The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-05-19
MEETING OF PROPERTY
OWNERS.

A largely attended meeting of property own
ers was held yesterday at Carondelet Hall, Elk.
position Building
MIR. Archibald Mitchell was called to the
chair and Mr.. W. R. Richardson was request
to act as Secretary.
The following Vice Presidents were APP
pointed
Peter Manning, James Campbell, James
Timony, John Williamson, j. G. Lee, J. F.
Fluesman, j. w. Delesdernier, John Wallace,
W. 81. K Fitzpatrick, N. Burke, W. w. Care,
J. johnson, H. N. Pike, J. A. Florat. James
Powers, Capt. Lucy. Capt: Moore, s. H.
Davis, Jr., James Hart, Joseph O'Brien,
Charles d. Reed, John Purcell Fred. South
mayd,A. Seikmau, Andrew Lemare, id. Hill,
Alex Hill, A. Thompson, R. Geddes, Jos.
Shakespeare, D. P. Scanlan, George Merz, B.
Saloy, john Paisley, J. G. Rolevit, - Reifu-
cend, H. J. Weikenham, George Schmidt,
John Grayer, J. Degrais A. J. Ward, Pat
Coyle, James Keeting, H. Walters, J. L.
Davies, H. Van Wenther.
On taxing the chair. Mr.. Mitchell kaid:
Gentlemen Il have accepted the position of
Chairman of this meeting with much reluct-
ance. Not from indifference in regard to its
purpose, for every plan having for its object
the relief of this suffering people has my
heartiest sympathy. But think some one,
either representing greater interests or en-
dowed more largely than myself with the
faculty of speech, should have been selected
to preside over meeting whose purpose 1t is,
as understand it, to give birth to an organi-
zation having for its object relief to the inn
poverished taxpayer; class formerly highly
actoop,ad but updor tho now 1iSnanSatiOn
only remem oered to be robbed
Individual effort, however able, conscien-
scious and well directed can accomplish little
or nothing It is only by the moral influence
Of the united and persistent efforts OF large
masses that 4 any important end can be
reached. Therefore, it particularly becomes
property holders, who are directly and OBJ
viously aggrieved BY excessive public exac-
tons, to unite for mutual protection and IN
self-defense, against public robbery, dis
guised under the delusive and specious name
of taxation. The theory of taxation is that
every mans property is benefited to greater
am cunt than the taxes paid. But this maxim
is rendered absurd, when the whole OF mans
property is taken, under the plea of defray ing
the expenses of guarding and protecting it.
This is infinitely worse than anarchy.
Although fully assured that every interest
is destroyed by excessive taxation, and that
none suffers so severely as the working
classes, because capital-.hat part OF the
public wealth set aside for reproduction
through the agency of labor-is absorbed by
the State, yet it has been thought proper to
form an association of property holders alone,
as they pay taxes directly and are more obvi-
ously affected by them, and are consequently
less liable to be msled by false theories as to
the true cause of the utter prostration of oil
interests.
I will close, gentlemen, by enunciating
maxim whose truth is undisputable. All
tax .tion in excess of what is sufficient to de-
fray the expenses of government exercising
only its legitimate functions, is robbery, and
should be resisted as such"
The meeting is merely preparatory, the
resolutions to be read will be suggestive of
some mode of action by which the interests
of the property Of the city may be SUBJ
served.
When Mr.. Mitchell had concluded, the
following resolutions were read and adopted:
Whereas, all considerable interests in this
city have some organization of representa-
tive character, thus approaching in union the
advantages of united action upon all matters
important to their welfare;
And whereas, no interest has suffered more
than the real estate interest of this city and
State, or telt more the need of an organized
union;
And whereas, no community can prosper
under the blighting shadow of long injured
system of oppressive and ruinous taxation
against its real estate interest-the true basis
and substratum upon which rests all safe and
legitimate bu siness-when prosperous, giving
employment to tens of thousands of the
| sturdy sons of toll, and when deprecated and
| ur profitable, spreading broadcast general
want and insecurity, thus proving the infalli-
BILE test of city's prosperity; therefore.
| L. Resolved, That while this organization is
confined exclusively to property holders,
whose ultimate object is to remove the bur-
dens which Cypress the people, 1t is well I'M
derstood by us that all classes. professions
and pursuits are equally interested with the
property holders in removing the public bur-
dens; bat as unity of action is essential to
success it is thought proper to confne this
association to property holders exclusively.
| 2. Resolved, That this meeting Of city
property owners recommend and counsel
early ward organizations of this interest under
the designation: Property Holders Union,
Ward No. 1; Properly Holders Union, Ward
No. 2, etc.
3. Resolred, That no one shall be entitled
to membership in any Of such ward unions
who is not an owner of real estate, or legal.
| ly qualueu representative oi SuCu INTEREST,
as, for ins stance, husband representing his
wife, tutor the interest OF a minor, an ad-
ministrator the interest of an estate or duly
qualified agent foreign interest in city
property.
A. RESOLVED, That each ward may sub-divide
into divisions if deemed proper; as for exam.
pie /: Property Holders Union, Ward l, Di.
vision No. l Property Holder Union, Ward
/, Division No. 2. etc.
5. Resolved, That all the ward unions meet
on the first Tuesday of every month, and Of
tener, if necessary.
6. RESOLVED, That the ward union shall be
composed OF the following officers: president,
six vice presidents, two representing the
front, two the center, and two the rear oil
each ward secretary and treasurer.
| Z. RESOLVED, That each ward union shall es.
tablish Property Committee, composed Of
three or more members, who shall examine
into the property status of every member con-
nected with their respective unions.
s. RESOLVED, That on the first Tuesday ir
October coming the several ward unions shall