New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-11-10
CITY CoUNCIL-oFFTCIAL.
REGULAR MEETING.

CRY HALL, NEw ORLEANS,
Tuesday, November 8, 1878. J
The Council met this day al twelve
o'clock NJ. in regular session.
Presentation. Charles j. Leeds, Mayor,
presiding, and Administrators Bertoli,
Brown, Bouny, Burke, Mccarthy and Pills
bury.
The minutes of the previous meeting
were approved and their reading dispensed
with.
Communications from the Mayor and Adj
ministrators.
MIR. Bouny presented the folio wing com.
munication, which, having been read, was
ordered spread on the minutes and referred
to the City Attorney:
DEPARTMENT OF ASSESSMENTS,
November 9, 1875. 5
To the City Council of New Orleans:
beg 30 call the attention of the Council
to the valuation of the property, real and
personal of this city for the year Is IS,
made out by the Board OF State Assesso RS,
which valuation is to be the basis of taxa
ton for the city for the year 1876
The assessment rolls, turned over to the
city by the State assessors for the above
purpose, show a total valuation of SllS,-
35S,995 The city assessment made in the
year 1874 tax of 1879 by nv predecessor
in Office amounted to $ll9,298, 5O4.
Now, it is an undisputed fact, and the
taxpayers of this city will bear me out in
the assertion, that the latter assessmen
was, Gu an average, about twenty per cent
above the real assessable value of the taxable
property in this city. In further support of
this assertion will briefly state that appli
cations for the correction of assessme ts
for the year 1874, amounting to $60l9, 1874,
were presented to the present city admins
ton, from the month of December, 1874, to
the thirty-irst of August last, aud upon a
careful and personal examination of each
respective case by well known, competent
and trustworthy experts, total reduction
of 81 ,270,3S6 was granted, equivalent to
nearly twenty-one per cent on applications
representing, as stated above, assessments
amounting to $6,0l9,194.
The time has come when the public ser
wants should, regardless of immediate con-
sequences do what is right, and let the
people see things as they really are. 1t
will be all the better in the end.
Property should be assessed, as the law
directs. at its actual cash value, and the
rate of taxation be based upon this legiti-
mate valuation.
In view of these facts, and the general
complaint of the action OF the Board of
State Assessors upon applications for the
correction OF erroneous and excessive as
sessments, deem it the duty of the City
Council toward the taxpayers of this city
to do all in its power to afford them Just
and proper relief from such oppression, and
to that effect l respectfully submit the ac-
companying resolution, with the request
that it be referred to the City Attorney for
his opinion as to it's legality and right of
= haH -aI 20, mat int
P. L. BOUNY, Administrator.
The Mayor laid before the Council COM
munication from j. jackson, president of
the New Orleans Gaslight Company, rela-
tive to contract for lighting city in 1876.
Referred to Administrator of Police, who
reported by resolution.
Financial and Other Business on Final
Passage.
Mr.. Brown called up the ordinances de.
scribed as follows, which, having been read
twice, were now on third reading, and they
passed unanimously, the yeas and nays
present at roll call voting:
An ordinance providing for the payment
Of the several accounts therein named, be,
ginning John McPhelin.
An ordinance providing for the payment
Of the several accounts therein named, be,
ginning New Orleans Bee.
Resolution authorizing the Administrator
OF Public Accounts to warrant in favor of
John Coleman for $56S a. was read and re,
ferred to the committee of the whole.
Reports OF Committees.
By Mr.. Bertol and adopted:
Favorably by resolution on the petition Of
Nine. c. Bariac and Mme J. P. Sarrazin,
for the extension of the waterworks into
the Providence Asylum.
By Mr.. Bouny, for Mr.. Landry, and
adopted:
]. Favorably by resolution on the petit
ton of the Kip Rowing Club to erect q
boathouse on the levee, between Mande-
vile and Spain streets.
q Favorably by resolution on the petition
of d. Motfat & Co., to erect steam engine
at No. SO Gravier street.
By Mr.. Burke, for the committee of tn e
whole, and adopted:
cAVordUly ny resolutlou IOr tno opening
OF New Orleans street.
By Mr.. MCCARTHY and adopted:
Relative to the expiration of the gas con.
tract with the city, with resolution recon-
mending the appointment of a committee OF
three to confer with the president of the New
Orleans Gaslight Company, relative to the
renewal of the same.
The Mayor appointed Messrs. Mccarthy,
Landry and Brown to act on said com
mittee.
By Mr.. Burke and adopted:
l. Favorably, by resolution, on the ma,
jority petition of property owners on
Pleasant street, from st. Charles to Maya.
zine streets, for the construction of side
walks, ETC., and unfavorably on the petit
ton protesting against the construction of
the same.
2. Unfavorably on the claim of F. H.
johnson, for services said to be rendered in
December, 1874.
8. Relative to the decree of the Superior
District Court in the case of james Cook vs..
the city of New Orleans, ordering the open
ing of Philip street, etc. Referred to the