New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-01-28

tinued. This was the middle of city al
/ faars, whom Mayor Conway retired from
office, bequeathing to the three subsequen
administrations an enormous debt, and Il
speak in gentle terms, all the irregularitie
that crested it.
In 1870, whom Mayor Flanders was Up
pointed, the recorded debt had reached the
sum Of SIS 100000
The exact amount of liability for cit,
nstes had aever.been accurately discovered
| There was n02State law and seldom ever
an ordinance of the Council authorizing
their issue. They were scattered broad
cast, and have been credi ply informed
that these notes were put in circulation
whenever money was required. There i
no record extent of how much debt was &C
cumulsted by this loose and fraudulent sys
tom of imitation, 90 widely spread, and q,
beyond the reach of all investigation, tina
although the Flanders administration tool
some Millions Of them out of circulation
they are still to be found decorating tn
windows of city brokers. Some of thest
notes are old and dilapidated, as we'll they
might be, bat how to account for fresh anl
comparatively new looking ones, is prob
lem Only to be solved by the imse ination
As there is no way of tracing their legiti
macy, may there cot be q mandatory Of
them in some convenieu: corner, even t
this day.
The city debt increased and is still in
creAsing under the pressure of these damn
| able notes; they are worth in the market
forty. five cents to the dollar, because they
taxes. By what law, by what right, art
these pieces Of paper accepted by the pres
| emit administration, when these same Ad
| ministratOrs would refuse to recognize sever
| Der cent currency bonds in payment Of
| taxes, nor would they even pay the interest
due on them?
It was in 1869 that an act was passed, al
| th0rizing the issue Of seven per cent cur
rency bonds, to retire the loose issue of city
notes, and this law was carried out with
some vigor under Mayor Flanders, who
came into Office in 1870.
This administration found toe city credit
1T very low, ebb; the bonds and floating
debt quoted under forty per cent, and al
|. though the revenues were exceeded by
nearly. g., 900, 900. confidence was SO far re-
stored that the city credit was re-es.ab
lished, and its evidences of Indebtedness
gradually rose into favor. and at last were
worth over eighty cents to the dollar.
During this administration city improve
meats we're carried on with some activ-
ity; certainly more than the revenues jus.
titled, sud the debt was increased thereby.
But whsrves were built, levees and reve--
ments were constructed many streets were
paved and other works progressed, which
might account for the excess Of expenditure.
Much might here be said in praise of the
4sy0r's constant though battied endeavors
to check unnecessary expenditure, but l
shall refrain, for have the greatest friend
bear in mind Taileyrsnd's saying, "Surtout,
point de zeie." When the Flanders admin
istraton went cut of office the debt had
reached $22 ,OOO, 900, having increased
q, O00, 900, e. 000, 900 being the issue Of con.
s0lidated seven per cent currency bonds fog
the Withdrawal of portion of the floating
debt, and g.. 100000 being for expenditure
in excess of revenue.
Tho Witt administration came into
power under many disadvantages. They
inherited from the Flanders government
what the Flanders government had inner.
tied from its predecessors-debt. Other
difficulties hedged in Mayor Wilt. He
had to contend against the political
troubles Of that day. There were two
Legislatures, each one claiming to be legal.
Mayor Wilt, a Democrat, would not seek
assistance 1t the hands of Legislature his
party refused to acknowledge. Although a
was unable to combat with the difficulties
him without the aid OF ieg;sla.
ton, and like Mercutio he might have Justly
exclaimed, "a plague on both your houses
Had the Mayor not felt himself trammelled
BY party lines, his administration would
have left traces of good deeds Hence it is
that public advantage may be crushed by
the conflict Of political parties.
II may be said thai the payrolls were not |
- heavy during the Wilt administration |
10 in the previous one, for there was evil |
IDENTIFY desire to contract the expeni;- |
tures, but the City Council was hampsred |
oy oppressive contracts. the adniolstra-
jon loudly declared at that time that they |
we're on cash basis. and would not issue |
certificates Of Indebtedness. Yet, 70 my |
mind, they adopted and pursued much
worse system; mean that of transfer.
The transfer system was highly psrn;cious
md frsught with evil, for the actual credi
or was left in, false position his time
'spor deprecated by the broker, who would
lot acknowledge it as certificate of city
stating there was Q contin.
ENJOY behind which rendered it unsafe, and
hus the needy creditor was abandoned TO
be mercy Of spectators. The bonded and
oating debt, at the time Mayor Witt re-
lred from office, vas. speaking in round
umbers, about &22,ooO,OO0, and it can
reditably be said Of. Mayor Wilt that
Ehile he did not increase the debt, he re-
uced taxation ene-hsls per cent.
The Leeds administration succeeded in
In 1886 tho city was divided into three
each having Council, re-
order and other municipal effcers-above
1ese was Mayor and General Council of
be whole City-but where the legislative
overs of the three municipal Councils
aded and those of the General Council be-
m was question of some difficulty, and
ave rise to continual disvrusts and confu-
ON. The disorders arising therefrom de-
rec.ated the value of their bonds and
ther promises to pay, and caused thinking
nd well disposed men to see the necessity
reecuing the three corporations from the
infusion into which they had fallen. merg-
& them into one city government and coz
the various debts. This plan,
,wever, was not carried into effect until
70 year 1852.
The various municipal governments.
Their through cupiditY, negligence or in
'pacity, have permitted the indebted
~ of the city to increase until it has
sumed the proportions which threaten
crush us in one common ruin. AS give |
ties, You can draw your own differences as
Who 10 to blame. I am not here tonight
deaounce Democrats or Republicans. nor
praise either. shall give you q plain
cital of the most prominent facts in con-
'ction with our city governments, and
hall nothing extenuate. nor aught set
,wn in mslice."
No act can be more corrupt than that of
On placed in high official positions who
ade upon the knowledge derived from |
eir office to the prejudice of the commu-
ty with whose interests they are intrust- 1
!: In all countries it is considered high |
lime and misdemeanor. All may have
lard Of Hudson, the railway king. He
- director and chairman Of many rail- [
~ companies, as we'll as Q member Of the /,
ritish Parliament, controlling committees
! railways. Becoming aware from his
saitiOn that certain chartara warn ahnut | 4