The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-08-18
Central Committee Property-HOld-
ers' Union.

The regular meeting of the Central Execu-
tive Committee Property Holders Union was
held last night; President Arch. Mitchell in
the chair, and quorum present.
Mr. Koontz, chairman of the Committee on
the City Dsbt, submitted report showing
that the debt of the city had increased from
1864 to 1874, inclusive, 81, 933,071.
Mr.. Kountz said that the report was a
partial one, and was intended merely to show
the increase of debt from year to year. The
laws and ordinances authorizing or making
the increase would be looked into and COM
piled by the committee and would be pre-
sented at future meeting.
Mr.. L. J. Highly, chairman of the Commit
tee on Statistics and Correspondence, reported
that the committee had mailed copies Of the
constitution of the Union to Grange organiza-
tions in 80 Parishes of the Union.
The committee had expended seven dollars
in postage and expected to be remunerated.
The committee referred to the many plans
for the reduction of the city debt, and recon-
mended the adoption of resolution providing
for consideration, by the committee, of all
plans, and approval of one plan at the first
meeting in September.
Mr. Seaman, Chairman of the Committee
would be impossible for the committee to
make thorough or satisfactory examination
of the assessments for the year 1876. The
assessments by the Board of Assessors were
compiled in bound books, and no rolls would
be made until corrections had been made and
the assessments completed.
The committee had no complaints to make
against the present Board of Assessors. So
far as the committee knew, the Board was
acting in a proper manner. Assessments as
made by them were lower than they had been
for years before, though they are not low
enough to cover the depreciation of property.
Act No. IL, approved March 16, 1875, I'M
der which the Board acted, was benefit to
the taxpayer in that it reduced the cost OF
assessments in the city from one hundred and
seventy thousand dollars year, to thirty
thousand dollars.
The report was adopted
Mr.. A. Delavigne, chairman of the Com
mittee on Drainage, on the resolution of the
Seventh Ward Union relating to the forcible
collection of the drainage tax, reported that
the Union as an organized body had no ca
pacity to appear in court to prosecute or de-
fend the individual rights and interests of
any member.
The committee was of the opinion that Act
81 of 1871, creating the Drainage Company,
could be successfully contested by the city.
The city Administrators might do much, if
they only would; if they refuse the only relief
that could be obtained would be through the
Legislature and reformed judiciary. The
committee recommended the appointment of
q special committee of three to draft bill for
presentation to the Legislature giving the de-
sired relief.
The report was adopted and was referred to
the Executive Committee with instructions to
present it to the City Council and urge action
to test the constitutionality of the act Great
ing the Drainage Company.
The recommendation of the committee re-
garding a special committee was accepted,
and the chair authorized to make the appoint
ment.
A resolution protesting against the lease of
the Water Works offered by Mr.. Kountz, was
adopted.
Several matters of no public interest were
discussed, and the committee adjourned.