The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1876-02-06

personal property for city taxation and the revis-
| ion of assessments is taken from the city and
given to board appointed by the Governor.
| Although the assessment rolls are the basis OF
the estimates upon which the City Council is ex'
pected to conduct the financial Affairs OF the CITY,
the Council is without power to regulate assess
| ments or to correct abuses. The control OF thus
| subject should rest with the representatives OF
the people who are affected thereby.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS. :,
Great dissatiefac ion exists IN the puDnc il,nu
concerning the administration Ct the pnDnc
schools of this city, growing out OF tne Gnalse
that many of the directors and teachers theIeol
are not selected with reference 10 moral OF
intellectual qualifications by reason OF which the
efficiency OF the schools is impaired.
The estimate Of expenses indicates the taA 70
be levied, aid the same has exceeded Inc amount
necessary under judcious management. 80
The c;tv has maid in cash for the year 1875
SOIL 053 ~ and vet teachers certificates are sold
upon the streets for less than 70 per cent OF their
value. 1T, a..
Under CITY management it is believed that
greater efficiency can be secured ana puonc Gis,
content allayed; that economical administration
and reduced taxation will enable more punctuaI
PAYMENTS, We but express the opinion Of a large
majority of the inhabitants OF this city when we
assert that the local control OF tbs subject
sbould be vested in the City Council. subject to
.nch general legislation as may be deemed nece:-
sary to guarantee the benefits OF education to all
classes
CITY PRINTING.
The printing Of the city government being an
item OF current expenses, the city should be free
to sdjudicate the same to the lowest bidder.
In conclusion, we respectfully beg leave o as
sure the General Assembly that We are actuated
in the presentation Of this memorial by the same
considerations that have induced the City Coun-
Gil to apply the principles Of retrenchment recon-
mended herein to every branch OF the CITY gov
erDment under our control.
Less than one million OF dollars Of the budget
OF expenses for 1876 is subject to the action OF
the Coun Ill. The remaining two and half mil
lions is subject to such notifications as leglsla-
tive action may justify.
A large amount of bonded obligations have
matured; the limitation concerning the sinking
fund has expired, and many judgments are press
ing upon the city for payment.
To meet all obligations, pay current expenses,
and carry the burdens imposed by legislative en-
actments would require tax OF near Elk per
cent upon all real and personal property OF the
city.
We need scarcely assure your honorable body
that such tax III the present condition OF affairs
is simply unbearabie, and can not be collected.
We have struggled to avert impending imam
cial disasters resulting from the terrible burden
imposed upon the city by extravaganza and inju-
dicious legislation in past years; and We now be-
lieve that failure to secure relief at your hands
will result in the most serious consequences to
the inhabitants Of this city.
The relief herein prayed for will enable the
city to reduce taxation and conduct all the
branches of the city government upon cash
basis.
We have the honor to be, very respectfully,
f. A. BURKE,
L. PlIsBURY,
j. G. BROWN.
For City Council.