The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-11-27
REDUCED TAXATION.

REDUCED TAXATION.
ditor New Orleans Bulletin:
An article under this heading appears
our issue of this date, which contains sus
estions for the financial departments OF bot
ity and State governments which deserv
.ublic attention and approval
These suggestions, reduced TO practlce
,ould save taxpayers half q million dollars
nearly that. s
It has long been apparent to the most su
erficial observer that the maintaining Of tw
cts of assessors and tax collectors was frau
gpon the taxpayer, continued by legislativ
eruption.
One of the first acts of the Democratic
Conservative Legislature should be the sum
nary alteration of this system, the establish
nent of Q bureau for the assessment OF prop
rty and the collection Of the necessary reve
tue to support government, both State and city
nd all officers therein employed to be pait
uch salary as the pa,ties could get if EN-
loyed in o commercial house, no more
'hese and all other employees of the city and
itate governments should be required to give
much of their time to the public service as
,ould be required Of clerks in private sta
ions, thereby saving large amounts to the
sx-payers.
Prior to the war. when the State tax was
ne-fourth of one per cent, and the city tax
bout one per cent, delinquent taxpayers
ere only such unfortunates as could not pay,
nd the number was comparatively very
mall.
Give us again State and city government
onducted with an honest determination to
eform the abuses Of the last ten years, and
0 conduct public affairs with the same econ
my an individual would exercise in the con-
uct of his business, and ws shall hear but
title Of delinquent taxpayers, for taxation
ill be, as of old, SO light that every indi-
idual will take pride in paying promptly
hat he owes.
With proper laws, and such as are not
necessarily onerous, there would be no neces-
ity for City Attorney in the collection of
axes.
If it would not take too much of your space,
nd you think suggestions ofany value to the in
oming administrators and legislators, would
Ike to make one or two that l think would
ave the effect Of insuring q prompt collec-
ion of all dues levied for the support of gov
rnment
Taxes assessed on real and personal estate
or 1874, for instance, are payable in 1875.
They should be payable on or after the LIST
4 January, for this is business season, when
most people have money.
[ As soon as the tableau is made up, copy
hould be deposited in the Office OF the Re
order of Mortgages and Conveyances, show
ng what every man owes, and from the date
4 such deposit, no record Of mortgage or
conveyance should be made, until the vendor
Y mortgagor produces q certificate from the
proper State and city Office, that all the taxes
6z1Ae party on both real and personal prop
~ the year 1874, have been paid.
~ y 81 re Eahr &c
D lic9ns bills (f the system of license
spcntiA should be deposited in
hA Eher& fhce, or recorded as a
las Axr.gase in the Mortgage Office,
~ VIC Ss Instructed to serve the
Rto, @it1~a nec5hthat if the debt is not
ali! "a hye.1aya ha proceed to seize and
. " pss and q liquid be absolute,
nlsss y tsty has 80, tense.
lakes Cue on personal. AoreFty should be
se'.ed IN tbs same s1nnasS mans a. .as citi-
4: ems can have 4 eseuse fer on-l{yment
,sn @ae .. when ~ fog w les &sto ex-
'roPriated for that p1fpose. \ IF
Inc new dministratofSeakaSteen lacted T |
mink, more upon belief in a. ~ i3sstv and |
business capacity than for their u financial
Aeacity. Ii this is so, it is Suggested the
'ouncii as body invite from snancier, Of
.nown ability, digest of programme for
,u'ting city finances at once on a cash basis
nat Is to pay as they go; buy nothino tbev
'annot pay for; make no contracts thew Cannot
Jay cash for on completion.
ms digest should be in such shana no
oald be presented to the Legislature Gt II 70.
uir.d legislative action) on the first day Uf its
rganization. And as such document would
equire financial acumen and legal ability of a
Ugh order, the council should offer liberal
Sr1ah onto
Pproval and accomplish the end desired, if
dOpted.
In conclusion. have long been Of the opin-
m that it is fraud, for either an individual,
city or State, to demand legal curreucv in
ayment ofa due, from a debtor, holding the
ast due obligation Of either, when neither
rlncipal or interest can be collected ut law.
ftsets in such cases is simply the practice of
Dnesty, and it does seem to me that both
onesty and expediency should dictate to the
formers in government, the prompt notice
taxpayers, and all holders of past due
IN interest bearing obligations, that the
me will be received for all taxes of 1874 and !
Tor years, depending on the receipts of 1875 {
ID other resources to pay as they so. 8
1t is absolutely certain that neither State or |
~ government can have any credit, no mat
+ how much is due them, so long as there is
unliquidated floating debt absorb this at
ce, and both State and city securities will
vance so per cent.
The receipts from customs for the year end =,
3 June 30 last, were S173, 500, 900, against
sS,OS9,OOO for the preceding year-a de-
base OF $24 ,oS6, 900. The receipts from in
nal revenue sources were $l02, ga, 900, a
ainst Sll3. 729, 900 for the last preceding
ar-a falling off of sl1, OS5, 900. The total
ports into the United States for the year
ding June last, were 1898. 1852, 900, against 1
81, go, 900 for 1874 decrease of SIS, 2ls.-
}. The total exports for the same period