New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-03-11


Responsible for the Sentiments Expressed
| in the Comm unicatiOns.
The City Taxes.
EDITOR REPUBLICANS:
The law promulgated in the official jour
nal on the eighth instant, giving authority
to the Common Council to make the taxes
exigible on the thirty-trst of March of each
year, is ono of the greatest outrages ever
perpetrated against the owners of real es-
tate in this city, and am satisfied Governor
Kellogg would not have signed the bill had
he examined the subject more fully. SO far
as the personal tax is concerned it is proper
to change the time of collection,
but to set aside the established laws
since the date of consolidation in
1852 argues very unfavorably for the wis
dom of the Mayor and A administrators who
originated the scheme. In one of the many
decisions of the Supreme Court relative to
taxes this language is used. "The corpora
ton is not bound to tax both species of pro-
perty at the same time (real estate and per
sonal); tax may be imposed on either
alone" Therefore the law making the tax
on real estate payable in the months of
January, February and March. and e1igible,
that is, ready for the executioner 1.-THE
sheriff. on the first OF April, is not only a
bad financial measure on the part of the
city, but extremely unwise, unjust and OPP
pressive to our people.
The main revenues of the city govetn-
ment are from January to July, while the
expenditures are about equal in all the
months of the year. In former years, when
the Treasurer carried over good balance
on the first of July. the small revenues
coming in would help out until December
when the sale of the revenues of the mar
kets, with the notes discounted by the Citi-
zens Bank for the full period, enabled the
city to come out square by the first of Janu-
airy, when the licenses carried the govern
ment through until the taxes became pay
able on the first of March of each year
As the expenditures for the twelve
months are nearly equally divided, it would
Be better to conform the receipts to them
as much as possible. Now let us see the
effect of the change in the law. The licenses
arc CoIiCCtcu III cdhuoi5 duu
100000; the taxes for city purposes, two per
cent, s. 600, 900; amount collected in January.
February and March, say $4,000 900. Total
on the thirty first March collected s., 800, 900
for city purposes. Now deduct 100000 per
month and you have 81 100000 in the hands
on the first of April of each year, to be dis
bursed for city purposes alone at the rate
100000 per month.
The taxes for interest alone, OF more
properly speaking for coupons in 1873,
amounted to $l,378,423 GO. One per cent
of the three, amounting e. $1,000 900, is
levied for the payment of this item. Now
suppose 81, 100000 of this sum is collected
by the first of April. The Fiscal Agent
pays up to that time $34l, ,2O 90. leaving
an amount, not counting back taxes in
round numbers of el.OOO,0 900. Let US re-
capitulate: There will be on deposit for
city purposes in She hands of the Fiscal
Agent on the first of April Of each year,
provided the tax be maintained of three
per cent, the sum of $l,!O0000: amount to
pay coupons, Sf,0OO.000 back taxes, 81 .000.o
900: making total of $3,900,00 From
this amount ! strike off $1,000 reserved
FOR police ana other warrants. leaving
100000 on deposit April 1. which
amount is disbursed by the Fiscal Agent on
an average Of $325.0 per month.
Should the city reduce the rate OF taxa.
ton the same principle viii guile. and as q
matter Of course the deposit will not be SO
large, bat work it as we may it is not
proper for the city 60 have so many eggs in
one basket. The city is paying the Fiscal
Agent eight per cent per annum interest on
large sum, probably 100000, assumed by
the bank, and for which collaterals such as
ten per cent bonds and market revenues
are given, while the bank will not allow the
city one cent interest on the large amounts
to be daily deposited to the credit of the
several accounts from the collection of
taxes made voluntary and by compulsion.
The city had best strain point and put
the taxes down to one and half per cent
for all purposes. If, as has been stated
$l000,000 has been saved for the city or
suspended for awhile. It can be easily done.
Sell out the revenues Of the wharves. Let
out the cleaning and repairing OF the
streets by contract, and you will have 40
trouble. You will collect more taxes at
one and a half than two and q quarter per
cent. Be liberal in your arrangements for
the payment of taxes: make them payable
in four instalments. say January, April.
July and October. You will collect more
freely by so doing. and disburse your col
lections more properly. Recollect this com.
munity is impoverished: 100000, 900 will
scarcely place them in the position they
were before this hellish strife commenced.
Many that condemned it have been struck
down and are now on the rolls of
poverty. Look around. You will not
have far to go TO meet distress: It is not
altogether in the novels of the poor, but is
found in the cottages amid families of hon.
Orable birth. whose saddened hearts but
too plainly reveal the distress they by force
of circumstances. are compelled to en-.
dure. These are the people struck by
this foul and obnoxious law. All is
fish that goes to the nets of the tax
gatherers and sheriff. The law touches all
alike, and if the city Administrators have
no sympathy for the rich who are able TO
pay they should be charitable to the poor
and needy who are expected to deprive
themselves of bread to pay exorbitant taxes
fattened with exorbitant penalties.
repeat, let the taxes be reduced to the
lowest limit: property will then change
hands and back taxes come in without com
pulsiop. S. HOWELL.
Tho AorIout,,,cI T.nouo.