New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-11-11
REP0RM--LIMITED.

a representative government this demand
has been made by all taxpayers. The
landlord here aspires to the position OF
the nobility and clergy of other times and
countries, and expects an exemption from
common burdens. We have had occasion
to show that while our landlord nobility
explain how those taxes can be reduced
they leave an undue proportion ofthe city
revenues to be raised by that indirect tax
on industry and enterprises, which is
tending to depopulate the city OF its mer-
chants and artisans.
The landed nobility goes even q step
further. 1t forms the right wing of the
White Leaguers, and in its argument for
reduction of its burdens takes occasion
to intersperse the howls of oppression
with special snarls against the Republi-
can departments of State administration.
Thus We have "our enemies the Office
holders exclusively in the State govern
ment. The Legislature of Louisiana,
which has reduced the State debt from
| iifty-two millions to fifteen millions of
! dollars, ARE banditti calling themselves
Legislature" The Returning Board,
which gave the House of Representatives
| to the Democracy, is said to have deprived
US ''of the Representatives chosen by the
| people," S. B. Packard United States
marshal, 'who seems to have nothing to
| do here but NEEDLE in our local cleo
| tons, is thus noticed in connection with
proposal for "a reduction of taxation. !"
All this shows an entirely unchristian
spirit on the part of the landed nobility.
The same document also shows that the
attack of these nobs is upon the Repub-
lican share of the public taxes. The
offices of State with their salaries are emu
| merated. We confess they are enough to
make the mouth of an excluded White
Lacquer water for the perquisites. The
State tax of fourteen mills on property is
burden which makes man glad that he
is not one Of those tax shriekers oppressed
with ramshackled and tenantless barrack.
But why is it that the virtuous nobility do
not turn their attention to the Democratic
city administration? Are there no munich
pal salaries proper for reduction? There
are six Administrators who draw each
salary of six thousand dollars. Formerly
there was Common Council that drew no
pay There are scores of salaried officers
in the Improvement and Finance Depart
ments. The Department of Commerce has
been relieved of portion of its onerous
duties by devolving the care Of wharves
and markets upon monopolist contractors.
We perceive no proposal to reduce the
pay of any Administrator, nor to abate
any municipal Office whatever. There is
debt of fifteen millions due from the
State which is an abominable and oppres-
sive obligation. There is n debt of
twenty-three millions resting upon the
city, upon which the tax shriekers wish
the interest suspended or played off at
bunco. The State tax on the shanties
of the tax shrieker is a little less
than fifteen mills. The city tax on
the same sharties is twenty-five
mills. The cost OF administering the
State government, interest on public
debt included, is a couple of millions,
The cost of administering the city govern
ment is about four millions. The one
conducted by Republican officers is
shameful; the other, which gives honor
and shelter to Democrats, is-not OBJ.
jectionable.
There are some other burdens which as
they fall chiefly on tenants and debtors
are not taken into account as public
grievances. The elective offices of sheriff
and clerks are said to be worth all the
way from fifty to one hundred thousand
dollars per annum. Some of these offices
are even so profitable as to bear several
shareholders. This last is perhaps a
SANDER of those who wished the offices
for themselves. The fact that these offices
are very lucrative is, however, undoubted.
Now have the landed nobility no bowels
of compassion at all for the poor
people who are seized and sold out of
their miserable goods for sheriffs and
clerks fees? 1t is only the reduc-
ton of taxes on property. and the reduc-
iton of Republican salaries that inspires
the landed nobility? We hope there is
less bigoted element in that body which
thinks nothing of human misery" but
prefers to make the reduction of all taxes
direct and indirect its object. This ele-
ment proposes to make reform indiscrim-
mate. 1t will not take q tax off the prop
erty and leave il on the person. 1t will
not abuse the State government, which
has cut down State debt and taxation,
while it passes without censure a city
administration which expended great
deal more money, and collects a great
deal more taxes than the State. With any
such reformer the Republican party is
prepared to confer; with political bigots it
has no more dealings than it would have
with ecclesiastical bigots.
The Republican party can not entertain
reform limited to taking the tax off the
landed nobility and expelling Republicans
from Office. 1t will cooperate in an in
discriminate and general amendment of