The New Orleans Democrat., 1876-06-21
CRY COUNCIL.


The Council met yesterday t2Oth) at IL
O'Clock m. In regular session.
Presentation. Chas. j. Leeds, Mayor,
presiding, and Administrators Bertoli,
Brown, Bouny, Burke, Landry, NC
Carthy and Pilsbury.
The minutes OF the previous meeting
were approved and their reading dis
pensed with.
Mr.. Brown called up the ordinance
described as follows, which, having been
read twice, was now on third reading,
and nays having been called and all the
members present at roll call voting:
IAN ordinance providing for the pay
ment Of the several accounts therein
named, beginning Ed. Pilsbury."
BY the committee Of the whole, and
Oi1 tie petition Of A. Mcclellan, Presi-
dent Of st. Charles Street Railroad Com
pany, asking that said company be
relieved from psying gss the r bonus levied
Committee of the Mechanics and
Workingmen's Association waited on
the Council and laid before them. the
preamble and resolutions adopted BY
them relative to the revision OF the
budget Of 1876, which was received and
Mr.. Brown asked for further time to
complete the revision OF the budget,
and. on motion Of Mr.. Burke. the Ad.
ministrator was granted to the 9th OF
July.
Whereupon Mr.. Burke made the fol-
lowing remarks
/ am now satisfied that every Ad-
nistrator Is convinced that the reduc-
tions. which seemed imperative, in order
| vfsiol NJ
CITY. would result in leaving the streets
impassable for the purposes OF COM
merce. expose the health Of the city TO
the gravest dangers resulting from uti-
cleanliness, and property to injury from
interference with drainage. To these
disasters may be added the cruelty OF
thrusting upon the public Ia the middle
OF summer the families Of the poor now
employed, who have no other means OF
earning bread.
/ am satisfied that the Administrator
OF Public Accounts now appreciates ell
OF these considerations as deeply as any
| IND the motion to defer action upon this
question It is with the firm belief that
the Administrator OF Public Accounts,
with that fertility OF resource which has
heretofore contributed 80 largely to ex-
tricato the city from financial 0mbar-
rassment, will devise the relief now me-
ceseary.
From the expressions INDUCED In by
many persons toward the city admins
| tration, / deem IL not inappropriate to
call attention to the fact that when re-
trenchment has been necessary the
| Mayor and Administrators have been
the first to set the example,, and while
| the employees have received the whole
| OF their pay for the year 1876, the Mayor
and Administrators have received but
half since the first Of July, md. We are
ready again to make any sacrifice the
necessities Of the city may demand.
| The AdministgatDf ~ RinunC0 hiss 81
ways reserved the money t. pay labor
ers' pay-rolls before any officer has
been paid. The first financial act OF the
administration was TO pay the laborers
i'm cash for the month OF December,
1874, and the officers have not yet re-
ceived cent.
Another fact OF greater significance Is
that the average expenses OF the city
government under our control for the
| past eighteen months, Is one-half OF the
average expenses for any like period
during the previous ten years, yet the
amount Of money actually paid to en-
ployes, and the amount Of work done to
show for 1t, Is over twenty-five per cent
more than the records OF previous ad-
ministrations exhibit.
Let US look at the accounts between
the people Of New Orleans and the pres
ent administration.
When we assumed the reins Of gov
ernment In December, 1874, the city was
upon the verge OF bankruptcy, and
Overwhelmingly In debt from the results
| Of past improvidence. The people were
overburdened by taxation that was
consuming their substance and blasting
their hopes OF future prosperity.
The present city administration will
have reduced the public debt $3, ,0O0, 400,
reduced the expenses OF government TO
one half OF former expenses, and reduced
taxation from two and q half per cent to
one and q half per cent per annum;
reduced about one-third Of former rates.
Through the efforts Of the city admins
tration we secured the adoption Of the
premium bond plan, relieving the
finances of the city and saving to the
taxpayers Loco, 900 In relief upon back
taxes, IL they will como forward and
avail themselves Of 1t during the present
year by paying their indebtedness to
the city. We have, given them an hon
est and an economical administration,
and 80 lightoned the burdens upon them
people who loye the city and have their
lnterests bound up In her future begin
70 look forward with hopefulness.
IL we cannot carry out the works Of
4 lfmpr0ven1en that really the interests oi
the city demand, and II we cannot there.
by provide employment to the deserving
and suffering men who clamor for the
opportunity to earn their bread, 1t Is be.
cause past frauds, extravaganza and
acknowledgement have depleted every
property and commercial interest until
the means can scarcely be raised tc
carry on the most essential public work
It is not to he supposed that any ofacel
Of this government would fail to heed
Thousands who seek In vain for honest
labor. but whore n the money to come
from TO ray for their labor 3ss.B