The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-11-17
WHAT OUR NEW COUNCIL CAN DO
FOR Us.

Editor New Orleans Bulletin:
1t must be confessed that at the first glance
the financial outlook Of the city appears dark
and gloomy, Tor at the Inauguration of the pres
ent Council, city seven per cent bonds were
sold at from 64c to 66c; to-day they are quoted
at from Soc to 374c on the dollar, and all de-
Partments of the city government are in ar
rears. But we believe these are only passing
clouds, and that We will soon have a bright
sky again, for the finances of the city are
really not in SO bad a condition as they were
two years ago. Then We were threatened with
tax OF over 3 per cent for the city, and over
per cent for the State, and to the perpetual
intermeddling Of Duren and Packard's Gam
boon Legislature. Now, thank God, we will
be our own masters again, and will have some
thing to say in shaping the destiny of our city
and State.
The present depression is in part caused by
the panic which has Frustrated the business
OF the whole country, and in o greater degree,
by the tyranny and oppression to which we
have had to submit, and which We have, in
conjunction with our fellow-citizens in other
States, just cast of. And we believe that
with the repeal of the oppressive laws by
which the life blood of the city has been
nearly crushed out that prosperity will
speedily return; but every one that has been
elected to any position, either State or city,
must do his part, and be held to strict &C.
count for every action. The Legislature must
at once repeal the Metropolitan acts, and the
police be placed under the control of the city.
The Park act and the Drainage ana Leveeing
acts must be repealed, and the schools again
placed under the direction of directors, ap-
pointed by the Council
But until the Legislature meets the Council
has to act, and it has duties to perform which
it can neither evade or pestpone-its first
is how to relieve the pressing wants OF the
Treasuary, how to pay the current expenses
and meet the city obligations without Cypress
ing the people by the imposing of taxes on
them tina: they are not able to pay.
To this end the new Council must cut down
all expenses to the lowest figure. The budget
of this year was for an estimated expenditure of
81, COS, 46S SO, and the taxes on real and per-
sonal property on the assessment Of 1885,
Co., 600, at q per cent, amounted to 49, $780,
600, about two millions of which We believe !
has been collected We advise the Council to
refuse to put one dollar on thesbudget for the |
Park tax. This will save, to begin with, |
Sl62, 900 per annum; and to stop all outlay |
for drainage and leveeing. The items of |
1851, 400 for the police, and 1896, 600 for |
schools, they ought to refuse to pay until the |
acts are repealed and remodeled by the police |
and schools being placed where they belong
under the control of the Council.
During the last two years city warrants have |
sold at from IS cents TO 40 cents per dollar,
Or say at an average of 574 cents. Now, by !
reducing or scaling down the budget Of cur
rent expenses $1,735. $50 for the police
and for the schools, with the omission Of the
Park tax, this would give reduction of
s948, 1856 &c. While this reduction would
enable the Council to reduce the rate of taxa
ion to l! per cent, the impetus that the re-
luction would give to real estate and to
business generally, would enable the owners
% pay promptly, and with the collection of
back taxes, would enable the city to pay its
current expenses in cash and meet all its OBJ
igations promptly, and those employed by
he Council would be receiving 66s cents on
he dollar of their present salaries which
would be Is per cent more than they have
'ver received, and so per cent more than they
re now receiving.
Another advantage of this reduction or
ealing and paying hereafter cash for what it
,uys would be reduction of one-half for its
purchaser. The present system reminds us
# . spsndthrift and gambler, who gave his
tote at ninety days for 500, and received for
$50. When it was due he gave new note
or $500, and again when it was due, for
300, and at the end of twelve months, his
lote was out for $500, and he had only re-
eived $50. Very respectfully,
Your ob't serv't D. P. s.
Nov. 18th, 1874.