New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-01-06

PUBLICAN, WEDNESDA
I and responsible duty will thus be throw
upon Che funding board. As ss preser
| constituted that board consists OF the Go'
| efnof, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary 4
] State. Treasurer, Auditor, Speaker, an
Fiscal Agent. Its operations thus far hav
been for the most part guarded and COT
servative and marked by . dispoeitic
rather 60 discourage than encourage an
large amount Of funding until emo statu
of the law should be finally settled. Nov
that the number Of bonds presented 70
funding is likely 70 be increased, thin
. change ia the composition OF tn
board 10 desirable. IL seems 10 n
right. for many reasons, that the fund
ing board should not be composed q
State Otficers. and 3 suggest that in &
matter which affects SO largely the interests
OF the business community the annually
elected presidents Of che Chamber
of Commerce. the Cotton Exohang,
ana Merchants Exchange. Of New
Orlssns. sx oficio, together with two
citizens Of known standing to be selected
by them, might. very properly. be consti
tused the board. earnestly commend this
subject 60 your early consideration, as one
OF great importance to the credit Of the
State. furthes recommend that tho fund.
ing Of tho debts and obligations Of the State
be segulsssd by Law in such manner as will
enable the officers OF che State and all tax
payers and creditors of the State to resist
the sunding Sf any illegal evidences of debt
by adducing evidence to establish their in
valid character.
RELIEF OF REV oRLEASA
Next N urgency to the condition OF the
State finances, the embarrassed and crippled
position Of she city of New Orleans de-
mands your attention. The debt of the
city, built up during q series of years of
NAL administration of city affairs. aided by
unwise legislative enactments. is now 90
great that the annual tax required to keep
up the interest payments has become an
almost insupportable burden upon the prop
erty Of large classof worthy. law abiding
citizens who endeavor 20 pay theiE taxes
when due. and an excuse to other citizens,
generally Of greater means and less respect
for law. to refuse the payment Of any
taxes at ell.
The expenses of the city for considerable
period have annually exceeded its revenue,
and the volume Of it's floating and bonded
debt has thus increased year by year with
accelerating sapidity. With . view Of
chec king this alarming tendency I sub
mitted TO the last Legislature constitu-
tional amendment, approved by the Cham
Der OF Commerce and the then City Council,
the further increase of the city
debt in any form OF under any pretext. and
providing, under severe penalties, that
attss the first Of January. 1875. no warrant
y certificate Of debt should BE- is
sued By any officer Of tho city ex-
,eps against cash actually in tho :reas-
Try. This amendment was passed by
Tho Legislature. and though opposed at
The late election on the Same unreasonins
prin ciples as other salutary measures of
his administration, was ratified by the
people, and now forms part of che eons.itu.
ion Of the State. Future contingencies
'eing thus provided against. your duty will
low be to adopt such measures as may
end % give present and immediate relief
o the city. recommend that you appoint
} joint committee to confer with the City
Council on this subject. In the meantime
here arc many compulsory expenditures of
N oppressive character imposed upon tho
ity By legislation. which it is in your power
o remove. In cooperation with . con-
nittee of the Chamber Of Commerce and
he CITY authorities laid before both houses
Z the General Assembly on the thirteenth
f February last number OF measures TO-
ucing tho compulsory expenses Of the city.
nd strongly recommended their passage.
ONE Of these bills became law. and enabled
be City Council to reduce the rate of taxa
ion tive mills. Others were not adopted.
beg especially to call your attention to the
ecessity Of repeating or modifying the
rainage and park taxes and the State
louise law. and Of reducing the excessive
ses of the civil and criminal sheriffs. Bills
atroduced for these purpose, and strongly
rged by me, failed to pass last year. You
ave now tho power to carry these and
the1 much needed reforms into effect, and
can not suppose that gentlemen 80 largely
in the welfare Of the city and
tate will hesitate to act promptly in mat |
srs Of such serious import To both.
The commerce of the city, which forms 30
ssential an element in the general pros
Gritty OF the State, is hampersd by many
some entirely unnecessary. others J
esdlessly oppressive or misappled. Heavy !
haftage dues are exacfed by the city from
d vessels trading with this port, yet few of /
10 wharves and landings, except those
aintained by private enterprise. are kept
sufficient repair to satisfy even the mod
alto requirements Of q great commercial
IRE. An unnecessary tax. yielding no ad-
sncage 20 The State or city. is levied on
,ing emigration. Isuggess that the duties
the board of hsrbof masters, board Of port
ardens. board Of -four inspectors and board
hay inspectors. each Of whom under
listing laws derive their Income from
x on commerce. might be sdsantageously ]
scharged in each case by one Of two
laried officers, thus relieving Che com
erce of the city from imposts which are
rtainly not favorable n its developments.
re fees Of clerks OF courts and no,aries
lblic, as at present exacteA, are complained
by the business community Is being ex.
ssive. I repeat the Recommendation made !
che previous Legislature. that some steps