The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-06-24
CITY TAX DELINOUENTS.


The delinquent Taxpayers list for 1875
numbered about seventeen thousand five
hundred names. This list was published
about june list, or in the latter part Of May.
Upwards Of nineteen hundred persons, firms
and corporations, owed tai bills Of 5000 each
or more, . tax of s2OO representing property
assessed at 5000, showing that by far the
larger part Of the delinquent taxes were due
from persons who were in comfortable cir
cumstances.
Upon further elaborate inspection OF the
tax list we found Eve hundred and twenty
six persons. Arms and corporations, each one
of whom owe taxes of 1875 to the amount of
$500 or upwards, ranging from those figures
as high as $40. 600, the amount owing by
these five hundred and twenty-six delinquents
being s757, 500. -..-...
The assessment for 1876 was on $119. $685.
5O4, at two and q half per cent yielding
So, 982, 462, or in round numbers three mil
lions To May II, just before the publication
of the delinquent list, the payments of taxes
of 1875 amounted to little more than one
million Isl, 0O8, 1859. Certain remissions and
reductions on the balance leaves it about
81, 800, 600, or something short Of two mil
lions, of which sum 526 persons owed more
than $751;, 500, or one thirty-fourth part in
number of delinquents owe wo-fifths of the
amount of the delinquent taxes, or per
cent of the number Of debtors owe 40 per cent
of the debt.
Out Of the 526 there are 228 who owe tax
bills each Of $1,000 or more, while bills of
$4,000, $4,000 and $1,000 are numerous. Thir-
tsen bills alone foot up s16O,2OO.
One-eighth in number of delinquents are
debtors for more than four-fifths Of the total
amount due. It is fact we'll known that
these wealthy delinquents who owe more
than million and half Of the 81, 100000
taxes of 1875, are just as able to pay as their
neighbors who had paid up, to the amount of
more than million dollars before the 18th OF
May.
In justice to those who have paid, and in
recognition of the pressing wants of the city,
we have no hesitation in saying that the
wealthy delinquents ought to be compelled to
settle.
The taxes are higher than they ought to be,
but they cannot be changed now. There
should be no premium on delinquency. There
is no justice in discriminating favorably to
the dilatory. Those who have withheld the
taxes due to the city are presumed, in cases Of
large bills, to have made profitable use OF the
money. In behalf of those who have settled
and would like to see fair play, and of those
who are suffering in consequence of the de-
pleted condition of the city treasury, we ask
our wealthy neighbors to draw their checks
and settle up their tax bills.
An erroneous notion seems to prevail as to
the rights of the city government, which
represents all city property. The city is a
part owner, for the time being, Of every
piece of property upon which an unpaid city
tax is owing. She is judgment creditor Of
delinquent tax debtors, and can at any time
sell her future proprietary right in and to any
property upon which she may hold tax
judgment with mortgage.
These mortgages and judgments are re-
sources which the city can transfer to her
creditors. They can be sold in market and
carry with them a complete transfer of the
city's right, title and interest. They are
transferable property and an essential part Of
the city's assets.