The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-10-20
auy preferrirg of individual interests before
the interests of the whole people, snouio
meet with Interpretation and rebuke.
PREPARE.

Itmay not be necessary to remind the mem
bers who represent the city Of New Orleans in
both Senate and House of the General Assem-
bly of the reformatory legislation In behalf OF
the city which the people expect at their
hands There is a general interest and no
little anxiety felt as to what will be done at
the session which begins in about eleven
weeks from this date
Some fear that the General Assembly will
drift into general debate and miscellaneous
legislation before the all important business
Of repeal and reform is begun. Others fear
that compromises and balances may be at
tempted which will result in the mitigation OF
abuses rather than their removal. Others are
apprehensive of such waste of time in de-
batting, such pulling back on the part OF the
minority in the House, aid such obstinacy
among the members of the majority IN the
Senate holding opposite views and purposes
that the sum and substance of the work ofthe
session will be little more than to pass
legislative expense bill and general appro-
priation bill.
In order to allay these apprehensions it is
to be hoped that the friends Of reform will be
prepared to act early in the session. That
they may be ready SO to act. vigorously and
in concert, they will be wise in making their
preparations as much in advance as they
can. They will find it profitable to
con the statute books of the past
eight years and make lists of acts which
should be abrogated, and of others which
ought to be amended. They need only to
consult the various acts for general appropria-
ton to be guided to the several acts under
which the State has been plundered. They
ought not to wait to be reminded of these
legislative enormities only when the general
appropriations for 1876 are brought to their
notice, as usual, few days before the close OF
the session.
If repeats of laws calling for needless or
excessive expenditure of the peoples money
shall fail in the Senate, the friends of reform
ought to be prepared to reject the items which
the obnoxious laws call for from the list of
appropriations.
Much will depend upon the representatives
Of New Orleans in both houses, whose con-
stituents pay about one-half Of the taxes and
licenses for the support Of the State govern
ment. Upon all questions of reform and re-
peal, their success will depend upon their
unity, and that unity can only be had by
previous consultation. Besides reforms re-
lating to the State at large, there are others
of yery grave importance which relate exclu-
sively to this city.
Paramount in importance is the immediate
RESTORATION to the municipal government of
the entire control of the public schools of the
CITY, giving to the Mayor and Council the sole
authority to procure school-houses, employ
superintendents and teachers, regulate their
terms Of service and their salaries prescribe
studies, and do all else nece ssary for the good
of the cause of public educ ion, without
other restraint than afixing a certain low
limit to the single uniform tax to be assessed
for school purposes.
If the reasonable concessions thus asked
for are not made, then our city representa-
tives ought to withhold their assent to the
assessment and collection of any school tax,
or to the appropriation of money for the pay
ment Of the salaries Of officers of the school
system, or for any of its expenses. City rep
resentatives should take time by the forelock,
and be agreed as to their positive and unalter-
able demand, as well as upon their action in
the event of refusal Of concession.
They ought to demand restoration to the
CITY of all control over the city police with
the sole proviso limiting the tax to be as
sessed for police purposes. The Radicals
will, of course, fight hard for their standing
army, and will give it up only after severe
struggle. But the nuisance of police force
in a great city, over which its citizens and
government have no control direct or other
wise can no longer be endured.
The park tax for a COW pasture which the
city will never need and can not afford, must
be repealed, SO that the city treasury may be
4 relieved to the extent of $160, COO per annum.
!. The city government must be empowered
to save from $50, 900 to $4,000 more in Off
cial fees. to select its own medium of advertis.
ing and publishing, to make such arrange
ments with the bonded creditors of the city
under the premium bond plan or otherwise, as
the necessities of the treasury and the
ability of tax payers may demand, and to
limit the amount Of excavation and drainage,
and to have the same done by the loves
bidder.
The bills for the accomplishment of these
and other reforms and reductions might be
prepared before the General Assembly meets
and they ought all to be introduced on thu
first day of the session and got before the
Senate as early as possible. Let the friend
of reform be thoroughly agreed as to their de
mands and as to the bills by which their jus
and equitable ends are to be obtained. 4
thorough preliminary understanding will b
:. of incalculable benefit.