the best of my ability, with q
constant and eager desire to protect and pro-
note the true interests of my native city. /
Mr.. Leeds here produced his credentials at !
he request of Mr.. Wilt, who then formally
urrendered the Mayoralty. Mr.. Leeds.