The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-12-22
THE MAYORS MESSAGE.

The message of his Honor, the Mayor, as
sent before the Council yesterday, will be
found under the head of Council Proceed
ings. 1t will be read by our citizens with
deep and even intense interest, as brief and
vigorous exposition of the Strengthened affairs
of the city.
1t is the opinion of Mayor Leeds that all
the taxes required to meet the payment OF
interest and principal of the city debt, to
support the schools and police ss now con-
trolled by the State, and to pay the necessary
expenses Of the city, can not be collected.
This experience has demonstrated, and ne
believes that unless taxation is reduced 1t VIII
be impossible to obtain means to carry on the
functions of the city government.
He therefore recommends a careful scrutiny
of expenses, suspension OF the tax Tor the
payment of the interest of the public debt,
and the withholding of the school tax and
police tax until schools and the police are
placed under the control of city authorities,
both being municipal institutions, though
wrongfully governed by the State. He deems
the levy of these taxes by State compulslon
violative of the great American right OF
local self-government."
The cost of schools and police, if placed
under the control Of city authorities, as they
ought to be, would, in the opinion OF the
Mayor, be reduced by 500, 900 or 100000.
Few will deny that the schools and police
of the city, like those Of other cities, ought to
be under the immediate and sole superintend-
ence and control CT the Mayor and Council;
but until the laws are changed this change OF
control can not take place. A refusal by the
Council to levy the school and police taxes
would be instantly followed by compulsory
process OF court, and the disobedience of such
process would work the vacation OF the cffi-
ces of those members of the Council who
should so disobey, and their places would be
filed by the appointees of Kellogg. Relief
must come at last from the Legislature.
Whether the course recommended by his
Honor will hasten or retard legislative relief,
is matter about which opinions will widely
differ.
The levy of the city debt tax is obligatory
under stringent provisions of the City Charter
and other statutes. Albeit the tax can not,
as the Mayor affirms, be collected if assessed,
still the assessment of the tax is a plainly
prescribed function of the Administrators,
the non-performance Of which will necessa-
rily be followed by mandamus, etc., as in the
case of the school and police taxes.
The purposes and desires of the Mayor
will meet with deserved approval, but exist
ing Radical statutes enforced by usurping
Radical State government oppose barrier
which must be removed before the good
aimed at can be accomplished.
1t is to be hoped that the Mayors message
will receive the early and serious attention Of
the members of the Legislature. It points
out the difficulties and embarrassments under
which the city labors; it remains for the
friends of reform and justice to devise. per-
feet and apply the remedy. 1t is especially
incumbent upon the large and intelligent
delegation of the city in the General Assembly,
to be prepared to present and urge such bills
as will meet the pressing exigencies SO forcibly
set forth by the Mayor. Acting in concert,
urgently aud persistently, much may be &C
complished, but no time is to be lost.