The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1876-01-02

the tn.,i Ts.s ss Pacific Rsil.Osd ali the yssr
bGrncc IN the early complexion Of this road
Inc present funning TERMINUS OF the New Or
hsr Y,,,s .G h, ana Texas raroad ~ At Donald
ten .uies further, nearly 10 Bayou Gouiw. IN .
rad were Not completed from th,. point 70 conneot
AiexssAria, the problem OF direct railroad cc,.
Beettov " II Eoythern Texas would be messur-
sbly solved II any company or oombin stion Of
connection between Now Orleans and tho Tsras
Pacific, feel SURE Inst Congress-. white u may
n n.s be disposed to grant :.y new money SUBJ
pI0seDted request to transfer to such cUvnpintss
the grant Of go 400 acres Of publlc land, orig
a railroad FROM New Orleans to tho resas
PaeiAc. Much the Ereater part Of the land thus
granted lies between DonsidsOuv1l,s and shrsvs-
port. The value oftbese lands, "a have already
said. will. In a few years. nearly or quite repay
the oOkt OF constructing the road.
Finances OF New Oriear~
The financial condition OF the city Of New Or .
leans Ia such as to render some Legislative aotion
istratora. ~ far ss am able 10 Judge. "pnear
TO have labOred to the best OF their ability TO ca
tabllsh 'conofny In the different departments or
the government, but Notwithstanding they have
very largely reduced expenditures. the fnaneial
embarrassInents Of tho city have increased. 1
had hoped that the General Assembly com
prising ~ It does many gentienen thoroughly
cOnyeis int with city affairs, and some who hayv
held Responsible positions in the city govern
ment would havc boon able at its last session 70
inaugurate some effective measure II CITY re-
form. II during yonr present sessOn You ean
devise any proper means Of liitingthe city out ot
tts enIbnrr8ssneDts and elualizBg and relieving
the burdens OF tsIation, 1 will 90 operate witt
you to the full orient Of my power.
ests OF the taxpny ers would be aGvanosd ~
unlimited power OF incurrng and controlling
expenditures were vested In the pal corr
Inn vIf.vun UnRn Nhsn, "a
N theory, the history OF our chief cities, from
New York downward. does not practically justify
ne assumption. Ordinarily city councils. from
election, are less amenable to the people at large
than members Of the General Assembly. II Ia.
and expenditures. they eften find the te,nptst,co
detriment q tho public Interest too strong to no
reeisted. The heavy load Of imprOvidently in
CURED debt which incumbers nearly eli our chief
clties would seem to indicate that ths problem
Of honest and economical municipal governmspt
has not yet been solved In this country. and that
the solution certainly docs not lie In the noreass
Of the debt incurrins and tar assessing powers
now possessed by municipalities.
In this connection am impsIied to notice .
recent movement in the city Of New Orleans -
which many worthy citizens have lent their
names, think without duo consideration. which
sesks TO divert attention from the real causes Of
the entertainments OF the city by an attack
upon the taxes lsyied Tor scnco! and police p"r-
honest IN purpose or Justified by facts. The real
Object OF many OF the originators appears to me
to be to revive under this plausible gulse the old
tar resisting agitation. winch in the past has in
feted 80 much injury upon the law-sbidiDG
taxpayers OF the city, and TO which 10 itself is
attributable. . very large proportion Of tho
oil re difficulties
For many years past the annual expenses
Of tho city have exceeded the annual income.
This impr evidence OF expenditure has not beeu
confined to any one political party, bellows
am correct In stating that the city Char
ter was drafted by citizens not In any manner
Identified with the dominant party IN tho state,
for the express purpose OF removing from tho
control OF city affairs q Council elected by cha
people. and not belonging TO the dominant party
who a. o. tra Denditnrea hadJbr0u ght tho
city TO the verge Of bankruptcy even Ut that
time
IL was hoped the new system insugur ate0
would prove more efficient and economical
foI u OYRovernment. The expectations bsset
upon the new charter have not been reallxsd-
Four councils have held Office since Its adOp-
tieD In 1s70-One appointed and three elected:
two belonging to one political party, two to the
other. The result has teen the same In each
csse-an Increase Of debt differing only in do.
gree A constitutional amendment, adopted by
the lnst Legislature and ratified by the people,
prohibiting any council from hereafter increNs~
Ing the debt OF the city. has removed this ole
mept OF danger. The question now is how to
surnOunt present embarr0ssinenta aud how ~
carry on the city government In the future in
the most economical and efficient manner.
The total bonded and floating debt Of tho city
If New Orleans on June 30, 1916, was t23 1885,
9O0 On.
The taxable value Of real and personal prop
erty in the city IL t12I, 582 Oc2.
Tho delinquent taxes now due the city for the
last ak years are: