New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-03-06

State might be best subserved, and beg to

State might be best subserved, and peg q
report:
The present enormous and unnecessary
expense of the assessment and collection O
taxes by the State, city and the severa
parishes does not fall far short of the anti
cipated income of the general fund tor thu
present wear, 81 ,050, 600 The complicated
and imperfect system now in use seems tt
have been contrived solely for the advan
tage of private persons, and not less tor
the detriment Of the State.
The system by which, as at present
double corps of officers. as ID the
parish of Orleans. perform and receive
pay for services practically identical
and by which in the country parishes the
State assesses and collects the taxes frcm q
multitude of persons. instead OF as in Other
States fhe several parishes. were certainly
designed to create an unnecessary volume
OF patronage, and 10 confer upon a large
number OF unnecessary public servants lu
crative positions at the expense OF the tax
PAYERS Of the State.
It will not certainly be denied tina. this
system under which the assessed wealth
and prosperity Of the State has yisibly de-
clined, and under which the enormous de-
linduent lists of each succeeding year at
test the increasing inability OF the people to
pay the :axeS levied upon them. IL both
wrong in principle and inefficient in prac'
tice. No remedy appears possible TO your
committee, except an abatement In the pre-
sent weight OF taxation. com bined with a
more efficient. simple and inexpensive svs'
tenn for the assessment and collection OF the
contributions which the necessity of the State
levys upon the citizens thereof. The needed
reform i'll these particular. seems 20 be
secured by the provisions OF Senate bill No.
25i, regulating the assessment and cOllec.
ton of taxes in the parish OF Orleans. and
by House bill No. ., /, regulating their as.
sessHent and collection in the other parishes
Of the State.
Under the provisions of the former bill
the taxes of the State and city are assessed
by one board of assessors and collected Dy
one officer. The compensation for assess.
ment is greatly reduced and the assessment
is made much more regular and certain.
The taxes will be much more promptly and
perfectly collected, and the assessment will
be made but once in four years. instead of
annually, as at present. The reduction OF
expense in this item to the city and State
approaches S2J0, 900 in each four years. The
for collection 10 reduced from
the present rate of from two and half to
ten per cent to three-quarters of one per
cent, and the number of tax collectors re-
duced to one. whose responsibility is great.
ly increased.
The reduction of expenses in this item
is estimated at $2,500,000 TO the city and
State in each four years. The latter bill
equally provides for a quadrenniai instead
OF an annual assessment, reduces the com.
pensation of collectors, increases their re.
sponsibility, and reduces the volume OF the
OF the State by changing the as.
sessmeut of State taxes from individuals to
parishes. This change will authorize the
reduction of not less than two thirds OF the
clerical force OF the Auditors office. The
same bill RENTS to the people, 10 whom it
properly belongs, the choice of the boards
Of assessors and tax collectors provided for.
and provides for their election in the same
as other parish officers are elected,
and provides simple but efficient machi.
merry for the assessment and collection con-
templated. These proposed changes are real
retrenchments. while they
greatly reduce expense and, consequently.
The necessity for Taxation. They return to
I system more natural. certain, easy and
'ruly republican than tina. now in use. and
for these reasons your committee most
recommend the passage Of both
bills before the adjournment Of the pcesen:
session.
Another important measure which has
'eceived the earnest attention OF your
has been the location of the
state capital. All consideration OF reform
md retrenchment seem. in the judgment
# your committee. to urge the removal
If the same from the city of New Orleans
o its ancient seat at Baton Rouge. The
State capital in that city. your committee
ire assured. can be restored 10 a condition |
quail to that when it was one OF the most !
convenient and beautiful in the Union a. an
expense not exceeding $20c.oOo. The !
Expense OF the present State offices !!
n New Orleans are very great. be. |
ides the large rent at present paid FOR |
he building we occupy. the offices of the |
Auditor. Treasurer. superintendent OF Pub. |
is Education. Adjutan: General. State |
supervisor Of Registration. Attorney Gen.
raj. Executive. etc. COS: the State
nnually large sums. certainly not less in |
he aggregate to $4,000 per year.
If the capital remains here. we shall not |
Ong escape the erection OF a building more |
onvenient and extensive than that we now
ccupy. The expense of that can be stated !
{ millions. By the removal OF the capital |
Te secure a more central situation. and re- |
lovs the executive and Legislature from
ertain influences and dangers which have
rought untold disasters upon the State. !
he House Of Representatives have already |
sssed an act repealin. the act of 1871.
'hich created board Of commissioners TO
cans, and appropriated Si.500.00o for the
urchase of the same. The House has also
efore it a bill providing for the removal OF
he capital to Baton Rouge. and making an
preparation for the restoration OF the Cap.
ol there during the present year. Your
Ommlttee urgently recommend the passage |
these bills SO soon as they reach your
onorable body.
Another subject which has engaged
10 attention of your committee has !
cen the condition OF :he school funds.
nd the present machinery for their
istribution. The present system is inetii.
ent from two reasons: the first, that the
srritory under the supervision CT the ser.
al district superintendent is much too
ktensive, and that their authority over the
arish boards is much TOO limited. |
The records of the past disclose the n.
sputabIe fact that very considerable
Ortion Of the school funds. while honestly !
oportioned by the State officers. have been
by the parish boards. The recon-.
endations Of your committee are. in their
dgment, the only check upon this malap.
copriation IN the future.
The sixteenth sections, at present Uns0id. !
e also q very important resource for free
iucation. They are at present in a very
state; are not and can not be |
ade available for the purposes designed in
e grant by the general government. Your
mmittee recommend legislation 10 mee,
is necessity.
Your committee further call attention 70
e present condition OF the Citizens Bank
Louisiana and the mortgage property
I'd securities thereof. The faith and
edit OF the State stands pledged
an amount exceeding si,00e 00e Tor
'nds issued 10 this bank in 1888. The
INK holds vast property under mortgage
forfeited upon the same, for advances =!
ade practically with the funds OF the
ate. No Improvements are made upon
is property. At is kept from occupation |
ID improvement by active citizens. and is |
'terioVating IN value year by -ear TO an