New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-01-29
new ORIKANs REPUBLICAN, SATURDAY, JANUARY 20, 1876

that public advantage may be crushed BY
the conflict Of political parties.
It may be said tia, the payroi,s were moi
a. heavy during the Wiltz administration
a. in the previous one, for there was evi
IDENTIFY a desire to contract the expendi
lures, but the City Council was hampered
by oppressive contracts. The admin!stra
ton loudly declared at that time that they
| were on cash basic. and would not Issue
certificates Of Indebtedness. Yet, 20 my
mind, they adopted and pursued q much
worse system; l mean that Of tranefer.
The transfer system was highly pernicious
and frsught with evil, for the actual credi
tor was left in false position, his time
paper deprecated by the broker, who would
not acknowledge it as certificate OF city
Indebtedness, stating there was q con:ln.
gency behind which rendered it unsafe. and
thus the needy creditor wac abandoned , TO 70
the mercy of specula:ors. The bonded and
floating debt, a. the time Mayor Witt re-
| tired from Office, was, speaking IN round
| numbers, about $22, 00GC00, and ii can
creditably be said Of Mayor Wilt that
| while he did not increase the debt, he re-
duced taxation ene-half per cent.
The Leeds administration succeeded n
1874.
The people showed considerable amount
of hopefuiness when the Leeds administca-
ton came into power, but it's conduct Of
affairs has not tended 10 inspire tie citizens
v itb confidence; they are not considered as
efficient as the two previous adm:n!stra-
tons. have already admitted that the
three bureaucratic administrations, after
Mayor Conway g retirement, inherited many
of the evils of bad government; but con-
tend that nothing has been shown by the
present City Council which enables ne TO
say the evils have been successfully Crap
pied with. 1t has been succession OF ex-
pedieute defiance of laws. making OF buGg-
cts, and laying out of plans Of revenue sld
expenditure without the capacity or desire
Of raising the first or controlling the latter.
The first shock the pubic confidence re-
ceived was when the excitement OF the
election was over. People could no. help
asking, are We justified in elec:ing for our
chief magistrate one who is. a. the start.
tax resisrerf How can he justly administer
the laws that govern city affairs and taxa
ton! The questions are we'll put, and
shew how idle it is 70 perni: the pass!on OF
political strife to place untried men IN prom
inent positions demanding lot only in'eg-
rity (tor that Mayor Leeds and the present
Administrators may justly claim, but obe-
dience to the laws; good Jud2men: ard
acumer, as we'll as clerical and commercial
knowledge Of NO ordinary calibze.
The several departments were doubtless
instructed by Mayor Leeds 70 re,rench. In
some instances they were ipJudlclouely
urged to do 60, to the extent that oIe de-
partment-that of Improv emen,s-almOsr
entirely struck work, and .he streets and
cutters have been kept only partially in re-
pair, and tina: under great difficulties:
The city has also been th7ea.ed with the
loss of g8siight, leaving us 20 the pleasant
ANTICIPATION OF dark streets, and conse-
quent!y prey to thieves and burglars.
What is the reason given Tor this threat
ened return to barbarisus We are told
that the taxes can no: be collected, ard
well may it be SO. when me chief MagIs- |
trate, and other prominent Cit Zeps, cave |
set examples OF successful tax resistance. |
To show how the revenues have been trited |
with, will mention q fact. Two wealthy |
and influential citizens. rich &c. only IN |
houses and lands, but rich IN Independent |
incomes, having successfully resisted the |
payment of taxes for fifteen yea7s, were |
being proceeded against by the saerii, VINO
thought it was high time they should be ,
made to pay. These two citizens applied !
to the sheriff to stay the proceedings against
them, which he positively refused 10 dc; out
they appealed 70 Mayor Leeds, who gave
the order in both cases tia: Tie proceed
ings should be suspended
These are but two instances-psoba0 oily
there are many Others. l. is, however. sui |
fcieri proof OF the gross hi Justice inflicted
on well-dispcsed persons wno Jay heavy
taxes regularly, while the rich. more tavo--
ably placed, escape taxation altogether.
Taxes have been levied under existing |
laws for the support of existing .nsti.u-
.ione, and the funds collected .nce- TIER
different rates OF levy rave evidently beer
aud INSTRUCTED into other
contrary to law, and at tie ex-
pense OF common justice 20 ,Lose .nlnec.-
arely concerned.
In this connection, an ordinance was
passed by the pcesen. administration. De-
,ember -. 1874. for the revenues Of 1870,
n conformity with the acts regulating city
axes, when the following ra.es were levied
N each and every 800 OF valuation upon
assessment of Sli9o0o,0G0:
loads and city debt FAX, 20 pay Interest
and REDEEM pt.on.. ....................... 81 y |
once Ia - |
Cp!-c School taL......,.. ................ -
ark tax. ............................. ~
urrent city EXPENSES tax ...... .......... %
Thus you Will see that the rates for 1919
7ere duly levied, and as a proof OF NAL
dmiristra ton and misdirec,lon CT funds,
have only to call the attention OF this as
emily to the fact that the bondholdeIs
ave not received their Interest; the police
ave not received their pay Tor very may
lOnths, and the school teachers have no.
cen paid for about the same period.
l look around me and find each section l
ave mentioned is here represented, ard
ley can bear testimony tina: ny statement
correct.
l may ask, what has become of the
loney! And is il Just. under the semblapce
law, to levy taxes for particular .nstltu-
0ns. and apply the money 20 Other puI-
oses!
Ga the fifth of January, 1876, an ordi-
ance was passed to levy taxes 70. le10,
nd in most cases inadequate 70 the re
for ,wenty-six cents can not
AZ the current interes. due 20 the bond
olders. Ii 81 II, levied for the came pur-
oee last year, paid nothing OF The interest, |
ow can it be done fo- twentysix cents tEis
ear! And If It is the intention OF the
ouncil not 20 pay. why impose the tax
pom the peoples
1t is notable that while las: year The Tax
WED for current expenses was Etty cents
nd we may presume all salaries were
wear, forlthe same purpose, thev |
ave actually levied fIty-seven cents.
gainst the fifty cents Of las: year, although |
le Council tells US 1.-The salaries have been |
,duced and economy studied II every par
GUAR"
| will here mention one Or two incidents
show how revenue may be re0uced.
he City Attorney receives salary OF $4,000
wear to perform all the duties of the law
apartment. Considering that no import
at law cases are in court, the duties must
e very light; but there is also an assistant
~ attorney, who is occupied 10 pursuit Of
x suits, and for al moneys recovered
om these suits ne receives a commission
i've per cent. This commission, paid 70
second party, tor duty that nigh easily
9 performed by the City Attorney, is said
yield close upon go, GOO. aud rumor fur
Ter says that this commission is equally
iyided between the assistant and tue City
ttorney. Is this sol ask for informa-
on.