The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-12-01
THE MAYORS INAUGURAL MESSAGE.

In assuming the official duties Of Mayor of
New Orleans, Mr.. Leeds availed himself OF
the opportunity to briefly outline, in his inau-
gural message, the policy that would govern
his administration.
The views taken by him OF the various sub
lccts to which he referred we think wise and
sound, and calculated. If carried out to bene-
fit the general interests Of the city. The
various measures Of reform recommended by
him are such as have been advocated by the
BULLETIN, and We are gratihed to observe that
Mayor Leeds fully recognizes the force Of the
suggestions we have offered.
In the course of his message, which is an
admirable document as it is plain, simple but
thoroughly sensible and practical, be requests
| of the next Legislature the abolition OF the
| Park tax, tie removal OF the school tax and
| the remission to the city their control; the re-
peal Of the metropolitan police law and the
surrender to the city the entire direction OF its
police; the repeal Of the printing bill and also
of the drainage act. With such legislation,
the city authorities will be able to accomplish
something il the interests OF the people and
obtain O reduction in the rate Of taxation.
Rela i've to the collection of taxes, Mayor
Iced, recommends wise discretion, and
says:
| While there may be many who are able to
| paw these taxes, vet there are by Tar . greater
nu.ab who have not done @ from inability.
! If ia xation had zen Just and equitable, If it
hal been Q Moderate levy, upon fair assess
1nent, a prompt payment should be demanded
at all costs but the tax, as is well known, is
so excessive as to amount in many cases to
absolute confscation; and it is therefore no
more than iust to extend such indulgence as
the public interest viii Justify when inability
| to pay exists.
Ia this position he is not fully sustained by
the committee appointed to prepare an adj
dress to the taxpayers. In their report they
say
| The business Of the city cannot be con-
Quoted without relief from you, and any
| interruption OF its operations would entail
greater evils than those we now endure. We
are, therefore, compelled to solicit payments
| by all the means in our power.
| We regret that there may be individual
cases of hardship, but in the present crisis
we can no longer extend indulgence to the
| debtors OF the city without great peril to the
| interests OF the property holders and resi-
dents. tina. would surely follow the suspen-
| sion of the departments that are requisite for
the protection Of your lives and property.
The above would seem to indicate a deter
mination on the part Of the Administrators to
Immediately press the collection OF the city
taxes, without further indulgence, whilst the
Mavor advises :'wise discretion and the
extension of '.such indulgence as the public
interest will Justify where inability to pay ex-
lists" We have no doubt, however, that this
discrepancy upon the tax question will soon
be harmonized, and that there will be nothing
at variance between the Mayor and the Adj
minstrators upon 50 important measure.
Another admirable recommendation Of the
Mayor, one which will entitle him, from the
outset, to the thanks of the community, is the
discontinuance Of the "star chamber =
system Of legislating for the city. Mayor
Leeds very properly and trrthfully says
| Gan matters of administration Should be
taken up and debated in open council. and
secret meetings in Committee OF the Mhoie
avoided. Our constituents have night to
know the reasons which have determined their
4 representatives II their legislation.
The message, as whole, may be taken as
indicating most favorable future for the city
government 1t is in the hands Of intelll-
gent, honest and worthy gentlemen, and our
people have every reason to believe that their
interests will be carefully guarded and the
welfare and prosperity of the city promoted in
every possible way by those officials who have
lust assumed the control Of the city govern
ment.