The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1876-03-22

rdnccs. 70 nominate commissioners Of
election, md to appoint ehetn with me
consent ~ the ConDeii, and to prescribe
suoh regulations ms hre usual ana ne
cea.Ary for such elcction
10 shall notify officers in charge 81
registration aud oleotions under state
laws 10 furnish III, books. documents.
ballot boxes, aud other pprpl,ernalhs
which may be- needed In said elections,
ID lurcordance with tho above reeitod
Act Of the General Assembly.
Returns ri snid elections shall be
made To tho Mayor without delay, md
hy him submitted 10 the Council. wbe
shall Mt once examine the same. and
make formal publ icntion OF the result.
30 II further ordained. etc, Thai MI
costs and EXPENSES incurred IN carrying
out the provisions III the above cited aet
ahnll bo paid out Of the FIRST moneys
collected ~ herein provided for. Y
Your comiuittoe, In submitting Ihc
above ordinance. further report that lhc
city has no means Mt command ~ n'r"t
ti,c necessary cxpense oI s,iu rlontI"'i,
and that und"t3 Che constitutional
amendment the city govcrn'l"ilt has ny
right to coutrat't any obligation ar f"vt
doncc Of indebtedness without funds on
hand "a meet the same. Those poitts.
with many others. create In the minds
of Your committee serious doubts ~ 10
the ability of the city 81 carry out the
law ns II stnnds .44 .
The ordinances was adopted MI
hn.lry voting ag,sinst ~ op tho ground
that in his opinion IL was unc"nsiitu
,ionHl HASH ii. hI E--..
MI. burke on casting his vot" made
the following explanation q
Upon the ordinances relative 10 tho
the lax TO be- imposed for the purpose Of
building tho New Orleans and Pacific
Railroad. Administrater Burke said, in
explanation Of his vote
M. Chairman ~ follow the example
Of our Legislative representatives, and
explain my vote upon this question, |
am opposed ~ tho hwy Of u tax. for The
reason that II uus far towards breaking
down the policy Of the city administra-
ton, which II now rapidly tending to
wards tho relief Of tho, city FROM her,
financial cmbarrhssmcnts. ] believe
That tho imposition ofrany additional
tax at this time Ia bound 10 materially
injnre tho operations ~ this adlninisffa
ton and that IL would no unconstitil'
tional with tho position Of any admins
traitor or any member Of this .adininis'
trntion to favor tho levy ~ this tax in
the face of tho memorial and the state
mcnts that VIC have placed before the
Legislature, before our creditors. before
tho people If this city and the people Of
this whole country. We have said to
the Legislature and ~ tho people Of
this community H. IL out of the power
Of this people To pny n tax exceeding
ono and half per cent in the
present condition IT affairs. We
have said 10 tho Legislature. THAT II was
impossible for this people 10 pay the
| Ia, Int.
upon tho bonds that were already MAJ
turcd, and IL would be u strange nd
mission for ,is 10 say, on tho ono hand.
We cannot pay our creditors over the
amount that ID provided for In the "a
per cent taxation, and In the next
breath say that we can levy aud pny n
tax 81 pcr cent for the purpose Of
building this new railroad.
/ am opposed to tho levy Of this tax
NJ the present time. and think II Is OK
cecdingly unfortunate for tho city gov
ernmcnt and the people Of this city.
that this tax should be levied at thfa
time; but yet do not see how under
tho law, M n city officer bound by tho
law. l should De justified In voting
against this ordinance. We are work
ing up to the requirements Of the law
and expecting every one else to work
,lp To It. 80 far as our premium bond
plan In concerned. through which. WI
believe. the city will emerge from her
Hnan cial embarrassments, and my adj
iitional tax levy must weaken our efforts
In that direction.
On the other hand, am, not disposed
to vote against the passage OF this ordi-
nance for the reason that IL places the
matter In tho hands Of the people.
We do not letv thu tar. but we submit
the same To the constituents who voted
us into office. to say II they will impose
| the tax or not to say TO them that the Y
have sufficient intelligence to elect nd
ministrators TO Office, but that they IRE
not competent to decide upon this uues-
ton, Is ~ position ! arm unwilling to
assume.
The adoption Of the ordnance affords
the opportunity for nll persons opposed
to the tax to test II in the courts.
| vote for the ordinance. but am op-
posed to the lcrV of tht tnf al this time.
| Administrator PiIsbury alao explained
| his vote In favor Of this ordinance, aud
said II this ordinance was for The pur-
pose Of levying n tax, he would vote
against IL as being unconstitutional and
injudcious, but ID In simply n
question referred to our own constitu.
cnts. It would be inconsistent to shy
that we would not allow those who had
elected us to Office to say whether or
not this lax should be imposed Ithink
| IL IA unconstitutional, but, lido not know
that the prqsldent or this coupcil or any
other member have ever been appointed
Judge and jury too. think II should
| be left to those who are moro nearly
oonccrpcd. ] consitlcr this ordjntnct
simply a piece Of Obedience tothe law.
which, while Il antnils no harm. leaves
tho matter to the Judgment 1T the poo
pie. '. 80 ~ ~ =" -
The Council then adjourned.