The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1876-03-30

orr ancestors supposed they bad etfectually
extirpated in this country hundred years ago.
But our Mayor evolvesa new and somewhat an
tagonistic idea that taxation by the people, with
by their own direct vote--ist the
greater wrong aud oppression. How bis Honor
can reconcile this proposition with these pre-
ceding it denying to sths representatives the
authority to impose this tax. is somewhat puz-
zhng The usual Republican idea has been
that what powers were not conferred on the
government we're reserved by the people. The
people are sovereign, but the representatives.
agents. The former have all powers which
the latter have, and great deal more. Their
Federal, State and municipal
are mere manufactures to carry out their will
The Mayors ether QUESTIONS to carrying
out the mandate Of the Legislature, which re-
presents the sovereign power OF thu State, are
not ola very serious character.
The limitation OF the city debt by the con-
stitutional amendment is not infringed by this
act. as 1t does not propose to increase the
debt special tax for work OF great neces-
sity and utility does not necessarily, under
this law, involve An increase of the debt of the
city. II it required the issue of bonds it
might be regarded other wise. Butthis ia not
proposed. The tax is to be invested for the
benefit Of the payers.
u
debtnesa II does not subtract dollar from
other appropriations. 1t may induce our
city Administrators to reduce thesum of these
appropriations to other not 90 necessary and
important objects. We hardly imagine that
the people will lament such reduction. The debt
Of the State will remain the same. The people
have only given a different, and perhaps wiser
direction to their contributions
The premium bond act is contract. doubt
less, and ample provision has been made to
carry it out No one proposes to violate or
impair that contract No court would regard
the city as bound by that to mako no other
contracts. As long a. it is not proposed to
use the fund appropriated to meet the engage
ment of that contract, there can be no pre-
text that the conditions thereof are violated,
or the rights hereunder impaired.
The concluding reasons of his Honor
against this tax have already been answered.
The poverty Of the people, the grievous ma
ture OF their present burdens, admonish US
of the unproductive character Of the
application of the revenues derived
from taxation. It is believed that If an
other direction was given to these revenues,
there would come great relief of these bur-
dens. With railroad to Texas we believe
that an immediate advance in the value of
property and Of general prosperity would oc-
cur, which would render our present burden
lighter. The fight OF capital, the unem-
pioyed labor and the paralyzsd trade so
pathetically described by Mayor Leeds, are
mainly due TO the diversion Of trade, which
can only be arrested by the early completion
of this road, and this can not be accom- lished
save by the tax which it is now proposed the
people shall impose on themselves, with or
without the consent Of their municipal repre-
sentatives.
Mayor Leeds invitation to the Council, to
resist the act of the Legislature and make the
constitutional issues which he has set forth,
in return to mandamus. is not good legal
counsel Every lawyer will tell our city Ad-
ministrators that the right to make such
issues exists in every taxpayer but few will
advise that the city Administrators should
put themselves in front Of the people and un-
dertake to defeat and obstruct their will. Let
the people determine such questions for them
selves, and let the Administrators, who are
the creatures Of the Legislature, obey it's
mandate and suffer the zoe popuH to be ex-
pressed. II that U0r popui infringes the
rights Of any, or violates the fundamental
law, the courts can be appealed to, and ample
protection secured for "the rights Of the few
against the many"
For the present it il no part OF the mandate
or authority Of the Administrations to inter-
pose themselves between the people and the
judicial department. The people will set mp
their own pleas and conduct their own cases.
They have certainly not retained the Admins
traitors as their lawyers in this matter. Their
functions are purely executive and admins
trative, and their powers are derived from
acts of the Legislature. One of those acts
directs them 10 perform certain duty. They
can make no dignifed or legal defense against
this mandate They have no discretion, least
of all the high judicial discretion Of adjudl-
eating questions of constitutional Law.
PopULUa.