The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-04-16
rHE NEW ORLEANS BULLETIN FRIDAY. APRIL 16. 1876.

taxation of much less tnan nef the VALUATION
of the whole State, has bonded and floating
debt as great as the dobt OF the State was
before the passage OF the funding law, If not
greater. The interest upon this debt and the
expenses of the city government, including
the necessary cost of paving, repairing and
lightning the streets, involve an annual out.
Law larger than any revenue the city is practi-
| callv able to collect. This condition of things
under various city governments, Republican
and Democratic but chiefly Democratic, has
been growing up for many years, and each
wear the debt of the city has increased and
its resources have diminished. To check this
evil the last Legislature, on my recon.
mendation, supported by the Chamber OF
Commerce and the then City Council, passed,
and the people have since formally adopted a
constitutional amendment limiting the debt OF
the city to its present amount and prohibiting
the issue of any warrant or evidence of in
debtedness in the future unless against cash
actually in the treasury. This amendment
will prevent the city from getting deeper into
debt, but will not relieve its existing embar-
easements, which are very serious. Its inter
est is in arrears, it owes large sum to its en-
ployees, and bondsSto the amount Of several
millions of dollars have fallen due, or are
about to mature, which it has no means OF
meeting. commend this subject to your
most serious consideration.
RESTRICTIONS ON COMMERCE.
There are many hindrances to commerce in
the way Of unnecessary inspections, vexatious
port charges, licenses and monopolies, which
should be removed, or lightened as far as
possible, by legislative action. and measures
adapted to this end will be laid before you
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.
am confident you will give to all the recon-
mendations OF the merchants and direct rep
resentatives of the commercial and financial
interests Of New Orleans due weight and con-
sideration. The welfare of the whole State is
so closely connected with tho commerce of
the city Of New Orleans that your earnest
attention should be directed to any measure
calculated to promote the business interests
of the city.
There is much complaint regarding the
of discussing the taxes raised for
levee and school purposes. The limited
time of your session will not probably per-
NIT Of such legislation regarding these mat
ters as may be necessary, but it proper steps
we're taken to ascertain the nature and extent
Of these complaints, the Legislature at its
next regular session would doubtless be able
to apply the proper remedies.
In conclusion, permit me to say that your
action in the session on which you have en-
tered will be watched with great interest, not
only by your fellow citizens but by the entire
country. l venture to indulge in the hope
hat by wise, prudent and salutary action on
your part, the troubles of our State will be
ended, and that out of them will
spring condition of harmony and peace un-
L.
lttained, 1 believe Louisiana will speedily
AXE the position she ought to occupy as the
most progressive and prosperous State in the
south.