New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-05-21
property have been destroyed, and many
thousands Of people are homeless and
without the means of support.

thousands Of people are homeless ana
without the means Of support
DELAY IN COLLECTING CITY TAXES.
The receipts of city taxes for 1874 are
greatly delayed this year in consequence
of the new law which authorizes reduc
ton Of five mills in the dollar The ACT
was passed during the last days of the
session, and like numerous others of i'm.
portance was greatly delayed by the fail.
ure Of the minute and enrolling clerks to
be ready promptly with their work. I.
came to the Governor with great multi
tude of other matters requiring immediate
attention and hence necessarily met with
further though unavoidable delay. After
its PRONUNCIATION the Council set to work
to rearrange the financial system Of the
city. This was work which required
much time and careful attention. Mr.
Calhoup's ordinance was finally passed,
however, about month ago, since which
time the tax bill makers have been busy
making out the bills ready for the sigma
ture Of the proper officers. We learn that
this work is now nearly completed, and
lively times may be anticipated at the
City Hall in consequence.
In the meantime hundreds Of people
have vainly applied at the Office of the
Administrator Of Finance to pay their
taxes Some because they make it habit
to promptly and punctually discharge all
their obligations, and leave to those who
do not the luxury of grumbling and
writing colicky articles for the papers.
Others want to leave the city and close up
all their business beforehand. Thus it
will be seen that many good citizens, tax
payers in fact, not in name, have been
put to some Inconvenience by the accept
able regulation to reduce their taxes five
dollars in the thousand. The great burden
of the delay, however, falls upon the
city's creditors. They have been COM
PEELED to wait for months for money due
them. Some claims have been transferred
to men who have.capital to invest, and
perhaps the bulk of all the claims against
the city general fund, the school fund
and perhaps one or two others, is
in the hands of parties who have
bought what is known on the street
as ''time" at low rates. This is no
reason why the city officers and
all others concerned in the collection of
taxes, including Sheriff Harper, should
not use all reasonable dispatch in the per-
Torrance of their duties. In this con-
nection, we wish to remark that we think
here has been rather too much interfer- |
ence with the sheriff by the representa-
ives of the city. In too many cases |
has been released by order
If the city, after all the expenses of
eizuye and advertising has been incurred.
fraction Of this business has been done
fter full settlement, but in the majority
II cases the object and effect has been to
postpone payment. We think there may
'e such thing as a mistaken leniency,
nd the practice Of encouraging dilatori-
less in tax paying, is always unjust
o the creditors of the city, and frequent
y injurious to the debtor. The latter
ometimes takes the money which ac-
ually belongs to the city employees,
nd spends it for follies-some times
ices-which he would be better of
7ithout. Unless the City Council has
be power to release a taxpayer al
ogether, it should generally le. the
wv take its course. Now, lest our good
riends of the Bulletin should mistake our
aeaning, we here specially except ali poor
'idows and orphans, ana move, as step
4 the right direction, that they be placed
n the free list so far as any ''hunble
abitation' may be involved in threat
ned seizure. The public loses more by
be example Of such objects Of sentiment
nd pity than it gains from what is paid
4 by them. We prefer to pay Widow
mith's little tax Of ten dollars rather
nan adopt a general regulation to shield
er, which enables the City railroad and
everal hundred rich men to 60 scot free
S long as it suits them to do so. Such a
ractice is virtual discrimination against
DOR people who work for living in favor
those who enjoy untaxed capital.