The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-03-10
Reports of Committees.

the moss factory on Franklin street. Recon-
mended for reference to Committee Of the
Whole.
BY the Administrator Of Commerce: Favor
ably upon the petition OF Louis Tore, who
desires to lease lot Of ground at the foot OF
st. Philip street. ..5
BY Administrator Bouny: Favorably upon
the petition of the directors Of the Society
for Relief Of Destitute Boys, desiring exemp-
ton from taxation on property belonging to
said association.
Resolutions.
By the Administrator of Commerce: Au-
thorizing the Mayor to lease lot of ground
to Louis Tore.
By the Administrator Of Assessments: That
the Administrators of Public Account, and
Finance be authorized to cancel Judgment of
the city VS. the Orphan Boys Relief Society,
suit No 73 100 Superior District Court
BY the Administrator of Commerce: Re-
newing the lease of A. Sparicio.
Also resolution authorizing the Mayor to
lease lot of ground to A: Sparicio.
Administrator Burke offered the following:
Whereas, the prostration in business and
pros.ration in the material interests of the city
OF New Orleans renders the tax payers of the
city unable to pay the present high rates of
taxation without great distress and luminous
sacrifices. and
Whereas, nearly two per cent Of said taxa
ton is levied under legislative enactments
that deprive the City Council of all power to
regulate its expenditures or reduce the same
BE Resolred, That the Mayor and Admin
istrator5 OF the city of New Orleans, in Com
mittee of the Whole, at once prepare such
legislative enactment as may be necessary to
authorize said Council to reduce the rate of
taxation.
Resoired, That the following recommends
ton to the representatives. of the city in the
Senate and House, with the request that they
urge the passage of the same at the earliest
practicable moment, viz:
l. An act to authorize and enable the City
Council of New Orleans to reduce the tax for
payment of interest on the bonded city debt
at least one-half
2. An act to regulate the organization of
the metropolitan police, and to reduce the
expense OF same to sum not exceeding
$3.50, 900, and to provide for the prompt pay
ment Of the same.
3. An act to limit the expense of the public
schools of the city of New Orleans to sum
not exceeding 5000, 600.
1. An act authorizing the City Council of
New Orleans to regulate the tax for the City
Park purposes.
). An act authorizing the City Council to
limit and regulate the charges of SLeritfs,
Recorders, CoroIers and Board Of Health of
New Orleans -.....
g. An act to authorize the City Council of
New Orleans to retire the bonded debt of
the city, and reduce the volume of the same;
fix a uniform rate Of interest thereon, and for
this object only to issue new funded bond
at thirty years, bearing per cent interest, to
an amount not exceeding sixteen millions of
dollars.
In support of the foregoing, Mr.. Burke |
spoke as follows:
ha1t hot H. e
Gil will heartily approve each provision Of |
this resolution, except it may be the sixth, |
which authorizes the City Council to retire |
the bonded debt of the city.
In this come ction | desire to state that it |
is proper and eXpedient that this authority |
should be had, whether it is found feasible in |
the future to carry it out, or not, as it is one |
of the means by which we may arrive at a So
luton Of the difficulties which surround our
city debt.
There has been submitted recommended
ton by the committee of this Council, and of
course there will be various propositions
discussed when we have conference with
the difft rent bondholders and creditors of |
this city; and it yet remains to be seen which
will be the one Of the greatest interest to the
citizens of this community to adopt. 1t oc-
ours to me that there can be 10 possible harm
in securing the authority of the Legislature to
handle this debt, when We can get into posi-
ton to do so.
1t is quite apparent TO me, that at this time
no arrange ments eau Ee made with any per- =
sons to reduce the volume OF our debt; in the
present condition of affairs no capitalist will
touch this Council or this city administration,
because there IS no security or stability, and
no guarantee that any agreements made by
this City Council will be carried out, from the
fact that our politi al troubles have assumed
such shape that no definite calculate MS
can be made by capitalists concerning our
future course
1t may be that the enactment that has
passed the Hahn Legislature, after being
lgned BY Gov. Kellogg, will be held by the
courts to have become law, but if it were
not signed, but held in allegiance, no capital
sts would touch the city government, be- &
rause there would be no calculation at what
time this city government might cease to
exist.
But if We have an extra sion of the
Legislature, which | apprehend will be the |
case, now is the time for US to prepare to | /
AXE some definite action with regard to the t
condition of our affairs: it will not be time i
70 wait until another session of the Lagisla- I
ure will convene; because l apprehend that |
f you fail to take some imme date steps look
ng toward an adjustment OF your affairs that
you will be out Of existence before the con- !
'ening of another Legislature, and it will !
hen be too late.
My impression is. to inaugurate such
measures as will tend to the immediate relief !
If the tax-paying interests of this community. J
The first resolution have offered is with '
egard to the question Of taxation and inter-
st; and the last is one concerning the debt
If the city. l OFF, the one concerning the
interest first, because it is the question Of in !.
crest that bears SO heavily on the taxpayers. !;
offer the one concerning the handling of ..
he debt last, because if propositions !, ?, 3, .
!, s. are carried, | am sanguine that the tone :,
# affairs in this city vii DC upon basis that
viii give renewed confidence to the citizens,
nd will 'nable US to make such arrange
nents with the creditors of the city as will !
'e alike just and tair to the bondholders and
ax-payers | think if these five provisions a
re- carried, the credit and fair name of this f