New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-01-04

that limit, unless extended by joint resolu
ton as now provided, would probably
work no injury to the State, and would
certainly result in diminution of expendi
ture.
FURTHER REDUCTION OF EXPENDITURES
The fees and emoluments of all tax col
lectors throughout the State should be re
duced and limited, so that no country tai
| collector shall in future receive more thar
$4,000 per annum, Or less than $500, and
no city tax collector more than $4,000 pei
annum. 1t is safe principle to affirm that
there is no public officer in Louisiana whose
sponsibilities so great as to justify larger
compensation than $40, 900 a year.
The fees of clerks of court and sheriffs OF
the parish of Orleans should be limited in
conformity with this principle. In the
parishes the sheritfs and clerks of court
should be paid by salary, mot in any case
to exceed $500 year, as full compensation
for all fees now charged against the parish
in criminal cases. The annual bills of fees
presented by some Of these officers against
their respective parishes for services in
criminal cases alone amount to over $4,000
per annum, an amount very much greater
than the value of the services actually rem
dered. The salaries Of parish judges should
be reduced, and should be paid by the par
ishes Themselves. The State would thus be
relieved Of an expenditure of over 500 900
year. 1t is question for careful considera-
ton whether the Office of parish Judge, as we'll
as the Office of parish attorney, or district
attorney pro tem., might not be advan-
tageously abolished, and the duties com.
mitted to the district judges and district
attorneys respectively.
An act Of the Legislature increases the
salaries of the judges of the Supreme
Court $l2, 800 over the amount fixed by
the constitution. This act should be re-
pealed. Under the head Of contingent
funds appropriations were made last ees-
sion to the amount OF 1877 900. This item
should be largely reduced.
Some legislation should be had with re-
gard to the different monopolies that now
prey upon the industries of the people.
Restrictions should be placed upon the ex-
transfer Of property, the recording of
mortgages, the protesting Of COM
mercial paper, and the recourse to
the courts from the smallest Justices
court upward. These matters, though not
strictly coming under the head of State ex-
penditures, can be controlled by legislation
to the manifest advantage Of the community
at large. The many unnecessary charges
which now hamper the commerce of the
port in the shape of harbormaster, wharf
niger and portwarden's dues should espe-
cially be removed.
THE CENTENNIAL.
An act Of q previous Legislature provided
for the appointment of State board of
managers to represent the interests of the
State at the centennial celebration of the
independence of the nation in Philadel-
phia in 1876, but made no appropriation to
defray the necessary expenses. 1 recon-
mend that . suitable appropriation be made
to maintain the dignity of the State.
STATE CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS.
l desire again to call your attention to
the condition of the charitable institutions
the State.
The Charity Hospital is burdened with
debt unavoidab]y incurred in past years.
In act No. 50 of 1874, an appropriation of
over $4,000 was made for this debt, which
fell through for defect of title and want of
funds. BY act No. II of 1875, $4,000 was
reappropriated for the same purpose, but
want of back revenues devotable to the
purpose has caused it hitherto to fail.
Meantime the appropriations for current
Ne1penees require some more thorough pro-
lons to secure their payment. In the
w. general appropriation bill certain
Res were set apart, which are regarded
ThSNtingent in their nature to be re-
ing u as q source of economy.
w necessfsaount Of sickness and suffer-
ticulsrly institution relieves and the
:. :, for the edeS$xists in this climate, par.
, ~ ~ homeless, reSf epidemic Of providing
,s' the Charity HoSment of the poor and
| also call yousAal appropriation for
'f w present condition aently proper.
'no and it's unfortunate Intention to the
'"s. =. immediate appropriateness Asylum
81 the regular appropriation nd urge ar
INC ! am informed that great Nance O.
ni'eu owing to the want of the pf relief
'i,'n, warming the building, and thSSSxist
aus strong probability of losing 81 O
INKS, ,..o of rnna;d wacN
'p'eo buildings are very much in want OF
III and I recommend that measures be
.o' to put them in proper condition.
ia'so The asylums for the blind and t
ieved nrount snd
pub
tailed ..r xrcuAH1cA1. ca
n'e IL The Louisiana State Agricultur
s"oA Mechanical College is now In the
think -;.ta,oo Tho desipn
acts of Congress has been az closely
ed az was possible with the limited
vet it can scarcely be called an agri
'nv or mechanical college in the true
State ~ -, .,,;+.h,a oronnds 6
ditors VIC ,+r, wh;ch won
t, re. &c rnn;1a from all
nstitu- "a. rs .or;cn1tnral
mission 100. "a sacura q me
follow -. -. :, Tho o;tv Groun
ever, have been purchased below
ton be 20 .a,,o.. With tho aid Of i,
alaries "A'~ .;,, soor ha in a cond
States. ,ooot;o, wbere