The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-08-26
A CRISIS In CITY AFFAIRS.
Depreciation in City Time Certificates.
The Clerks in the Department Of Assess.
ments Tender their designations.


Painful as the acknowledgment is, it is
nevertheless true that the city administration
has signally failed to meet the expectations that
were INDUCED IN by the people who elected it.
and who believed that their success at the
polls was the dawn Of a new era in city affairs
The Radical administration had previously
brought the city to the verge Of ruin by their
reckless expenditures, and it was reasonably
supposed that Council of our own choosing
would Immediately apply the brakes, and, by
wise financial expedients, succeed in ult-
mately raising the terribly deprecated credit
of the city, and in approaching, as a neces-
sary consequence, the bonds time certificates,
etc.
The people fully realize the many Difficult
ties that beset the administrators when they
assumed the duties of their respective Offices
and know the trammels under which they con
stantly labor in the way Of obnoxious laws,
impertinent interference of the State, etc., but
they know, too, that previous councils labored
under just the same difficulties and yet man
aged to sustain the city's credit at higher
point than it is to-day
We stated at the time of the troubles in the
Finance Department and after the Admins
traitor of that Department had acknowledged
having committed Irregularities, and can
celed warrants were found upon the streets
for sale, that had been re-issued by the Ad-
ministrator of Finance that the retention of
that officer by the City Council would have
nv, Twin h. H.
the correctness of our views.
City bonds have deprecated to such an ex-
tent that tn re can scarcely be said to exist a
market for them, and city time certificates are
at SO low an ebb that employees are discover
ing that It is impossible for them to live upon
their salaries when they have to take their
certificates and sell them for IS and 8
cents ON the dollar to brokers, who somehow
always know just what time to buy and what
to reject.
Manitestly there is something wrong and
several CREWS loose, or the obligations of the
city would never have run down to so low an
ebb, and manifestly some steps will have to
be taken, and that suddenly, to mend mat
tiers. We should think the Administrators
themselves would find it exceedingly difficult
to live upon their salaries unless they possess
some advantage over their employees in dis
posing Of their time certificates, which is
hardly probable
A crisis has been precipitated by the action
of the employees in the Department of Assess.
ments, who, wearied and disguised with thu
vain attempts to exc out existence upon the
miserable pittances to which their salaries
were reduced after passing through the hands
of the brokers, met yesterday in their office,
at 3 P. M, and concluded to tender their
designations.
They addressed the following letter to their
chief, setting forth their grievances, and
stating their determination.
Hon. H. p. Sturcken, Administrator of As
sessments:
Sir-Ata meeting Of the clerks OF your depart
ment held tO-day the great depreciation in value
OF city time issued to us in payment for our SER
vices was seriously taken into consideration; it is
perfectly impossible for who have other
means OF support. and whose duties re-
spOnaible 10 live on the amount that are obi
gated to sacrifice our monthly salaries for; We
therefore respectfully request that you call a
special meeting OF the Council. state to them the
facts, and urge them to take such action as will
conduce TO our relief In that no relief be
afforded ne, We will be compelled to tender you
our designations and seek other means of sub
eistence. We, the committee, respectfully sub
scribe ourselves, your obedient servants,
r. HUTTON KERR,
P. II. BOUNY.
We learn that upon the receipt Of this let
ter, Mr.. Sturcken not only acknowledged the
justice Of the complaints, but declared that,
under the circumstances, rather than serve
with other off GERS. he would himself resi- n
The situation, it occurs to us, is very
grave one, and demands the serious considea-
ton of the Administrators. We fear any at
tempt to bridge over the difficulty will prove
only dehlson, and that the remedies to be |
applied will have to be of the most radical
character, as the employees in all the depart
ments are no doubt, in the same predcament. |
and as the holders OF city obligations are be-
coming very restless and dissatisfied with the |
financial conduct of the city government.
CorTuN At AUCTION. -Messrs Nash & Hodp-