New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-12-12
Reforms n City Affairs.
EDITOR REPUBLICAN:

Hpl1oH hEPC BLlCAN ~
In regard to reform, something must be
done more than, the outblrst OF any one
individual. There must be plan brought
about and determined upon by the united
counsel Of those having authority to enforce
it, when once conceived and made perfect.
Discussion OF the subject can only, at the
best aid those upon whom responsibility
rests. Out of many views or discussions
substantial and definite plan may be arrived
at. And here l contribute my say. With
you, l have no faith in Mr.. Fellows plan.
But suppose the city WAS to realize even
more than maximum for its batture prop
| erty and wharves, what is there to prevent
the purchasers from forming grinding mo-
! nopoly, and then. like other monopolies, re-
fuse TO pay taxes! Mr.. Fellows says that
| the wharves being owned by different in
| dividuals, there would be such competition
as to tighten the burdens of commerce.
| There would be such competition that the
richer or stronger owners would drive out
the poorer or weaker ones, gradually be-
come owners of the whole, and then, as in
| all such cases, fix their own tariffs.
| The city should not sell nor give away
| for rental or otherwise any of the property
| or franchises which it holds as "a corpora.
| ton, hut should manage and use the same
| for and in the interest of the public. When
the city becomes farmer of monopolies
and public rights, its Offices become sine.
| cures and its officers a useless and unneces-
sary public expense. We would say to!the
city, take back and hold under your CON
troll and direct management every depart.
ment and Interest that properly belongs to
the public--the people.
| And especially would we erjoin the re-
tenton, ownership and direct control of
the wharves. Say to the creditors of the
city, we owe you s23 100000. The paper
representing this Indebtedness is worth on
the market one-half, or less. The present
owners or holders have not paid for it
more than one-half. The shrinkage of
values and the depression of trade in geL-
eral leaves us unable TO meet your de-
msnds, and you must take less or nothing.
| We are able and will settle at forty per
| cent discount.
For the balance we Will give you bonds
running number Of years to be specified,
bearing reasonable interest and PAYABLE
in United States currency. We will then
reduce the current taxes accordingly, and
| especially will we unburden the industrial
enterprise Of the city. We will divide the
back taxes into four equal parts, each pait
or quarter payable in six and twelve
months, thus giving four years for the pay
ment of the whole; current expenses to be
paid out OF current taxes, and the back
taxes to be placed to the credit of the
bonded debt. Let the wharf, market and
other tariffs be Kept under the direct mar
| agement of the city, and let the prh be
taxed no more for their use than is actually
| sufficient to pay for supervision and repair.
1t probably would pay the city to have a
line of towboats to bring vessels to her
| wharves, and only make such charge for
| their services as would cover actual run
| ming expenses. Then let the Property
| Holders Union pay promptly current taxes
and back taxes, as they would fall due un-
der the installment plan, and hard times
| might begin to vanish. About the middle
of this programme let the Property Holders
| Union select some competent committee of
engineers tnot jetty mem to point opt line
| of railroad that will be most beneficial to
the State and city, guaranteeing to help
build the same by subscribing to the
| capital stock an amount equal to one
fourth of the assessed valuation of their
property, and guarantee the payment of
the same by mortgage on the whole-the
subscription to be paid in four installments
of say six months each. Anything that is
done to improve the interest OF the State
and city goes to improve the interest held
or owned by every citizen; and probably in
this manner to give one-fourth would only
be to double the interest of the three
fourths retained. To bring about prosper
ity every citizen should feel that the in
terest of the State is his. and every official
should act as if the lives and salvation of
the people depended upon his official honor,
honesty and economy. P. G.