New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-02-04
FINANCIAL RELIEF Or NEW OR.
LEANS.
Report of the Committee 10 the Chamber
of Commerce. FEBRUARY =, 1874.
New ORLEANS, February >, Il

New ORLEANS, February >, 1874.
TO the President and Members of the Chamber OF
Commerce.
GENTLEMEN-Your committee, 20 whom
was referred the question. What legislation
is needed for the financial lief of the city
of New Orleans respectfully submit the
following report:
The city debt, bonded and certified, on
the thirty-tirst Of December. 1878, was
50 81! ,96j The floating debt, mot in
GLIDING Metropolitan Police warrants. of
which the sUm il unknown" was S456,S96,
or q total, probably, in excess of S23.U00.-
900. The present assessed value of the tax.
able property. real and personal. within the
CITY limits, is stated to be $l30, 9l3,3 $50,
much more than its actual cash value now
The debt il, therefore. about seventeen and
q half per cent of the assessed va uation Of
taxable property. The rate of taxation, ex.
elusive of the drainage tax. is three per
cent. The ''.nteres:. payable in 1874, on
the bonded debt" not including ''whar.
bonds, payable ont of whartagrs.' ia $ 80.
go, and the amount of $t1..S3j. i. req ured
Cor the reduction OF the pTiHcipa! OF the
bonded debt.
The amount Of back taxes due and IN
paid at the beginning OF 1874 was :i.l6S,.
o., includin. 81 Alb, 80! for 1874: Many
W
paid, but very large Number are delin.
Guen. because Of inability 10 pay. 1t is
considered probable, II three per cent as the
rate of taxation for 1914 j. 10 stand. that
the deficit for the year will be much greater
than TOR 1873. The burden OF IA xa'ioE has be
ccne unendura Die. Property hoide Z. have
become. as a class. unable to pay. because
OF /. loss Of revenue and depreciation OF
property. kctyeuchment and reform can
he Nafprrpi General f.l,.l-
yency is 70 be avoided.
About two and seveDty-seveN hundredths
per cent OF the three per cent tax now
ie..ed. is required to meet payments made
compulsory by egistiG. laws, IeaV!n. less
than One-cuaTter OF one per cen. ior the
current expenses OF municipal government.
The city pay roll. are ROW. therefore. about
six months in arrears. and all Glsbu'se-
men:s are augmented By thc inability of the
city 10 pay cash. Ih" city Administrator.
have made large reductions ia expenses.
tut much greater must De made ianG TO
eff;ac: this lie. Station Is Indispensable. !!
any reduction OF taxation j. 70 be acconI-
piisled. without adequate legisia'i ~. a
sill higher rate of taxation than three per
cen: Il probable. and witt: an increase ,ae
bankruptcy Of the cit: is inevitable.
AIDED by legislation, tho rate of city TAX
alton for the presen. year. iS. l. can be re.
-
years to one and a halt pec; the inteves. ON
the bonded debc can be regularly and
promptly paid: the city administration, on
an economical basis. can be sustained. and
cash payments =. AFTER :. .Gx E.o,s tas. 0as be
resumed.
70 accomplish The needed :e:gsnchmen:.
and 20 sesure the ends LeSlrea-the TestO.
ration vi city credit. a reduction of TAXA.
t!cu. a yeturh OF business prosperity. an
advance i'll the values OF property. and the
construction OF railway - TcXas-it is
suggested that legislative authority and
sanction should BE given % provide .or the
following objects, 70 wit:
i. To abrogatc or annu. the aHi,tiD. cen
trac: for the digging "t canal. and building
of leyees with the Mississippi and Mexican
Gulf Canal Company. either directly Or by
proceedings to establish b. law the Illegal
lty of the transfer Of said contract to an
individual, and to suspend indefinitely. or
until the city is in a condition financially to
complete said work. all work on canals and
levees north of the metairie and GENTLY
rid ges, and the issue of bonds therefor.
=. The payment by the State Of the Net.
ropolitan Police, and of all expenses of the
police department, and % relievs the city
from all obligations and Liabilities therefor
other than the payment. monthly. into the
State treasury OF $4,000. 81 100000 per
annun.
3. To authorize the city 20 retain. and use
for general expenses, al! of the surplus re-
naming of the fund derived from the tax
levied tor city park purposes. after paying
the amounts due, from time to time, on &C,
count of the purchase OF the park property
and valid obligations connected herewith.
To secure the property, but suspend al inI-
proyements indefinitely.
4. The suspension tor term of five years.
including the year 1874, of the collection of
the tax no " required to be levied for sink
ing fund for the retirement of bonds, on
condition that the interest on said bonds is
regularly and promptly paid.
}. That city taxes shall be c0llectib.e
from and after the first of January. and
eXigibe from and after the thirtytirst of
March. in each year, including the year
1874.
8. To limit all future assessments o. pro.
perry subject to taxation. TO villa: i will
.e'ch at a cash sale.
!. To afford adequate ways and means 70
enforce tho collection OF taxes wLel. exigi.
bic.
8. To carry into effect 3 reduction, 10 the
extent OF twenty per cent OF the present
salaries or compensation of all officers and
employees paid by the city. from and after
the time when the same are paid regularly,
in money, during the month immediately
following, ludL LOT WINCH tneE are Nuts anu
for the substitution 81 salaries to- fees 81.
office wherever practicable.
9. The abrogation of the present system
OF paying the criminal sheriff for the keep
ing and maintenance Of prisoners in the
Parish Prison, and to allow for its being
done directly by the city, as it row or has
heretofore been done in the City Workhouse;
to allow the city to make use of tie compul-
sorry labor of those confined as Migrants, or
for petty otfenses to clean the streets of
the city, and to abolish the City Worl,
10. As recommended IN the published re-
port OF the Mavor and Administrators, TO
reduce the official fees of the sheriff, clerk
of the Criminal Court, district attorney
etc, and to abolish the system OF paying
jurors altogether, as well as to reduce the
number of police courts. We concur also
in the opinion of the city Administrators,
that the insane should be taken care of and
provided for by the State.
In the report above referred TO it is
stated, in relation to general city ex-
penses,p that 1T would probably be posi- |
Die to diminish it 1.-THE budget to the extent |
# about 100000 more" than they had