New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-04-11

leans! It may be that to contend will
this competition New Orleans may b.
compelled to give drawback for wharf
age on all through goods exported or i'm
ported. When, however, this questio,
OF policy comes up it will be found tina
certain gentlemen residing in New Yorl
or other rival ports, or in Europe, refus,
through their attorneys here to permi
any modification of these wharf rates
They may even raise these rates with thu
decline of our commerce, and in every
manner possible to the sordid nature O.
monopoly, Cypress the people to keep ny
the value of the city bonds.
4. All batture property and future &C.
cretions. Such is the proposition Of ou1
own chosen representatives. It is no less
than to give to voluntary association the
whole real estate belonging to the city.
This is small affair in itself. If the
bondholders could place the city in bank.
ruptcy it could alone take the visible
property. The debt would be well quit
for the actual assets of the city. But the
representatives of the people go long
stride further. They deliberately deliver
over their constituents to be hired out to,
and by monopolists, to work out the
debts which improvident administrators
have imposed upon them.
These unfortunate people, taxed on their
bread and their beef and their potatoes.
taxed on their swaddling and grave
clothes; taxed on their water, on their
light, in their right to labor, to transport,
or to navigate, are driven like slaves and
delivered to home and foreign monopol
lists to be hired out until the proverbial
rapacity Of bond shark shall have been
satisfied!
We have heard great deal of Demo-
cracy, great deal more of the exactions
and expressions of the State government.
Who ever heard of Democrat advocating
an indirect and concealed tax? Who, since
the days of the most corrupt courts of Eng
land, France and Spain, ever knew such an
proposal to give away all the
corporate property of the city and hire
out its people to pay the balance of public
debt? This would Of course be followed
by an exodus Of those poor makers of
brick without any allowance of straw
whatever. Could the monopolists pursue
them within other jurisdictions? Would
they have lien recordable elsewhere
upon the personal service and supplies
by the fugitives?
The city is thus expected to devolve its
authority over the river front
lpon strangers, and their represen tatives
n interest. These monopolists might in |
lue time erect their own warehouses be-
ween the present buildings and the river
ront.
s. The reversion of the city right in rail-
Dad and gas companies. There is no
ubject more important to modern city
han rapid and regular transit through
is streets. The city administration
hould now break up the car and mule
lands in our most busy and beautiful
horoughfare. The tracks should cross
t Clay Statue and elsewhere, and the
ars move through that as through any
Their part Of the city. As the road char
ers fall in they should be at least con-
olidated and regulated by the city, and
hey should no more pass into private
than the streets.
6. The "transfer" of all such real estate
wned by the city as is not now dedicated
} public use. This residuary and sweep
lg clause in the testament of the city to
1e modest monopolists who propose it,
e leave without comment. In its naked
normity it only needs inscription as a
,nken obstruction requires buoy to
arm unwary mariners of its existence and
S peril.
We suppose the Administrators must
ave foreseen one consequence of their
'heme and periodically determined to
,cept it. If the monopolists are to take
large Of the wharves, the markets, the
rect cars and all unoccupied property
e see very little further use for our
administrators. Granting what they ask
might be well to chuck into the bargain
e schools. police, assessment and other J.
apartments of public expense for which
E should have little further use, after
e city property had been given away
I'd the people put up on the block to be
red to the best bidder