New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-05-05
=. oFF,c.AL JouRnAL OF TIE" srxTE 81 LouisiA Nx
Our Deli, Queus TaxVayers.

=. Our Deli, puens Taxvayers.
This unproftable class OF men to govern.
ment, particularly that portion Of thcm
thst have. the past been rebellicue- in
conduct and gloried in resisting the pay
ment Of taxes. continue to manifest IN
! uncommon interest in tie two bills that
passed the Legislature at its recent session
for tho relief Of delinquent taxpayers.
These bilis are still engaging the serious
consideration of Governor Kellogg, who
has not yet fully. determined what course
he will take in regard to them, although
yesterday, in the presence of Messrs. Hill,
Walker. Scales, Eustis and Koontz, who
called upon him for the purpose Of urging
him to sign them, he did express . disposi-
tion to sign the least Objectionable one of
the two. This is Senate bill No. ~, which
establishes shat all penalties due the State
for ron npayment OF taxes when due are to
be remitted, provided that said delinquent
and past due taxes are paid on or before
the first day Of December, 1878, and pro-
vided further that the provisions Of this
act shall apply ouly to the taxes due on
lands overfowed daring the food OF 1874"
This is the language Of tte first section of
the bilL Tho eec0Sd srction makes it nee
essaiy for persons claiming relief to make
oath before the parish or district judge
that their lands we're over flowed BY the
foods Of 1874. This was, the condition Of
the bill as originally introduced by a Re
publican, the object clearly being to relieve
the sufferers by the overflow Of last year.
I But our Democratic friends and tax resist
ers had sufficient in fuence over Democratic
Senators to cause new section to be added
(section three), which provides that upon
payment of the principal or the amount of
the tax itself, on. or before the frs. day of
November. 1875. all interest and penalties
thereon shail be RENTED on Ill taxes
throughout the State."' This opened wide
the door and let in the rich tax ressters Of
New Orleans, who have been fighting the
government ever since the Republican
party has been in power, leaving the small
property holders and the working classes,
who indirectly pay taxes, to bear oil the
burdens OF government. ess d, ".L1
Tho Senate bill, thus diverted from its
original object. is bad enoash, because it
tends to make taxation unequal; but the
greatest cheat sought to be ptrpetfated on
the honest Taxpayers, lsboring cc!ssses gem
orally and the government itself, is con-
tanned in the House bill for the relief of
delinquent taxpayers. II is entitled an act
to relieve taxpayers, to reduce the cutstand-
inr ind III xaI ,,oso ~ Ga cNo IL ouI <o NM,
vide for the remission Of the interest and
penalties on certain Unpaid taxes under
certain conditions, and providing for
the redemption Of property cold for
taxes and forfeited to the State.
The first section provides that ell
valid warrants. scrip and bonds of the
State shall. during the year 1875, be receiv-
able in payment of all taxes due the State
which have become payable and exigible in
the year 1873, and in all preceding years,
and in payment of all taxes falling due and
exigible in 1874 as are by constitutional
provisions required to be paid in United
States currency. The second section pro
vides shat that upon the payment Of the
principal, or the amount OF the tax itself,
all interest and penalties thereon shall be
remitted. The third section provides that
npon the payment Of the principal cf the
tax, IN accordance with tho other provisions
of the act, together with the costs of sale
for which any property has been cold for
taxes, and of which the title is vested in
the State, such property shall be redeem
able during to present year.
From the discussion which took place
yesterday, on these bills, between the Gov.
ernor aud the gentlemen who were there
to urge him to sign them, it was very
plainly m msnifested that he vss not without |
serious objections to both. regarding them
IA unconstitutional, in some aspects, and
predicting that even though he should sign
hem they might be enjoined by the courts.
md made to undergo the tests Of judicial
decisions. On tie other hand, Messrs Hill
Walker end KWnsz urged that it was the
luty of the Governor to sign them, as theyII
nigh. be properly regarded al rome Of the,
ruit of u Is M pt; and, that it, by their
ia1s. blame was to attach any
\ here, it should fall upon the Legislature
hat had passed them as measures of com 4
,romi4a. "a srga
The Governor. aside from his view of the
of these bills, said W while
that the gentlemen who had
'een foremost in resisting government and
he payment Of taxes were actuated by
'ure motives in doing so, yet TO have them
'ecome laws would certainly be rewarding
az resisters and the opponents of govern
nent at the expense of the honest taxpay-
RS and peaceful laboring men Of the State.
rom this it is plain that Governor Kellogg
7as not without light to see that if be was
. sign the bills for the benefit Of the de-
nauents he would be doing injustice to
theirs tho were not guilty of resisting the
Tvs.
Flour Inspectors.