New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-06-22

movement in tons, between the West anG
the outports, he will see that of twenty
five millions Of tons New Orleans only re-
ceives one u;llion Of tons, only two-thirds
of which is EtNern produce. He mus
see that in the Competition for this trade,
and the import trade. New Orleans may
be compelled to reduce her charges at the
wharf. II then the Administrator insists
upon giving in monopoly, under the name
of lease. her right to impose and collec,
Wharfage taxes, how is it possible the city
can encounter competition which re-
| quires that we offer as favorable terms to
| shipping here as elsewhere?
| This is one indirect tax on commerce.
There are others which this same Depart.
| ment Of Commerce seems resolute to en-
force. 1t is usual in American cities to
| allow the producer to sell the product of
his labor in the open street to any who
may wish to buy. The farmer. with but
ter. hay, or fresh meats, the negro with
bis poultry. eggs. Or potatoes. are SLOWED
to sell without tax whatever they may
have to dispose of. It is great favor also
to the people who buy these articles fresh
and cheap from first hands. The Legis.
nature Of Louisiana, representing these
agricultural producers. authorized these
sales on the side walk. The City Coun-
Gil. however. relying on this indirect
tax upon popular consumption to meet
its expenses, imposed such a rate of
license as denied to the farmers
the benefit o. the law. The
private markets We're intended to favor the
people, but the iessees of the markets hav.
ing monopoly. which enabled them to
take the produce Of the farmer at their
own prices. and sell to the people at mo.
nopoly rates. commenced Immediately the
prosecution of these private market men.
The representative of the great interests
of commerce has become the active agent
Of these lessees in the pursuit Of these pri-
vate purveyors OF popular wants. A for
ner Administrator began the pursuit, and
the present incumbent has consummated
the enterprise by putting ten laboring
men in jeopardy of the Jail for this offense.
The lease of the Waterworks is also an
indirect tax on popular consumption. and
there are Others which We have shown inl-
pose. in their aggregate, heavier tax
upon the industry and labor of this reo-
pie than the direct taxes assessed by the
law does upon property.
1t is this indirect tax oppression that
causes so much destitution, because the |
aboring tenant not only pays these in
1irecs taxes. but a portion of the direct |
axes imposed on the property of his land
ord. and upon the business of his mer-
chant. One effect OF this accumulated |
burden is to drive the mechanic and |
aborer who bear these charges to other
in which no such burdens
ire imposed. There has been large ex-
'dus Of white labor from this city. and
t is still going on. We do not
mean to treat this great SUBJ
ect in a partisan point OF view
out We will make this statement for what
t is worth. The indirect taxes imposed
" men who have called themselves White
4eaguers. tend ultimately to give much
# the labor and mechanical work to
olored people whose habits are simple.
whose expenditures are cheap. who pay
mall portion Of these indirect taxes on
as. meat, fish. vegetables. wharves and
7ater. They constitute the cheapest
lbor. There is no restitution among
hem. and with the policy Of giving all
lucrative contracts to tax the people to
olitical partisans. the time may come
hen the colored people will be relied OH
0 perform most of the practical labor Of
ociety. while the white people. destroyed
nd driven away by direct and indirect
axation. will be compelled to abdicate
nd emigrate. where the public and pri-
ate tax gatherers cease from troubling,
nd the taxpayer, who has nothing TO be
Ixed save his labor and his subsistence.
at rest.