New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-04-21


Democracy desire to agitate against tn.
alleged extravaganza Of the police force
that its direction may be restored to the
city administration. 2. The property
and business interests of this city, which
pay the school tax, take more interest in
rents and other revenues than in the edu-
cation Of the rising generation.
Its time for the people to observe the
tendency of property to evade the assess
ment and payment of tax. It is proper
that the people should note the growing
symptoms of a purpose to transfer much
OF the burdens of paying the debt and
meeting the expenditures Of the city by
packing the cost into the heavy pannier
now borne by the people.
Whatever be the excess of appropria-
ton for teaching the children OF the peo-
pie or guarding the lives and homes of
the people. it should be reduced to the
rate OF a just compensation. In the mean
time the people should know that what
ever be these appropriations, they are paid
to and expended among the people. Cut
down the police force, and reduce its ex-
penditures two hundred thousand dollars.
1t is just this sum withdrawn from the
business OF the place and the people.
Economize the expenditures of the schools
by suspending the pay of the teachers for
two or more months, or otherwise. Very
well, the people will have to support the
teachers themselves during this period.
We DO not say that it will not be right to
economic every public expense possible,
but we wish the people to note the motives
and the effect OF the school and police
reforms OF which we hear so much.
1t is indeed singular that we hear SO
much OF these two items OF expenditure,
and so little Of some others, such as the in
terest payments on city obligations, the
number and salaries Of city employees, etc.
The expenditure for support of. the fire
service is never referred to by the Demo-
cratic economists and refornlers. It
seems sacred fund. We by no means
assert that it is excessive, but the protec-
lection Of the brick and mortar Of the cap
ltalist is certainly of no more consequence
than the protection of the life or rights of |
me humblest member of society. Let
he scythe Of economy shave the swathe |
II expenditure as near the ground as may
20 compatible with the vitality of the |
tubble. Let Us reduce all expenditures
70 far as they may not impair the effective
operation Of our institutions. But while
We should not enlarge these expenditures
o give patronage to one party, we should
er'alnly not reduce them to appease the
iscOntent OF another.
Recurring to the proposal to economic
be expenditures for public education,
7hich IN 1874 amounted to some 100000
'r this city: This is to be effected by
during month or two the
ay of the teachers. We are reminded of
similar economy proposed some years
nee in another Of our public institutions.
The Opera House was run one or more
'asons by an association Of stockholders.
fell into embarrassment so that there
as demand for the strictest economy
I'd the most rigid reduction of expendi-
res. Our friend Larothe, then, and =;
believe always, a most active and hon
able agent Of the administration, re-
lived fer his services an extremely +
oderate compensation. He reported 8
at special meetings were held to
nsider the state Of the lyric drama, and q
devise means for arresting the terrible
aims on the association. Every leak I
IS to be stopped and every sluice of rev. L
ue turned into the treasury. The result u
one OF these special meetings left to the
esdent to report these remedial meas 6
es. He is represented as telling over to
mself all the available economies and a
sources, and finding most items of ex- t
nse so fixed by interest Or necessity that
y could not be touched, he suddenly a
we'd the whole difficulty by exclaiming: O
viii cut down the salary of Lamothe. W