New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-04-15

Accompanying herewith we hand YOU the
l original testimony taken by the committee
of which we hope that this report will
= prove correct summary.
. Respectfully.
j. CALHOUN,
Administrator of Pr bic Accounts,
: b. M. TURNBULL.
Administrator Of Commerce,
CHARLES FITZENREITER.
Administrator of Waterworks and Public
Buildings,
r. BREWSTER,
Administrator of Police
The report of the committee having been
received, it was ordered to be spread upon
the minutes.
I Mr.. Schneider then read the following
statement, which, on his motion. was also
ordered to be spread upon the minutes:
Mr.. Presdent-I ask the floor for a per
sonal explanation relative to the report of
your committee, with the respectful request
that my remarks may he spread upon the
minutes of the Council, along with the
report.
Feeling aggrieved at the vile and sour.
riious accusations made against me, both in
| print and by street rumOr, | called yOur
notice to the calumny, and requested that
| you would appoint committee OF investi-
CATION to examine into the charges pre-
| terreG.
The committe appointed by YOU have
| summoned witnesses, and elected all the
testimony they could which had any bear
| ing upon the caiumnious rumors OF the
street, and which had found their way into
| print, under glazing captions, and with all
manner of cunning exaggeration. respect
! ing the finance department under NV
| charge.
| The report of that committee has been
made to you and by you presented to the
| Council. After the examination, they have
| found nothing that shows Irregularities in
| my department other than what volun-
tarily and readily communicated to them.
before witnesses were examined.
| AS TO the first charge. that of exchanging
| red for green Metropolitan warrants, | will
| state to the Council, as did to the commit
| tee, that made tina. exchange without any
| serious reflection, and that in the transac.
| ton the city treasury neither gained nor
| lost.
As to the second irregularity, give to
the Council and to the public, as | have
given to the committee, my positive assur.
ance that the transaction referred to was
simply and wholly for the benefit of the
city, and to recover loss of $l400: and |
am certain the investigating committee are
satisfied of this fact.
have committed other irreyula rites in
acting otherwise than In strict conformity
with ordinances. For instance, during two
months in 1873, took up the issues of Me. |
trOpolstan Police warrants at ninety cents |
which otherwise would have Immediately
come into the city treasury at par, saving
about $40, 900 to the city by that irregular
transaction.
In answer TO other rumors, have to say
that have committed no single act detri- |
mental to the city's interest, and SO far from |
benefting myself from my position, l have,
IN icf Of
the city treasury by advancing my private |
means; and this was another "irreguIarity." |
l did not seek the position l hold, it |
sought me. During the campaign never |
solicited single vote. 1t was with much |
personal regret and sacrifice that I went |
serving the interests of my fellOw.citizens. |
That l departed from the red tapism of |
official rOu tine admit, and it were we'll for |
the public if our administration were less |
trammeled by outrageous laws which make |
our offices mere clerkships to carry out the |
oppressive and inconsistent enactments of |
successive years, which will yet drive our
cherished city into disgrace. Threefourths |
OF our disbursements are now fixed by law, |
leaving the Council absolutely powerless |
for etfectiDg reforms.
1t has been asserted, both in print and On |
the street, by evil minded persons that
committee of my administrators would
be loath to find charges against me, and
that a disposition to .'whitewash" them
would be the result. Fair-minded, we'll
thinking persons make no such insinua-
lions, yet. Mr.. President, would suggest
that after the Council has taken final &C.
ton IN this matter you appoint a commit
tee of well known citizens to prosecute
further inve stigations. The time OF Ad-
ministratOrs ia too much occupied with the
business of their respective departments to
uvh1 " tbp |
counts and books in the Department of
Finance. ask an investigation 80 thor
ough that its result may prove beyond room |
for doubt whether the Tweed rascalites"
and the ''rings" have any existence in fact,
or whether they are the mere inventions of |
my busy enemies and pestilent calumnia-
tors. And let the committee of citizens be
authorized to send for persons and papers.
On motion of Mr.. Turnbull the Council
resolved itself into committee of the whole
to consider the report with closed doors.
Thereupon Mr.. Schneider retired from
the chamber.
When the committee of the whole rose
and the Council had resumed its sitting, on
motion of Mr.. Lewis the report of the COM
mittee on investigation was adopted.
The Mayor, for the committee of the
whole, submitted the following resolution
agreed upon by the committee and recon-
mended by it for adoption:
ResOlred, That the charges against the
Hon. Louis Schneider, Administrator of
Finance, which have been investigated by
committee appointed by the Mayor, are
aot sustained by the testimony, so far as
any benefit to himself is shown. but it ex-
1ibits Irregularities on his part which are
censurable.
Resolced, That he be held responsible for
The payment into the treasury of the sum
If Sll00, received by him, December "a,
oIS, in worthless check. drawn by Bar 6
lett, IN payment OF city taxes. II
The adoption of the resolution having q
'een moved, Mr.. Fitzenreiter called for the q
'eas and nays. The vote stood: 7
For the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES, Calhoun, q
lewis, Sturcken, Turnbull
Against the acknowledgements.
On the name of Mr.. Fitzenreiter being
allied, he explained that he voted in the
egative, not expressing any opinion as to \
vhether Mr.. Schneider was censurable or
ot, but because he did not think the case
ught to be closed until, in compliance with
he request of Mr.. Schneider, committee
+ citizens had investigated the charges.
MIR. Lewis explained that he voted in the 4
ffirmative, because the Administrator Of C
Faterworks and Public Buildings (Mr. .
i,zenreiter), had signed the report, upon
ne suggestions of which the resolution was
ased.
Mr.. Fitzenreiter, in further explanation, Z
lated that he had signed the report hur F
edly few minutes before the Council
Jet, and had not had time to examine it | =