The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1876-03-22
CITY COUNCIL.

The Council met at 1890 o'clock yesterds
afternoon, in regular session. Hon. Chas.
Leeds, Mayor, in the chair, and all Of the AZ
administrators present except Mr. bouny.
. FINANCIAL ORDINANCES.
Several financial ordinances, making apprt
priatiops for the months Of January and Eel
Iuary, after few changes, came up on the
third reading and passed.
An ordinance passed making an approprla
zion Of $3158 IA to Lambert q Co., for Coz
furnished the draining machines.
THE PACIFIC RAILROAD ELECTION
An ordinance to carry into effect act NO.
of the General Assembly of the State Q
Louisiana, approved March 8, 1875.
WHEREAS, The Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives Of the State Of Louisiana In Genera
Assembly convened, at the late regular ses
sion. did pass an act entitled an act to author
ixa. With he consent Of q popular vote, spe
ciai tar on property in New Orleans; to pa,
for stock in the New Orleans Pacific Railwa!
Company; to provide for the submission 0
fhe question at Q special election; to provid,
for the securing and collection Of the tax, i
voted: to impose certain duties on the State
officers of election, and on the city officers
and to punish violations of this act; to au.
thorize the issue of tax stock, ard to provide
o remedy, by mandamus, to enforce official
duty under this act; now. therefore,
Be it ordained, That the Mayor be and he
is hereby authorized, empowered and required
TO carry into effect the above recited act, and
to cause an election to be held by the quail
fed voters Of New Orleans, on q certain day
TO be BIZ him, the said Mayor, named in his
proclamation with the approval of the Coun-
oil, ct least ten days before said election, and
to designate voting places, to nominate COM
nissioners of election, and to appoint them
with the consent of the Council, and to pre-
scribe such regulations as are usual and ne.
cessary for such election.
He shall notify officers in charge of regis
tzation and elections under State laws to FUR
nish ell books, documents, ballot boxes, and
other paraphernalia which may be needed in
said election, in accordance with the above
1ecited act of the General Assembly.
Returns of said election shall be made to
the Mayor without delay, and be by him sub
mitted to the Council, who shall at once ex-
anime the same and make formal publication
Of the result
Be it further ordained. etc., That all costs
and expenses incurred in carrying out the
provisions of the above reci.ed act shall be
paid out of the first moneys collected as
herein provided for.
Your committee, in submitting the above
ordinance, further report that the city has no
means at command to meet the necessary ex-
pense of said election, and that under the
constitutional amendment the city government
has no right to contract any obligation or evil
donce Of Indebtedness without funds on
hand to meet the same. These points, with
many others, create in the minds of your
committee serious doubts as to the ability
Of the city to carry out the law as it stands.
The ordinance was adopted. Mr.. Landry
voting against it on the ground that in his
opinion it was unconstitutional.
Mr.. Burke explained his vote as follows:
81 follow the example of our legislative
representatives and explain my vote upon
this question. / am opposed to the levy of
tax for the reason that it goes far towards
breaking down the policy Of the city admin
istzation, which is now rapidly tending
towards the relief of the city from her finan-
oial endorsements believe that the impo-
sition OF any additional tax at this time is
bound to materially injure the operations of
this administration, and that it would be in
oonsistent with the position Of any admins
trAtor or any member of this administration
TO favor the levy Of this tax, in the face of the
memorial and the statements that we have
placed before the Legislature, before our
creditors. before the people Of this city, |
and the people of this whole coun-
try. We have said to the Legislature,
and TO the people of this community, it is out |
Of the power Of this people to pay
lax exceeding u per cent in the
present condition Of affairs We
have said to the Legislature that it was i'm
possible for this people to pay the matured
bonds, or even the interest upon the bonds
that were already matured, and it would be
strong admission for us to say, on the one
hand, we can not pay our creditors over the
mount that is provided for in this II per
PANT taxation, and in the next breath to say
hat We can levy and pay tax of one-half per
pent for the purpose of building this new
Eailroad.
%" am opposed to the levy Of this tax at the
present time, and think it is exceedingly
unfortunate for the city government and the
people of this city that this tax should be
evied at this time, but yet do not see how
ander the law, as q city officer, bound by the
AZ, should be justified in voting against
his ordinance.
"We are working up to the requirements
Eosk up to it, so far Is our premium bond
plan is concerned, through which we believe
he city will emerge from her financial en-
and any additional tax levy
must weaken our efforts in that direction.
On the other hand, am not disposed to
'ote against the passage of this ordinance for
his reason, that it places the matter in the
lands OF the people. we do not levy the tau,
mt We submit the same to the o. pstituents
rho voted US into Office to say if they will !
impose the tax or not. To say to them that
hey have sufficient intelligence to elect Ad- |
illustrators to Office, but that they are not
to decide upon this question, is .
osition am unwilling to assume.
"The adoption of the ordinance affords q
he opportunity for all persons opposed to
he tax TO test it In the courts.
81 vote for the ordinance, but am opposed
, the levy of the tax at this time"
Administrator Pilsbury also explained his '
ote In favor of this ordinance, and said:
eff this ordinance was for the purpose Of
lvying : tx, would vote against it as being
and iDjudicious; but it is a
IMPLY Aquestion referred to our own con-
ituents. It would be inconsistent TO say u
Vt We would not allow those who had elect
| - 10 Office to say whether or not this tax
lould be imposed.
II think it is unconstitutional, but do not A