The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-12-06
Mayor Leeds.

1t has been long, indeed, since we have
seen a public document 80 thoroughly
honest, patriotic and commendable as the
inaugural address of our new Mayor. II
shows that there is great deal of use,
after all, in selecting for responsible offices
citizens of unblemished uprightness, we'll
known business capacity and complete
Identification with local interests.
The Mayor commences by setting forth
the deplorable condition of our city, it's
population almost bankrupt, its real estate
unsaleable, it's commerce perishing. He
says distinctly
The interest on the public debt and the cur
rent expenses for the support of the govern
ment are more than the people can pay, and
taxation now amounts to actual conhscaton OF
the property of the citizens Pablo expecta-
ton demands at our hands immediate relief,
and the necessities of the people require the
reduction of the public burden. Taxation
must be brought down to the lowest possible
rate to bring back our former prosperity and
save the city from impending ruin.
And again:
The interest on the public debt is now 80
heavy that a. tax sufficient to pay it and the
current expenses of the city government (even
! if reduced to the lowest possible point), to-
gether with the present State tax, cannot be
| collected without ruin to the citizens and the
| consequent destruction of the prosperity of the
city, as these taxes will, in my opinion, exceed
the amount of net revenue of the property tax
ed. If tax is laid which exceeds the revenue
J of the citizens q portion of their capital must
| be taken to make up the deficiency. This will
| diminish production and decrease the value of
property. Capital, always timid, will be with
| drawn to seek investment elsew here, and pop
| ulatiou will be driven away until nothing is
| left to the impoverished property owner and
the public creditor but empty stores and ware
| houses aud deserted dwellings.
These are certainly sound views, in full
accord with the popular feeling and full
of sympathy tor suffering people. The
Mayor then gives his views as to the ac-
| ton which becomes necessary under the
| circumstances. He recommends economy,
not only in general terms, bat specifically.
He proposes to reorganize the departments,
cut off all employees not absolutely indis-
pensible, reduce salaries, stop all public
works that are not of immediate and abso-
late necessity, and buy at lowest market
rates. He advocates the strictly cash
system, without which no economy is pos
sibIe.
He counsels the greatest moderation as
to enforcement of taxes past due, desires
assessments TO be made at real, cash values
and, what is most astounding fer an office
holder, opposes raising taxes by the
"license " system. We were not prepared
to see quite 80 much common sense as that
indicates in a city magnate. The rather
dull class of prosy individuals wLo gener-
ally fatten slowly around the City Hall, are
not inclined to innovations. They prefer
the safe old way, and are disinclined to
theories and experiments. To see little
novelty and vigor and enterprise and pro-
gress thus boldly advocated, is az startling
as it is agreeable.
The Mayor wants the Recorders Courta
reduced in number. This certainly would
be desirable. Perhaps, indeed, it would be
better to abolish them altogether, as it is
hard to tell which are the greater nuis0nces
the culprits or the Recorders. The Mayor
also refers to the abuse of permitting each
Administrator to legislate exclusively for
as we'll as administer, his own department
This, he says, must be corrected, and secret
sessions be more generally dispensed with
If the Mayor had only recommended the
, instant cutting down of taxation to one
per cent, his address would have been al
that We could ask.
As it lie, We are charmed. But let Ut
take the liberty of putting before the
Mayors eyes the fate of his immediate
predecessor. That gentleman, with ali nit
ability and urbantly, was held responsible
for the misdoings of his Board. His vetoet
were not frequent enough. In his amiabil.
ity he permitted evils, which indeed it may
be that he could not prevent, bat he neg
lected to put his protest prominently en-
Ough before the public.