New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-12-05
LEGITIMATE FUNCTIONS.


administration have construed their du-
ties to include the service Of the whole
people Of the city, while some outsiders
evidently suppose they have been selected
70 protect the delinquents from the eonse'
quences Of failing to discharge their duties
as taxpayers. Notably in this category is
a correspondent of the Bulletin. who signs
himself Real Estate" This gentleman
seems to have conceived the idea that
Messrs. Landry, Pilsbury. Burke and
associates are merely salaried lackeys.
who have been employed by the
managing owners Of "this people" to
stand between men Of his class
and the collectors of city taxes. He ar
raiens them for having expressed deter
m;nation to deal with defaulting taxpayers
according to law. without reference to
what ..Real Estate" tries to palm of as
public opinion. This gentleman belongs
to the class, How Not to Do 1t, and wakes
very wroth whenever he hears OF prac-
teal suggestion Of any sort. He devotes
a column lecture to the new administra-
ton upon their legitimate functions. in
which the only ineligible idea is that he,
and the other masters Of the recently en-
ployed servants. desire to have city affairs
conducted in the most satisfactory manner
without troubling him abou: that little
tax bill. which he has not yet paid. and
does not wish to pay so long as he can
make one and half per cent on the pub
lie money thus withheld. 1t was all very
we'll SO long as the poorer but homes: peo-
pie paid their taxes promptly, and the
Administrators were able to borrow
money on the expectation that "Real
Estate" would come forward and dis
charge his obligations when little more
convenient. But his response to the first
request to come up to the captains office
and settle shows there has been serious
misunderstanding in the party which has
volunteered to reform the affairs Of New
Orleans.
This work can never be satisfactorily
done by sitting down and talking about
it. 1t makes very little difference what
is said or left unsaid, but the performance
is everything. The duties Of all parties
are pointed out by law. which is superior
to even the managing owners Of 'this
people," though one would suppose from
the sample we have in Mr.. Real Estate
tina! they entertain different notions about
il. Mr.. Real Estate is required by law to
pay his public debts. The City Admins
traitors are required to use forcible means
to compel him to do SO if he neglects or
refuses. The difference in their situa-
tons is that the latter have sworn to DO
their duty, while their assumed master
has not. And let us inform this same OBJ
fuse individual that the high authority
from whence Messrs. Pilsbury and assoc
ciates derive their legitimate functions.
the people. were entirely familiar with
the law previous to and on the day
Of election. They were cognizant OF the
important ministerial functions attached
to each city Office. and selected men for
the very purpose of attending to the cases
Of just such yecalcitrant gentlemen as Mr..
Real Estate shows himself to be. The
Republican party had made selections for
the same positions and with the same end
in view. But the Democrats were success
full. and upon them deyoIve the exact
duties which the Republican candidates
would have found before them had they
been successful. These Administrators
can no. obey the law in one par: and dis
regard it in another. They can no. pe.-
form those duties under i: which happen
to please Mr.. Real Estate or Mr.. Anybody
Else. and neglect those Which do not
please him. They can not make bricks
without straw. Their combined salaries
and private fortunes are not sufficient to
make up for the delin1uencies Of those
who can not or will not pay.
Ills to be regretted that Mr.. Real Es-
tate confines himself entirely TO the busi-
ness Of telling the Administrators what
they shall not do. It is not important,
perhaps, 70 him that his advice conflicts
with the law. He presents no solution /;
shows no plan by which even the protest.
ed December coupons are TO be paid un-
less by raising the money IN the way
pointed out by law. Having notified all
parties that he is not 10 he moles.ed. and
essayed harsh thing or two against
..Wiltz 4 Co.." Lacey s Co" Governor
Kellogg and Senator Pinchback, he stalks
from the public stage. leaving the auditor
to wonder why he should ever have taken
the trouble to come upon it.
We have no special motive for defend
ing the new city Administrators. They
are not the men we would have selected
for their positions. Furthermore. We
have reason 70 fear that as a body they
will be found wanting in the frmness and
manliness required for the most serious
business in hand. But SO long as they
consult the statute fox their duty and dis.
regard the factious winnings Of those
who are habitually delinquent We shall
be ready TO applaud them. And we shall
no. treat them as our Returning Board
has been served by the White League
organs. We shall not accuse and con.
denim them and order their execution. or
demand their resignation all in the same