The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1875-12-22

The time having arrived when yor,
are to prepare the yearly budget and
levy the annual tax, L submit for your
consideration the following suggestions
thereon
1t Is evident to any one at all conver.
SAINT with the pecuniary condition ol
this community that a tax adequate To
meet the demands Of the public cred.
itor, the requirements of the laws in re-
lation to the public schools and police,
ana the necessary support Of the city
government, cannot, II levied, be col
lected from this impoverished people.
The experience OF the past year clear
~ demonstrates that unless taxation be
reduced TO IN amount which will be
within the ability Of the taxpayers to
meet, the means necessary to carry on
the functions Of government cannot be
obtained.
The ability TO pay the existing rate Of
taxation has become each year less and
less. indicating thereby that the amount
exacted exceeds the net revenues Of the
community, deducting the sum neces-
aary for It's support.
A portion being thus taken each year
from the accunulations OF more pros
porous times, the capital necessary for
reproduction has been gradually cur.
tailed, and the revenues therefrom
diminished year by year. Imperative
necessity, therefore, demands relief for
this overtaxed and oppressed people.
In view Of which recommend
First--A strict scrutiny OF all items
OF expenditure within your control,
with determination on your part to
bring down the expenses OF every de-
partment to the lowest possible point.
Although you have made during the
past year great reductions therein, 1t Is
to be hoped that greater experience In
the affairs OF the city may enable you
to make still further curtailments.
There are many charges imposed up
on the city by State law, which cannot
be changed except by the action Of the
Legislature, awaiting which, relief can
only be obtained by consent Of the par
ties interested, who may be induced to
relinquisb portion OF what is now al
lowed by law in view Of prompt cash
Measures should be taken
10 that end as we'll as to bring to the at
tention Of the Legislature the needed
reforms
Secondly-Ihe suspension Of the tax
for the interest on the public debt,
which is demanded as well in the intc-
rest Of the creditors as the citizens, for,
1t Is evident, that unless immediate re-
lief be given from the oppressive taxa
ton which Is destroying the value Of all
and preventing any recupera
ton from our present PROSTATE condi-
ton, the inability Of the people must
cause eventually, from utter prostra-
ton, reputation Of the debt
Thirdly - The Withholding Of the
taxes for the public schools and the po-
lice until they shall be placed under the
control OF the city authorities, so that
the expenditures therefor can be re-
duced to the point demanded by the
poverty Of our people, and their man
yS'bitIib tpil'tNtbt't III dtt'i 'i'irIlCo Win
The views of those by whom they are
and for whose benefit they
should be maintained.
Both the schools and police, although
institutions, are, by existing
laws, under the control Of State authori-
tlcs; they are managed with no regard
10 the sentiments or interests OF the
;itizcns who have been taxed for their
and / cannot deem law con
stitutional which would compel you
% levy tax for them, contrary TO the
we'll known wishes Of your constituents
Indeed, Il law which demands the levy
IF such tax seems to me not only a
gross usurpation, but violative Of the
great American right Of local self-gov-
That eminent jurist Judge Cooley, Of
Michigan, in u case involving the powers
If the Legislature over municipal cor
says:
"The doctrine that within any gen
,ral grant Of legislative power by the
there can be found authori-
~ thus to take from the people the man
.gement Of their local concerns, and the
,hoice, directly or indirectly, Of their
ocal officers, If practically asserted,
will be somewhat startling to our
)cople, and would be likely to lead to a
more careful scrutiny Of the charter Of
government framed by them, lest some
lines, by an inadvertent use Of words, |
hey might be found to have conferred |
lpon some agency Of their own the
egal authority to take away their liber
les altogether"
Again he says: "The State may
mould local institutions according to
is views Of policy or expediency; but
ocal government is matter Of absolute |
light, and the State cannot take it
way. It would be the boldest mockery
o speak Of city as possessing minicl-
,al liberty where the State not only
haped its government, but at dis
retion sent in its own agents to admin
ster il; or to call that system one OF
Constitutional freedom under which it
hould be equally admissible to allow
he people full control in their local
fairs, OF no control at all. "
In another place he says: When the
tate reaches out and draws to itself
nd appropriates the powers which