The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-05-20
PROPERTY INTERESTS.

this city to associate themselves together iol
the purpose of protecting their common ID
terests is one that cannot be disputed. The
exercise of this right, at this or at any other
time, either by all or by portion OF this
especially important class, will rot be crlti-
cised in any hostile spirit by any true friend
of the city. If half a dozen owners OF houses
and lots meet by chance at q neighboring re-
sort, and there discuss the subject Of taxes
and finances, and there find that their views
are concurrent, or if they form themselves
into an organization, taking in all their prop
erty-ho!ding neighbors for many squares on
all sides, or if the organization should extend
to all parts of the city, and include large
and always increasing number Of those who
pay taxes on real estate, the association would
have about it nothing which should give un-
easiness to any other interest or cause any
degree of anxiety to any other class of tax
payers.
If a dwelling-h house is taxed the weight Of
the tax falls upon the business Of the man
who occupies it as much as upon the land
lord. The State and city tax on hotel be-
comes a part of the rent of the lessee, and
his expenses of rent as we'll as others become
part of his charges for entertaining his
guests. Tax on real estate reaches everybody;
and so on the other side all public expendi-
lures which demand tax directly concern
real estate and its owners. Every blunder
ooro,o;ttad - thu Cd in;otrotion If tho cifv
or State affairs is direct loss to the owner of
every lot and house in New Orleans If ad-
ministration is wise and economical the land
lord feels the benefit; if it is unwise, reckless,
extravagant, he feels the damage. But
whether he gets good or evil at the hands Of
his local government the same is felt, through
him, by all others who have any use, direct or
remote, in the property which he owns.
Hence, so far as taxation goes, the whole
matter might with entire safety be left to the
opinions and votes exclusively of those who
own the property. 1t might, safely to all
other interests, be left alone to the holders of
real estate to say what taxes should be paid,
for if either to large or too small it would be
their property that would surely and inevi-
tably show the loss while the loss itself would
be diffused over all classes and all occupa-
tons. If the owners of real estate were to
have their own way in the matter they could
not relieve the people at large from the pres
sure of the expense of government
There is no real escape from the burden Of
the expense Of government 1t is mere waste
Of effort for one class to attempt to shift the
load to another. There is no kind of tax,
except it be laid on vice or luxury, which
does not at last reach the masses of the peo-
pie. Hence an association of owners of pro-
perty is not hostile to any other interest.
Hence efforts to reduce taxes on real estate
can not be regarded as antagonism between
landlords and tenants. In current phrase,
I" we are all in the same boat" owners, sail
DIS, passengers, shippers and underwriters.
Landlords can not prosper where business
anguishes. Those who make but little can
not pay high rents. Heavy taxes fall on all,
md when not necessary, are q common dam
Age.
Heretofore the trouble has been that the
owners of about half of the real estate in this
'ity have failed to engage personally and
practically in the selection of those who assess
axes, who collect taxes, and who spend the
Ak money. Will the association inaugurated
tuesday night at Exposition Hall remove this
rouble, and insure in the next and future
lections the active interest and jealous, per-
onal exertion of those gentlemen who repre-
ent the most valuable half Of the real estate
q New Orleans2 Will they at last begin to
'atch after the interests of the city in prim-
ny elections? Will they secure good can
lidates for all public positions, and support
hem with proper energy? Will they SO far
orego their own ease and comfort as to share |
q the labor of civic or State legislation ?
Will they cease to isolate themselves entirely |
rom public affairs, and at last confess by |
heir actions that they are really interested
4 our elections?
The larger the proposed association may |
ecome the better will it be for the purposes
f the members. If no more than q hundred
wners of real estate unite their Efforts in be-
alf Of public economy, they may exert some
afuence. If the owners of one fourth part
t the real estate of New Orleans were to join
hese unions and pursue any settled plan Of
sform, they would certainly produce very
erceptible effects upon the interests of the
ity. The motive Icing right, nothing but
nworthy leaders and unwise guidance can
revent the movement from doing more or
sss of good.
1t is easy to imagine, however, the way in
'hich petty politicians and puny agitators
lay pervert the whole aff.ir by attempts to
mploy the proposed Property Holders
Inions in the paltry mechanism Of ward
olitics. Those most interested in reform
ill do well to see to this and to preserve
,eir organization against such abuse.
THE GRAND FINANCIAL BUBBLE.
The prnpositi0n nf the Administrator of