The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-01-05


bayonets. and the conservative men,
bers Of the House then withdrew. l de-
sire in addition to state that my object in
organizing the House in the manner l did had
several legislative precedents. The whole pro-
ceedngs were copied from the journal OF the radi-
cal Legislature Of 1858, OF which was member.
the legality OF which was afserward suostantiated
by all the courts OF our State.
GOVERNOR KELLOGG'S MESSAGE.
,.. NEW ORLEANS, Jan. T. 1875.
The following are the more Important portions
Of Governor Kello9gs Message to the Legisla.
ture:-
Since the adjournment OF your predecess ors
disastrous crevasses In the levees have destroyed
the crops In several sections ofthe state and pro-
duced much suffering among tho people. which,
however, has been greatly mltgated by the be-
nevolence OF the citizens OF other States, notably
OF Massachusetts,. and by the bounty wnicn the
general government has bestowed upon us with
unsparing hand.
Political disturbances OF grave and wide.
spread character have also seriously impaired the
prosperity OF the State and retarded It's industries
Both these causes have diminished the revenues
aud prevented close collection Of taxes; yet. In
the year that has just passed. the receipts have
been nearly equal to the expenses The rate OF
State and city taxation has been largely reduced,
and, for the FIRST time for many years, not one
dollar has been added to the public debt, which,
on the contrary, has been sensiby reduced. Call.
Ing to mind the unparalleled dif1culties the State
government has had to encounter since the nrst
day Of Its Inauguration, may be pardoned for re-
ferrlng with pride to these financial results, OBJ
PUBLIC DEBT AND TAXATION.
The total bonded and noating debt OF the State
when the present administration came into once,
exclusive of the amount due the fiscal agent
viz, $150,0O0, which has since been paid
was $23 4O7. auditors report OF December 81,
1871 1t was increased the first year OF
this administration BY the issue Of bonds author
lied by acts passed by previous legislatures,
viz. Bonds issued to the New Orleans, Mobile
and Texas Railroad Company, on section OF
twelve miles OF completed railroad, under act
No. 81 OF 1870 for $125,0OO. and bonds issued to the
North Louisiana and Texas Railroad Company,
under act No. 1Os Of 1869, for $57e,ooo; making
total OF $24,634,4O7. The Issue Of the last named
bonds was rendered obligatory upon me by de-
clson OF the supreme Court Of the State.
The bonded and noating debt has been decreased
as ionows:-
REDUCTION OF THE BONDED DEBT. -
By the redemption q ps,s due bonds $3.50" 90
TO bonds a. the dollar. 56l,4so 90
axpucrIoN OF THE n rLoarlSc I DEsI
from back taxes Of sso00Oo and BY ex-
S @sTrsns ande for Of
bonds 'oooss 70
srotal reduction of debt under present ad-
mnistraton ST. 500 $50 %
sNorx-This total docs not with figures, but
| given as received by telegraph.-Ass. PRESS.
| The rate Of taxation in the city oil New Orleans
In 1872 when the present State government came
| into ONCE was State, including school, q J.
mills; city, 80 mills. Total, SIX mills. The
rate Of taxation for the present year, as
reduced by the measures passed by the
last Legislature, is:-State. including schools,
| lax mills; city, rs mills Total, 39K mills,
making reduction OF the taxation Of the city and
| state under this administration OF IL mills.
As the rate Of parish taxation Is, by law, limited
to the rate OF State taxation and the rate OF state
| taxation Is now limited by constitutional amend
| ment to lax mills, including schools, 1t follows
that In no parish OF the State, outside OF the parish
OF Orleans, can q heavier tax than 20 mills be
levied in any one year. In previous years the
State and parish taxes In some parishes OF the
State reach a. high as 10 mills. The act adopted
by the last Legislature providing for the funding
Of the State debt, and the constitutional amend
ment connected Herewith which have since been
| Idtlueu ny buc PCopC, ioAm Z" aAAoS' A'"F~H'~-'
feature in the financial history Of the State.
FLING AT THE DEMOCRATS.
when the present State government came into
ONCE the public debt, contracted BY the previous
democratic and republican Legislatures was con-
fessedy out OF all proportion to the resources Of
the state. and the incoming administration had
10 face the alternative Of reputation or compro-
mise with the creditors OF the State. Believing
that tndiscrlmnate reputation Of the obligations
OF the state, whether justly or unjustly incurred,
would be dishonest TO our creditors and eventu-
| ally disastrous to the state, We sought first to
test through the courts the validity OF such bonds
| as were popularity believed to have been issued
without adequate consideration and then to eject
such an adjustment OF the remaining voted bonds
| as would be as fair as possible to our creditors
and AFFORD that relief which was absolutely neces
sary to the taxpayers or the State II will not be
forgotten how carefully each step which led to the
passage OF the Funding bill was considered; how
the advice OF the Chamber OF Commerce and the
leading business men was asked and obtained,
and, nnaly how the state, anxious TO pay Its just
creditors 10 the utmost limit o. Its capacity, nxed
the rate OF funding at point ten per cent higher
tnan the limit which experienced nnancers who
had examined into our resources deemed the
State able TO pay In connection with the Fund
ing bill | recommended 10 the Legislature the
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