New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-03-24

We hear it complained, this regulation
| clothes the Council with little more than
clerical function, we are to presume that
this is all that is necessary or was intended.
None of the agencies in the municipal
administration has any inherent right;
none has any authority of any kind not
conferred by la@ The agency of each
has been limited and defined, and it is
not proper for one to look upon either Of
of the others with envy. The Council,
like the Board of Health, is composed of
citizens of New Orleans who have been
elected or appointed to their positions in
consequence of their supposed personal
fitness for the duties which devolve upon
them. Generally speaking these duties
are of q ministerial character, in the per-
Torrance of which some little tact, which
may pass for discretion, is necessary, or
at any rate useful. 1t is as impertinent in
an Administrator to look with envy upon
police commissioner as it would be for
the latter to importune the Legislature to
give him vote in the Council. Each
derives what official authority he has
from the same high source, the Legisla-
ture. and both would be merely private
citizens. not even clothed with mere cler-
ical functions, unless appointed to the
clerkships, or whate yer they are, by COM
petent authority.
While the law has settled the distribu-
ton Of powers and duties in the ma nner
referred to, we might perhaps consent to
a change, provided anybody can guarantee
that any good would grow out of it. Let
US suppose the Mayor and his seven wise
men to be raised to the lofty pinnacle
which their friends claim they ought to
occupy. What would they then do which
they can not now do to pull the financial
cart out of the slough in which it is now
badly stalled? Could they materially re-
duce expenses? Could they persuade the
tax resisters to become better citizens, and
promptly discharge their liabilities?
There are but two ways possible by which
the burden can be removed
1. To pay the public debt.
2. To repudiate it.
Before the city treasury will be in
condition to do the first, heavy payments
are absolutely essential. There is no
power that we are aware Of that can au-
thorize the latter, or make an attempt in
that direction successful.
It can not be supposed that the legal
imposed upon the acts Of our
agents have the effect to
shackle their minds. Their mammoth |
brains are as free to work out great inven-
lions and submit them for approval or
as though there were no laws
requiring debts to be paid and contracts
o be complied with. We can not accept |
he plea that the interference of the law
S detrimental to the interests of the pub
ic. 1t neither dwarfs the brain nor ex-
uses an officer who neglects his duty. If
he members Of the Council will address
AeuscANes " lAo ouiles imposed upon
hem by law. and not worry about those
Kings which have been committed to
'thers they will do all that can be ex-
'ected Of them. Any spare time they can
ind might be devoted to suggesting plans
# what they would do if they had the
lower to run the city at the rate of five
+ six millions year upon four million
evenue and at the same time keep out of
ebt. Perhaps one of them may think Of
valuable in this way, if he can
ivest himself Of the habit of fretting
bout other peoples business.