New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-11-11
PAY NY Is IT EAND.

There are unmis.aEatie indications q.
The City Hall tia: tie long holiday for
delini1en: taxpayers is over, and that
the order Of the day soon will be, Il il is
not already SO, 20 wall. up and Pay. The
guilty man may read in the Council pro-
ceedings this morning fearful array of
figures. which represen: unpaid taxes az
gregating s3,0ll, GA Il. This looks ike
putting up signal fox start, which re-
ceives additional significance from. tie
we'll known fact tia: there has been some
thing Of return 70 ancient usage. TLa:
old fashioned terror Of delinGuerts, City
Attorney, has been again added 70 the
city's machinery, with :ull control Of the
hack taxes. which he viii be permitted to
collect in the Mo5. expeditions manner
possible, and charge . commission Of two
and hall per GER: On tie SUES actually
received.
The gentleman WHO has been elected to
this position is MIR. Henry c. Miller, who
stands as man that will do his duty.
This may be q little hard upon certain
parties, at FIRST; but justice requires some
more. eficieu: action at the City Hall than
has been had there tor six OF seven years.
The city has suffered almost ir,epsrable
injury from The failure of its officers 20
perform their duty. Usually, ak the
poor and homes: people Gene forward
early in tie year 20 pay their taxes, in
order to save unnecessary cos:. The bulk
Of the delinGuen. taxes due the city to-
day, is owing ~ rich men and rich corpo.
:ations. They have generally managed to
secure influence enough to have process
stopped indefinitely. and let: the city to
stagger under heavy burden which de-
fcient collections have entailed upon it.
Doubtless, very large par: Of the three
millions alleged to be due has been lost
beyond recovery, BIZ: we hope Mr.. Miller
will succeed in getting enough to unload
at least portion Of the heavy municipal
debt which now weighs the city down,
which has destroyed its credit and added
fifty per cent or more 70 the cost Of nee.
essary articles. such as lumber, sand and
supplies Q: al kinds in everyday use.
Tie great mistake c: Mayor Witt ad-
mirist ration has been negiec. to en-
force the payment Of taxes. 7: is as
much the duty OF financial officers to look
eft er the receipts as TO watch the expen-
ditures. Those WHO ere permitted to go
from year to year without paying have an
unfair advantage over those who do. be. |
sides, their failure adds new burdens
every year to willing taxpayers. We hope
Mr.. Miller will take hold Of this mater |
in determined manner and establish an |
almost obsolete fashion in this city, that |
is to regard those who refuse TO pay their
just obligations to tn e city in the same
light they are regarded in financial circles.
IL this connection we may be pardoned
for offering a G::s!e volunteer advice.
Those who come i.s: to settle with tie
new collector will doubtless find the
sasies: terms. As :e:, no extraordinary
expenses or penalties attach to delineuents.
Early payments will, therefore, no. be
ourdered by anything further than the
assistant attorneys commission. Those
Who hang behind may have to wres:le
With clerks Of court, she,ifs and other
expensive agents.