The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-06-12

indorse all it contains, but find it interesting
to large classes, and publish it with the view
of calling attention to an important subject
Communicated
Tax Resisters and Delinquents.
The Mayor and Administrators keep up the
cry raised some years since by tax resisters,
of poverty and inability to pay running ex-
penses and interest, and, unfortunately for
the creditors of the city, have not the ability
to devise any mode by which the financial
status may be improved, except some scheme
to be carried out at the expense of the bond.
holders.
Administrators and property owners are
''cussing" this interest to be paid, and like
all men in debt from folly and improvidence,
keep thinking how jolly it would be to get
clear of debts without paying them.
A late issue of the BULLETIN gives an analy-
sis of the grades. by amount, OF part of this
vast army Of tax delinquents, as advertised in
the latter part Of May, for unpaid taxes OF
1875. This analysis shows 525 persons and
corporations, each one owing the city up
wards Of $1,000, some of them many thousands,
the total indebtedness being 1857, 600!
In looking over this list, l notice the names
of hundreds, yes, thousands of persons. that
any one at all familiar with city residents will
recognize as abundantly able to pay, among
them cotton factors, grocers, dry goods
dealers, etc., ETC.. owing amounts all the way
up to $500 and $500.
I select from the published list the names of
sixty-fv individuals and corporations. owing
the city for tsxes sufficient, in the aggregate,
to more than pay the past due coupons of in.
terest. -
Fourteen banks owe $29,176. eleven city
insurance companies owe $54, 1873, ten rail-
rtryi IND
viduals owe $4,000, making a total of up
wards of $4,000
The banks and insurance companies are all
prosperous dividend-paying concerns, vary
ing from ten per cent up to thirty-five per
cent Among the thirty individuals are bank
presidents and many other well known money
lenders, large holders Of mortgage securities
and of valuable productive real estate. The
railroad corporations are most Of them divi-
dend-paying, and all have most abundant re-
sources to pay taxes.
/ see the columns of the Off cial journal
filled with sheriff's advertisements Of sales
for taxes Of small properties, many of them,
no doubt, belonging to impecunious individu-
ais, and think the bondholders have the
right as creditors to ask why these sixty-ive
wealthy individuals and corporations are not
singled out and made to pay.
1t is unfortunate that the officials from
whom we expected, when we elected them,
some financial ability, should be engaged in
devising ways to withhold from the bond
holder the interest due him, on the plea of
poverty.
What respect have we for the man who
pleads poverty as an excuse for the non.pay-
ment Of just debts, while he rides In his car
rage and arrays his family in "purpie and
fine linen?"
How about the women and children whose
protectors have passed away, leaving as their
inheritance for support city bonds How
about the aged and infirm, whose little all is
invested in city bonds :?
Have they no rights Must their coupons
go unpaid and they starve, while the wealthy
delinquent taxpayer enjoys the fat of the
land?
There can be no doubt but property owners
themselves are much to blame for the large
increase of per cent of tax levied, by their
persistent refusal and neglect to pay their
taxes promptly, thereby giving the govern
ment the means to pay cash for current ex-
penses and interest. Under the forced credit
system, the debt has nearly doubled. and the
yearly increase Of per cent has been made
necessary by the deficiency caused by delin-
quent taxpayers being necessarily added to
the budget Of the succeeding year, thus rum
ming up the per cent in few years from two
to five per cent
There is but one way out Of this muddle and
that is to go back to first principles; collect
promptly what is due, and pay as you 60. If
the rich wont pay they must be held up to
public scorn, and be made to pay. The poor
may and should be treated leniently; individ-
uals may shirk and repudiate; their day is
short, but the city endureth and must pay,
and beg to state how she can.
The present system of advertising delin-
quents was gotten up for the benefit Of city
attorneys, newspapers. clerks OF courts, mort
gage officers and sheriffs.