The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-05-12

Isrnment to the lowest possible figures consis
emit with the preservation of the health of th
city and the continuance of those expend
lures which are absolutely necessary to carr
} on the city government; but am unwilGn
to proceed until the LIST of next month, o
even until the 18th of this month, and thel
be required BY the Administrators Of thi
city, to discharge upon the community thos
employees who are necessary, not only for tn
requirements of the city, but for the preserva
ton of its health.
There are few men who have worked
harder for reduction in the rate of taxation
than have. have exertsd every effort il
my power to procure relief from the ONLY
legal source, and those efforts have failed
1t occurs to me- that whilst we may assume
to encroach upon one fund to save the city
from threatened disaster, that it will be insult
icient, and unless some further steps are taken
we will be brought face to face with this
issue, that, onerous as taxation now is to the
tax-paying community, are we responsible fol
its existence? Is it not out Of our power to
afford any relief? It was well known when
we were selected for position the laws under
which We were to act, and it was we'll known
that these burdens existed, and it was as
| we'll known that the taxes would be
nearly as high as heretofore, as the
assessments had already been fixed; and l
now claim that this Council has discharged
its duty by limiting and regulating its ex-
penses down to the lowest point consistent
with proper administration of its functions.
We are running the administration Of affairs
under our control nearly one million dollars
less than previous administrations have run it
on, and L claim in that respect we have met
the legitimate demands Of the citizens upon
US.
In view of the fact that this rate of taxa
ton is imposed by power not under our
control, and that we are in duty bound to
preserve and protect the interests confded to
our charge, think We must meet another is
sue that is being presented to us. As re-
marked, the contemplated encroachment will
not be sufficient to carry this government
through and this same issue will be pre-
sented to you in avery few weeks again-how
out you collect the taxes?
How can you pay the laboring men that are
now employed, or its officers, or the charities,
Or the Fire Department? How can you pro-
tect the interests of the people that are placed
in your charge, unless there is a collection of
taxation? Can any person blame you for it
Is it better to permit those delinquents who
fail to pay their taxes to remain in debt to the
city. and let anarchy, ruin and distress pre-.
vail throughout the whole community
Or is it your duty to collect the taxes and
prevent greater disasters to the city. I see
no way to escape this taxation, and we have
either to collect the taxes or turn the en-
ployees away without bread, and as between
the issue Of the collection of taxes and allow
ing our city affairs to run into bankruptcy,
to leave this city subject to pestilence and
anarchy, between that issue and the collection
Of the taxes, in the performance of duty, oner-
GUS as it is, have no hesitancy in expressing
my opinion.
If you throw the charities and protection
Of its property upon the community at large,
there may be some wealthy ciri-
zens who will be disposed to lend a helping
hand, numbers must suffer great distress
and it is far better in my opinion that we
should make the effort to collect the taxes
than that We should be compelled to turn
ported and employed by the city, and neces-
sary for its proper government
Mr.. Burke moved that when the Council
adjourned it be until Friday, II o'clock, and
that the resolution be laid over until
Friday.
The ordinance was laid over to be consid-
cred at the meeting to be held Friday next
An ordinance appropriating 1925 monthly,
April 80, 1875, as salary of the Fifth
Justice of the Peace, in conformity with act
No. Al of the Legislature was adopted.
A communication from the Board of Health
''as sanitary measure of the
highest importance, flushing the street gut
ters by opening the sluices through the levee,"
was referred to the Administrator of Improve
ments. as was also a communication from the |
same body, relative to the condition of the |
COW diaries of the Fourth District.
The petition of taxpayers, residents of the |
upper portion of the Fifth and First Districts,
asking that skiff ferry be established Tor
their accommodation, and recommending N. |
G.. Gunnigle as suitable person to conduct
The same, was referred to the Administrator
Of Commerce.
A communication was received from the
National Water Works Company Of New
York, asking for terms, etc., on which the
,ity would lease the Water Works for period
Of fifty years. Referred to the Committee of
he Whole.
A communication from John F. McAllen,
Secretary Of the Council of the Mechanics
md Workingmen's Association, asking on be-
half OF the association that the rolls be made
public, was referred to the Mayor.
The Council then adjourned until Friday.
Gen. Bartlett's manly speech at Lexington
8 still bringing forth good fruit The latest |