New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-11-15
CITY REroRM-D0 THEY MEAN TT

1t would be we'll for our people. II a Jour-
nal having 80 much regard for economy AZ
the Bee would direct its figures OF speech
and arithmetic not merely to abuse OF
political opponents but TO the relief OF
the people it affects to represent. The
Bee has taken up the subject Of city as
sessments and undertakes to account for
the reduction of values by assigning them
so the final result Of city administration
the greater part Radical, since the end OF
the war" As We adopt = different mode
OF accounting for the same reduction Il
j, proper TO remind the Bee tina. there IS
al obvious way of explaining this TACT
without piling it all on those we propose
subsequently TO show. are only respon-
sibie pro rata for their share. The especial
cause Of reduced assessment. to which We
refer is that which lately attributed to-
ring Of four clerks in the Office OF a Demo-
cratic Administrator q reduction OF as
sessed values in consideration OF money
paid the ring by the parties assessed.
That the value of real estate has been foI
some years declining is true. but 1t SO
happens that the sudden drop OF seven
teen pc. sent has occurred just when q
Democratic city administration has been
found unworthy Of denomination. and an
avowai made Of reducing the income OF
tie city ard increasing tina. o: Its en-
ployes has been published.
Before passing from this point We will
observe that tbs exposures made by tie
press and the Democratic Administrator
Of Assessments is strictly anonymous.
No. name Of the official culprits has
been given. We we're told that the parties
whose taxes had been reduced had been
invited 70 come to the confessional and
ayow their own perjury. With this empty
assurance OF safoym and Investigation"
this condemnation OF the Democratic
crime will be drowned in the reclamation
o. Democratic victory. The actual dimi-
mutton OF the city receipts. the unequal
imposition Of q common tax on the honest
and dishonest property holder will be
charged 10 the account Of a municipal adj
ninis,yation in most part Radical and
will be no more heard Of. 1t is proper.
then, to deduct from the Sl3,CO0.OOO OF
Of reduced valuation the sums which the
assessors themselves may have abated on
preceding valuations and for personal
compensation. aud then the further re-
duction shown 70 have been in some cases
effected ever within the precincts Of the
assessment bureau ITSELF
But the gist OF the Bee charge is thai
the excessive debt Of the city has been
created "most!y BY Republican admins
t!ations."
On turning the pages Of civic history
we will find that. beginning with Mayor
Monroe and ending with Mayor Wilt,
there have been from che closing period
OF the war to the present some five
Mayors. of HON Monroe. Conway and
Wiltx were Democrats. and Heath and
Flanie,, Republicans. We Will only
.eie: 10 the deficits Of these respective
admin is!rationS--to the city notes which
they emit ted and the warrants which
were issued by the million AID carried
over from year TO gear until funded
chiefly in III. interest Of Democratic
brokers and bankers. 4 comparison
of these will show tina; tie greater part OF
this un?roduc.:ve deb. was created by
the three Democratic administrations and
their Democratic predecessors. and notify
the two Republican administrations. But
is a main par: Of the city taxation. say
81. 800. 900. is paid on account Of the city
bonded interest. let us see how this debt
has been contracted. In part two. report
Of Department Of Public Accounts for the
city, 1871, will be found q tabular state
ment which shows that Of the S23.O0O.0 O0
Of bonded debt now due there are for con-
solidated city and municipal deb: prior
to 1852. S5.37S, $50; for railroads be-
fore the war. $780, 900: city notes and
bills previous to 1870. S2.S52.50o: seven
per cent loan. 1870. $4,000. 900: water.
works. 1888. 100: million loan. s5os.5ao;
making al aggregate of about SIS. 900, 900.
The difference Of five millions between
this and the present debt may be appor-
rs the Bee wishes between the
party administration. We only mean to
the Bee statements that eit!le: the
public debt. the resulting taxes or any
independent increase Of the city expendi-
lures are due for the most part to Lepub-
lican administration.
Eu: the question recuri 40 the Demo-
Gratis mean city reform: The Democratic
administration now going GU. leaves. ac-
cordin: to the Bee. the city bankrupt. rs
should be declared to be. The Bee adj
yises a further reduction Of the assessed
rates. although there vii! be no Repub-
lican city administration to lay i. on.
The field Of reform and economy is
now open. Enough opprobr;um has
been thrown upon theEepublicans. Now
ie: us sec j: j: was only buncombe to sc.
in or. or if the complaints grew out Of
an homes: determination TO do better. We
will See whether the light Of investiga-
ton viii. CLEAN from the official closets
in which the Democratic aiminiAt ration
conducted their operations. OK will the
new Corners da:Len the windows and sup
pres. every abuse that Nigh. tend 70