The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-06-05
GOADING THE TAXPAYERS.

1t is at once piIable and ominous to look
around our city at the general stagnation in
trade of all kinds, aud to then turn to the
proceedings Of the City Council and read
the following
By Mr.. Schneider and adopted:
Notifying taxpayers that, for the taxes OF
1874 no extension of time will be granted,
and nothing will be received but cash.
Go into any store you please and ask the
proprietor how trade is, and he will tell you
that he is not making expenses; that he is
sailing close to the wind, and does not see
his way clear; that he does not wish to dis
charge his clerks, but If things do not mend
he will be compelled to do so and close his
store.
Ask any real estate owner you meet what
real estate is worth and he will tell you
that his property is making him poor, and
that if he is compelled to pay the present
eXorbitant taxes he will be ruined. Ask
any landlord if his houses are paying good
re ntals and he will tell you that if he can
manage to make the rent cover the taxes
and insurance he considers himself particu-
larry fortunate and then ask any or all of
these men what they think of the resolution
offered by Mr.. Schneider at the last meeting
of the Council, and you will witness the
most remarkable facial contOrtion accom-
panied by a sudden contraction of the mus
Giles Of the right hand.
If you care to inquire what the matter is,
and why the mention of the name of the
Administrator Of Finance has so peculiar an
effect, you will hear a eulogy, which, for
energy and biting sarcasm, will overtop the
harangue OF Anthony over the
dead body Of Caesar. The epithets that will
be freely used by these gentlemen, in regard
to the present grinding law, which, it is al
legged, Mr.. Schneider was instrumental in
passing through the Kellogg Legislature,
will be anything but choice, and the de-
of this attempt to drag the
entire community before the Administrator
of Finance and force them suddenly to dis
gorge their taxes, all in cash, are both loud
and deep.
Under the old law taxpayers were
allowed until the 3lst of July to settle
without costs or penalties, and after that
date thirty days notice had to be given
through the newspapers before suits We're
but under the present law, the
time fixed for payment was the 3lst of
March last, and the most summary means
will be taken to make delinquents, whether
from choice or necessity, walk up to the
captains office and dIsgorge after the 18th
Of the present month
The bills will then all be turned over to the
City Attorney, with instructions to realize
upon them as soon as possible. If Mr.. Jones,
owning one square, has to sacrifice one half
thereof to pay the taxes on the other, what
matter. If Mr.. Smith, keeping little
store, has to be sold out to meet the demands
If the hungry law officers, what matter ?
If Mrs. Brown, owning cart and horse, can
lot possibly raise the sum of her license, to
atisfy the imperative demands of the City
Council, why let her sell out to somebody |
Who can-who cares
1t is not much to say that if the entire city
# New Orleans were up for sale TO- morrow,
t would not bring one-fourth Of it's assessed |
-aluation, and yet the authorities, ignoring |
he constant and alarming depreciation of
cal estate, and the universal stagnation in
BUSINESS, proceed to levy ami enforce the
objection of oppressive taxes upon people
Vho could not pay if they would.
WHAT exclaim the people, sis it pos
bile that this is the action of the Council,
Dr. whom we voted in order that we might
ain some relief Are people who are actu-
lily battling with starvation, with ruin
taring them in the face for no fault of their
wn, but by reason of bad government, to
Q despoiled ruthlessy of their hard earn-
lgs without being given an opportunity to
aise the amount of their taxes, to be told
) walk up and settle, or prepare to receive
lie sheriff and the auctioneer
If this is true, and if even the willing tax
ayers are to be goaded on the part of their
nosen representatives, then all we say is
lat the sooner we prepare for bread riots
I'D the other inevitable manifestations
hich characterize despairing and over
nrdened people, the better
The gentlemen Of the Council may be wise
I'd they may intend we'll, but we warn
lem that tampering with people driven
the wall is dangerous. We are poor
'ophets if this tax matter does not elicit
ch an expression from the people as will
tonish the Council, and especially the
of Finance.