New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-12-06
RIGHTS OF PERSONS AND PROPERTY.

throws up its chapeau and shouts "'tce
lie Marie Leeds!" 1t publishes the soil
loquy Of that dignitary. in which he tells
what he would do if he could, and from
that document assumes the ccnsummation
o; all the reforms promised to this much
deluded people. The Mayor proposes
financial policy differing radically from
that which the Administrators have deter
mined to carry out. The Mayor would
relieve the taxpayers. He says:
The interest on the public debt IS now so
heavy that tax sufficient to pay 1t ana Inc
current expenses of the city government
(eyen If reduced to the lowest possloie
point, together with the present state tax,
can no. be collected without ruin to the
citizens and the consequent destructlch 10
Inc orosuerity Of the city. AZ these taxes
will. in nv opinion. exceed the amount OK
net revenue Of the property taxed.
Here is pretty fair indication that the
Mayo. is opposed to the imposition or
rio;d collection OF taxes. This is further
confirmed by subsequent remark on the
same point: 'As regards the COLLECTION
Of back taxes advise wise discretion.
Discretion is rarely folly. He considers
it ..no more than jus: to extend such in
diligence as the public interes; will justify
when inability to pay exists.
The Administrator Of Finance. how
ever. as chairman Of Council committee.
reports an address to the taxpayers. which
explains the existing exigency. and con-
denses the financial policy in the follow"
ing tegse decree:
We are. therefore. compelled to solicit
payment by all the means 10 our power.
The means OF solicitation usually en-
pioyed may be read in our columns: N re
city Of New Orleans vs.. Francois Lacroix.
Before resuming our purpose to contrast
the policy recommended by the Mayor
with that to be enforced Ly the Admins
traitor of Finance. we must. by way OF
episode, refer further to the financial
policy of the Mayor. He advises: I. Econ
omy. 2. More economy. 3. The sale
of the city Waterworks. and the
sale or lease of the wharves. The
Mayor speaks Of such sales. ''subjsct
to proper restrictions" This foreshadows
rings Of stupendous consequences. which
should be fought by all interested in the
welfare of the people. The river water is
even now retailed by the city. Having
control of their own government. the peo-
pie may compel that government to adopt
a more popular policy. Suppose. how
ever. that this water monopoly gets back
into private hands. we ask the people
what control they can possibly exercise
over president. directors and arrogant
officers, who fancy the people belong to
them?
The policy Of selling out our wharves in
monopoly is still more dangerous. The
commercial competition which saps the
existence of New Orleans must compel
our city to reduce the wharf charges. and
to Increase the facilities for storing and
transfer OF through goods. We ask the
shipping houses whether they are willing
to confer upon individuals the power to
regulate this commerce by the instinct OF
their own interest:
Mayor Leeds relies, then. in part for
the means OF supporting the city gov
ernment upon the sale Of franchises vital
to the economy 0! the people and the
existence Of ouv commerce. Here the IN
terest OF the landlord is too sharply de-
fined as against that Of the tenant.
Real estate will be favored. and
the people stinted in water to relieve a
preferred interest. This will not do.
Mayor Leeds. Better let the back taxes
be collected. and allow every woman IN
town to take her bucket to free water rum
ming day and night a: the corner hydrant.
Mayor Leeds Inadvertently misleads the
public in preaching such doctrine. ln-
dus:ry has its rights as well as accumula'
ton. The bees must not be killed to
save the honey for the drones.
But this soliloquy of Mayor Leeds is
sor: Of $; j'etcis rolf I were King
chant. The Mayor has no power over
the financial policy Of the city. The law
makes him municipal figurehead.
Nothing more. He has al Office. There
he may affix the city seal. He may play
justice Of the peace &c oticio and. like
Haroun al Raschid. the Caliph, 60 about
at nights incog. with the right TO b.sti'
naio tho soles OF an offender. He can
also play spy and report all city officers Or
employees who do not do their duty. and
may suspend some officer fox fifteen min
utes. or till he can be compelled to call \
Council meeting by any such officer or en-
ploye. He has variety Of other prerog'
atiyes as chief executive officer Of the city,
bu: except tina. he may decide tie vote
OF the Council he has not even vote OF
his own. Said we not truly the Mayor is
= igUreLead: Ii any one dohb:s il we
suggest that the testimony dc Lene esse Q,
e..ilayoy Flanders he taken, to be read
on any pertinent proceeding that may
arise. So the so!iloquy Of Caliph Leeds
vii! amount 70 very little in protecting
rea! estate from bearing its proper slase
Of the popular S,.gdeus.
The Administrator q: Finance. however,
is an engineer who fires up and greases
the machinery whereby the Mayor gets
his salary. and the public creditor:
their just compensation. Thi, officer j,
| with others. .'subjec. to the executive
! VoweEs 81 TIE Mayor such as we Lay.