The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1876-02-06

burg Hospital, Dr. Hayes, proprietor, ~
the pest-house for smallpox patients.
The city contested the act until June
81, 1876, when the Supreme Court
tinued the city smallpox hospital and
turned the patients over to DR.. Hayes.
The average cost of each patient under
| the law which gives DIR. Hayes charge
| is sixty dollars each, say, an average OF
each case, twenty days, at SO per day.
The average cost OF same under
treatment of city physician, 1874,
was $25 per case, although all
supplies were then purchased up
credit. The average cost Of each small
box patient in the city hospital from
January /, 1876, to June 80, 1875, was
$17 rs each, including salary OF city
physician, rent and supplies.
! ASSESSMENT.
| BY act No. IL, 1875, tho assessment or
real and personal property for city taxa
ton. and the revision 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 expected to conduct the
financial affairs of the city, the Council
is without power to regulate assess,
Of this subject should rest with the
representatives of the people who are
affected thereby.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
Great dissatisfaction exists In the pub
lie mind concerning the administration
of the public schools Of this city, grow
ing out of the charge that many OF the
directors and teachers thereof are not
selected with reference to moral or in
tellectual qualifications, by reason Of
which the efficiency Of the schools is
impaired;
the tax to be levied, and the same has
exceeded the amount necessary under
judicious management.
The city has paid in cash for the year
1875 $211 1853 A., and yet teachers GER
tificates are sold upon the streets for
less than twenty-five per cent OF their
value.
Under city management it Is believed
that greater efficiency can be secured
and public discomfort allayed; that
economical administration and reduced
taxation will enable more punctual pay
m ents. We but express the opinion OF
a large majority of the inhabitants OF
control of this subject should be vested
in the City Council, subject to such gen.
eral legislation as may be deemed me-
cessary to guarantee the benefits of edu-
cation to oil classes.
CITY PRINTING.
The printing OF the city government
being an item of current expenses the
city should be free to adjudicate the
same to the lowest bidder.
In conclusion we respectfully beg
leave to assure the General Assembly
that we are actuated in the presentation
OF this memorial by the same considera-
tions that have induced the City Council
to apply the principles Of retrenchment
recommended herein to every branch Of
the city government under our control.
Less than 81 100000 of the budget of
expenses for 1876 is subject to the action
of the Council. The remaining $2,50O,-
600 is subject to such notifications as
legislative action may justify.
A large amount OF bonded obligations
have matured; the limitation concern
ing the sinking fund has expired, and
many judgments are pressing upon the
city for payment.
TO meet all obligations, pay current
and carry the burdens inn
posed by legislative enactments would
require tax OF near six per cent upon
all real and personal property OF the
We need scarcely assure your honora-
BILE body that such tax in the present
of affairs is simply unbeara-
BILE, and cannot be collected.
We have struggled to avert impending
financial disasters resulting from the
terrible burdens imposed upon the city
by extravaganza and injudicious legisla-
tion in past years and we now believe
that failure to secure relief at your
hands will result in the most serious
to the inhabitants Of this
city.
The relief herein prayed for will en-
able the city to reduce taxation and con-
duct all the branches Of the city govern
ment upon a cash basis.
We have the honor to be, very re-
spectfully, T.. A. BURKE,
T.. PI1sBURY,
J. G. Brown,
For City Council.