New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-04-17


lessenad, taxation, 6eate, city and parisl
; within the same period has been material
reduced.
The general expenses OF the State hav
been decreased, but there is still muc
room for reduction. The expenses of til
government ought not to exceed 5000, on
nor ought. those of the General Assembl
to exceed $3.50 l would further recon
mend that the salaries of parish judge
should in future be paid by the parishes
and not by the State.
NEW ORLEANS.
The most difficult problem to 10 lai'
before you for solution will be the dnancia
difficulties of the city of New Orleans.
ad intended to recommend several meas
ures which. in my judgment. would affort
at least partial relief, but being advised
that competent persons, including the city
members. were considering and preparing
bills for the relief Of the city, l have
concluded to make no specific recommends
tions. Brief stated, the facts that con
front you are these. The city, with ar
assessed valuation for its own purposes Of
| taxation of much less than half the valuation
| of the whole State, has bonded and floating
| debt as great as the debt Of the State was
before the passage Of the funding law, if not
greater. The inter( st upon this debt and the
expenses Of the city government, including
the ne cessary cost of paving, repairing and
lighting the streets, involve an annual out
lay larger than any revenue the city is
practically able to collect. This condition
Of things under various city governments,
Democratic, has been growing up for
many years, and each year the debt
of the city has increased and it's re.
sources have diminished. To check this
evil the last Legislature, on my recon-
incubation, supported by the Chamber of
Commerce and the then City Council,
passed, and the people have since formally
adopted constitutional amendment limit
ing the debt of the city to its present amount
and prohibiting the issue of any warrant or
evidence Of Indebtedness in the future IN
less against cash actually in the treasury.
This amendment will prevent the city from
getting deeper into debt, but will not relieves
its existing embarrassments which are very
serious. Its interest is in arrears, it owes
q large sum to its employees, and bonds to
the amount Of several millions OF dollars
have fallen due, or are about to mature,
which it has no means of meeting. l COM
mend this subject to your most serious con.
sideratiOn.
RESTRICTIONS ON COMMERCE.
There are many hindrances to commerce
in the way Of unnecessary inspections, vex.
atious port charges, licenses and monopo-
lies, which should be removed, or lghtened
as tar as possible, by legislative action, and
measures adapted to this end will be laid
before yon by committee of the Chamber
OF Commerce. An application will also be
made to you to incorporate board of
trade for the city of New Orleans. This is
matter which should receive your prompt
and favorable action. l am confident YOU
will give to all the recommendations Of |
the merchants and direct representatives.
of the commercial and financial interests of |
New Orleans due weight and consideration.
The welfare of the whole State is 60 closely |
connected with the commerce of the CITY OF |
New Orleans that your earnest attention |
should be directed to any measures calcnla.
ted to promote the business interests of the
lily.
There is much complaint regarding the
OF disbursng the taxes raised for
levee and school purposes. The limited
lime OF your session will not probably per-
nit Of such legislation regarding these
matters as may be necessary, but if proper
teps were taken to ascertain the nature
INC xtent Of these complaints, the Legis-
allure at its next regular session would
doubtless be able to apply the proper
emedies.
In conclusion permit me to say that your
ction in the session on which YOU have
inferred will be watched with greatinterest.
ot only by your fellow citizens but by the
ntire country. 1 venture to indulge the
lope that by wise, prudent and salutarv
chon on your part the troubles of our
tate will be substantially ended, and that
ut OF them will spring condition of har.
'ony and peace unhoped for few months
NICE. This result attained, l believe
louisiana will speedily take the position she
ughs to occupy as the most progressive
nd prosperous State in the South,
WILLIAM p. KELLOGG,
Governor.
Mr.. Blunt moved that go copies of the ;,
oeclal message OF the Governor be printed
n the use of the Senate.
MIR. Brewster moved to amend the mo.
on by inserting 900" instead of 1850"
The amendment was accepted by Mr..
lunt, and the motion adopted as amended.
o!IcE or BILLS BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT.
Mr.. Greene gave notice that he would on
mo future day introduce an act to amend |
act relative to the private markets of l
70 city OF New Orleans, and to repeal and =
mend act No 81 of 1874, entitled an act
regulate the private markets of the CITY 1
New Orleans.
Aleo by Mr.. Greene: :
An act providing for assessing and COL
citing the taxes of the parish of Orleans, I
e city of New Orleans; also for the par. !
les of the State of Louisian% and making 2
9 thirty first day Of March the end of the
cal year after the year 1876; providing .
nalties for failure OF duty of officers, etc.
Mr.. Eus'is asked leave to introduce a bill,
which previous notice was not given.
MIR. Wharton called for the ruling of the y
esldent this morning, and made the point :,
order that the bill was not OF the subject y
liter OF the special message of the Gov