New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-01-05

gard to the interest, it may be advisable tt
authorize the levy of small tax, sufficient
to pay, say, one quarter of the present ratt
of interest, OF more, pending negotiations
for the liquidation of the bonds.
LIQUIDATION OF THE DEBT.
For the adjustment of the debt Of the
city. l recommend the appointment Of
board Of five persons. who should be
clothed, by legislative enactment, with full
power to negotiate with the creditors of the
city, and to agree on behalf of the city, to
any equitable plan Of compromise, either
by the premium bond plan or any other
mode that may be determined upon, after
full conference with the representatives of
the bondholders; which agreement, when
ratified by the City Council, should be
binding upon the city. In view of the mag
nitude Of the interests involved, it seems to
me that the persons to be chosen under
this act should be as widely representative
as possible. l suggest that tive might be
elected by the City Council, to represent
the city; two by the Board of Under
writer's and the banking associations, form
ing the New Orleans Clearing House,
to represent the bondholders, and the fifth
be appointed by the Cover nor or elected by
the Legi slature. Without going more into
details, it seems to me that some such
method, as l have indicated, is the best
course open for the city. Of course it is of
the first Importance that these commits
Iao oh To
to the bondholders that everything has
been done that consistently could be done
by the city to diminish its expenditures and
to collect its revenues. In other words the
city, before entering upon this negotiation,
should be in position to show clearly that
its failure to continue the payment of the
interest on it's bonded debt is the result of
want of ability and not Of inclination.
THE POLICE.
The question of the cont oil and manage
ment of the Metropolitan Police is one
upon which your body, constituted as it is,
will probably not agree. In the present con-
dition Of public sentiment, and with the
present relation of parties in the General
Assembly, it is scarcely probable that the
one party will be willing to yield entirely
what the other party may insist to be
right and equitable. The Metropolitan
system is doubtless open to many OBJ
jectious, but it is by no means new
plan nor is it peculiar to this State. The
questions that most affect the taxpayer are,
whether the present police system is as
economical as it would probably be
under different management, and whether
it is equally efficient. The record will |
establish both. The estimate of po-
lice expenses for the year 1875 was
5000, 900, but the amount of taxes collected |
by the city and turned over to the treas |
urer Of the Police Board was much less, |
being only $4O3,0Sl. The estimate of !
police expenses for the year 1876 is |
$4,000; the probable amount that
will be collected not more than
$685., 600. In the city of Chicago
the number of men employed upon the
police force is 500 and the expense amounts
to 100000 The city of st. Louis pays
$500 900 per annum for its police. In the
city OF Boston in 1874 the police apportion-
ment was 1866, 900; the actual cost $797, $50.
That city is, besides the headquarters of
the State constabulary, comprising over 100
men, at cost of 1872, 735 per annum, and
who when necessary do police duty. In
New Orleans during the same year the
police apportionment was 5000, 900, and the
actual cost $500 Sl3. The last report of the
Boston police shows a difference of over
e222, GOO in favor of New Orleans. The
number of arrests made by the Boston
police during the last year was 29,799; by
the New Orleans police 81. 4S6.
The immense area over which the city Of
New Orleans extends lover forty seven
square milesl, increases the difficulty and |
expense of the police system. In the other
cities referred to the police are promptly
paid their wages in cash. In those cities
AVIATION is not rendered unequal and op-
oressive, as in New Orleans, by wealthy
delinquent taxpayers. If the taxes were
closely, and the police were paid
as in other cities, the police ap-
,ortiOnment need not much exceed $40O,O 900,
which would be less in proportion than is
,aid for the police service of any city SINH
arly situated.
The cost of the police at present is not
IS great as it was in 1867, when the
'olice force was controlled by the City
,ouncil. AS compared with the expendi-
ure of 1869, it is less by $343.l9l Is. As
ompared with the expenses of 1872, it |
) less by 1884 ,663 30, and as compared {
With the expenses of 1878, it is less by {
$4,000. The estimated expenses of the {
olice just rendered to the City Council tor
be year 1876 amount to $4,000, which is
427 ,425 less than the apportionment made
y the Council, and allowed Dy them in |
1863, less than the apportionment made {
y the Council in 1872, by $25l ,232 sc, and c
sss than the apportionment made by the t
'ouncii in 1875 by $l0l 900.
From these facts, it will be seen that the &
expenses of the police department have been +
teadily reduced; that they ara proportion )
tely lower for the current year than the 4
ost of the police Of other cities, and very q
luch less than the cost of previous years 4
! this city. {
PUBLIC SCHOOLS q
1 transmit herewith the report of the Z
tate Superintendent of Education, giving | q
Ill details of the workings of cur pub r
Q echool system throughout the State. t
he agitation of various questions, not t.
NV financial, but affecting the administra- | 9