New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-12-15

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current expenditures Of this city.
Included in this line are meas
ures which will not only relieve the
taxpayer but the citizen. They are such
as the fees and charges of sheriffs, clerks
and municipal courts. 1t is thus the
amateur financier saves q million dollars
In annual city expenses He next tackles
the bonded debt of the city-this snow
ball of accumulated extravagance, cor
ruption and incompetency, rolled up by
twenty-five years of municipal admins
tration; this debt, without q dollar of
interest bearing investment to aid in meet
ing the burdens which it imposes. The
amateur financier finds as small difficulty
in reforming and reducing this debt as the
other charges. Il makes these bonds re-
ceivable in payment of all back taxes. It
is not said. whether this will be on the
face OF market rates of these bonds. but
as part Of these back taxes are yelled on
to NEE: the interest on these bonds and
city expenses, we do not see how bond.
holders are TO be persuaded to exchange
coupons for back taxes. 2. That all city
property except such as may be absolutely
necessary to the administration Of the gov
erpment. be sent 20 auction and sold to
the highest bidder in city bonds. We
observe bundled in with the ''useless pub
lie squares and batture property" the city
Workhouse. This last is then to become
private monopoly for working paupers
and small offenders Of the city, or the
city is to go in debt for new workhouse,
or abolish. among other expensive luxu'
ries. the penal industries Of the city. De-
cidedly this economist regards tho i'm.
provement of popular intellect and NOR
atty and the punishment Of popular
offenses as proper subjects TOT financial
economy.
3. The Times follows in the footsteps Of
his honor the Mayor in recommending
the establishment Of certain private mon.
opolies:
/. The public markets are to become pri-
vate property. 9. The water of this mighty
river is to be retailed to . thirsty people
by the hands of . private monopoly.
The policy Of this last is even urged
upon the assumption that the cost Of
water would be practically reduced to the
consumer from ten to about four dollars.
The effect claimed for this programme
is that the city debt will be reduced to
SIS, 900. and that the current expenses
Of the city can be met from other taxes
and licenses. The city debt will thus, like
the circular snake in Egyptian mythology.
swallow itself. and in process Of time the
bonds viii buy themselves all in, and the
city government be administered from out.
side and other sources.
Upon this schedule we have no other
common: than that we respect the choice
Of the people in the administration of
the city. They may not be as able as
some of their anonymous advisers. They
are respectable men sworn to give their
best intelligence to their duty. We pre-
fer to await their policy. VS. do not like
this extraordinary interest in monopolies
of butchers meat and vegetables, fish and
fruit, nor in the sale to individuals Of the
wharves and water of the city.
There is an amount Of jobbery involved
in this programme which is frightfui.
We do not doubt the Administrators will
guard the interests OF the people. and
never permit the city pr operty to be sold,
and their food. fuel and water pawned to
make good coupons or salaries. We would
respectfully caution this people. il they
have any friends. TO ask that they would
watch the insidious suggestions Of those
who wish to transfer taxation from prop
erty and place il upon the industries and
subsistence of the people,