The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-04-16
MESSAGE OF w. p. KELLOGG.

You have been convened to take measure
| which are deemed essential to the peace an
prosperity of the commonwealth. Inc oc
casion Of this extraordinary session 1arAs
new, and trust. better era IA tne nls.ol
of our State. If the opportunities y plesen.
are we'll and wisely used our feliow-citlzens
of all classes, will have good cause 70 reInem
Der with gratitude the movement tnis aa
inaugurated, and will not permit myself T.
think that any of YOU fail to appreciate full!
| the inheritance of the crisis we have reached
or the high trust committed to you.
| The history of Louisiana since its incor
nOratiOn into the Union, as summarized II
the messages of sue cessive Governors, from
| Governor Claiborne to recent times has beer
| unhappily prolific of race antagonisms ane
sectional jealousies and disorders. Though
second to no State in natural advantages o.
climate, soil and products, it has fallen fal
behind other less favored States in the de-
velopment of its resources and in the cultlva-
ton of that homogeneity of feeling ana inter
est without which no community can be per-
manently prosperous. The causes OF this lack
of progress and unity in the past have oeen
as varied as the ills that have resulted; some
are beyond the pale of legislation. They can
only be remedled by the action of time in
removing present prejudices and eraslng the
memory OF past traditions. Others are the
result Of the peculiar character of the popu-
lation OF the State and the prevailing dlversl-
ties of race, religion and language. others
again-and these by no means the least con-
siderable sprung from improvldent ana
oppressive legislation, and the disposition
which nearly all the Legislatures Of late years,
including that of 1865 81, have manifested to
subordinate the material interests OF the State
to the enforcement OF partisan purposes ana
the pecuniary ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF individuals.
1t would serve no good purpose to review
in detail the events OF our recent history.
The unfortunate past, with whatever mis-.
takes and wrongs may have been committed
on either side is before you; the consequences
OF those mistakes and wrongs, more eloquent
than any language could use, are also before
you. It is your privilege to correct and
remedy, or at least alleviate them; and more
important still. to otter guarantees that such
events sEall not again occur. After political
contest, the length and bitterness OF which
have been unparalleled, policy has at last
been adoped which think should have been
tried at first, and which I trust will afford an
immed ate aud satisfactory solution OF the
difficultie, tia. hays beset us for years and
entailed misfortune and distress upon the
people
1t is a most hopeful sign, in my opinion,
when, as now, citizens of all political parties
seem inclined to take the management OF
their affairs into their own hands, and sink
ing personal and party aims, unite to ad-
vance the general good.
One of the principal objects Of the present
session is to give effect to an adjustment OF
past political differences. The theory of this
adjustment, as understand it, is that it is q
free and voluntary concession by each party
for the sake of peace and the common
interest This extraordinary session has
been called chiefly to ratify and confirm, in
the most solemn and formal manner, this
mutual concession, and ut the same time it
presents an opportunity to restore peace,
order and confidence. We know how great
blessings these things are, for we have been
so long deprived OF them.
The other subjects which are specified in
The call for this extra session are among those
which have persi silently urged upon the at
tention of the Legislatures of this State in
every message have had the honor to address
to them. Now that better understanding
has been arrived at, confidently trust that a
more successful effort will be made to give
practical effect to these much-needed reforms.
For my part pledge my hearty cooperation
and prompt action upon every we'll considered
measure OF financial reform.
TAAAIlON AND IdE pUBLlC REVENUE.
With regard to the revenues Of the State
and the mode Of collecting and disbursing
The same, which forms one of the chief sub
ects for your consideration, l reiterate the
views expressed in my last annual message
and in other communications preceding,
namely: That the system of assessing and
collecting taxes now in operation is cum
brous, expensive and unjust, and should be
radically changed. The fees of tax collect
ors should be reduced, and assessors should
be paid by fixed salaries in lieu Of fees An
lct passed during the recent regular session
effects this latter change as far as the city
is concerned. A similar plan should be
extendsd into the country districts. Taxa
ion under the present system is very unequal.
Much valuable property belonging to wealthy
is exempted from taxation by
general or special legislation, though used for
ordinary business purposes and yielding
arge revenues while adjoining properties,
forming POSSIBLY the sole supp ,rt of widows
and orphans, are assessed up to their full
value As have said before, it is a matter
for grave consideration whether general re-
peal OF all exemptions OF private and cor
poiate property from State aud city taxation
would not be an act Of justice to the many,
involving comparatively limited hardships to
the few.
Another and still greater source of ipjus-
tice lies in the delinquent tax list. This
State affords no exception to the too gen
tral rule that the rich evade taxes aud the
poor pay them. The delinquent taxes OF
some OF the wealthiest parishes IN this State
amounted last year to nearly or quite eighty
per cent Of the entire tax levied. For iu-
stance, the delinquent lists in the
wealthy parish Of Caiio amounted las. year to
over $4,000, or eighty-three per cent Of the
entire tax. while iu ST. James, St. Charles, St.
John the Baptist and other parishes where the
people are peaceful industrious, but compare
tivley poor, the delinquent lists do not amount
to ten per cent Of the tax levied. The extent
Of the injustice thus done to law-abiding, tax
paying citizens by tax-resisters and tax
evaders is apparent On the LIST of January
last there were outs auding delinquent .axes
to the extent Of 81 264 900. The collections
on this account since that time amount to
about sl5O.OO0, leaving still over 100000
Of delinquent taxes due the State. At the
most mod. rate estimate, the delinquent taxes
r present more han three and halt OF the
fourteen aud half mills of the present rate
Of State taxation. II the people generally