New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-02-25

mon obligation to contribute to the con-
struction of q work as important to the
city as the levee itself, it should not sur
prise them that the tenants exercise the
power which the law bestows upon them
to compel the landlords to bear their part
of the expenses of the government, and
contribute also to the progress and pros
perity of this city.
THE PREMIUM BOND PLAN AS A FORLORN
HOPE.
If we accept the statistics and opinions
of the Democratic City Administrators as
correct, the financial affairs of the cor
poration are in q very desperate state.
For about fifteen years there has been
steady contraction in the receipts and in
flation in the expenditures. The people
have been told so often that they can not
pay the four million Of delinquent taxes
that they at last begin to believe it, and
refuse to pay as matter of political con-
sistency. The expenses, however, con-
tinue to increase from year to year. The
city can only turn from one side to the
other, like bedridden man, and find
temporary relief at best. The fearful &C.
cumulations of debt caused by the sus-
pension of the collection of taxes from
1861 to 1868, and the issue of city notes
for all purposes, from the payment Of the
Mayors salary down to immoral expendi-
ture of money to aid in the Confederacy,
have rolled back the tide of debt and
stayed for time its current. 1t has lat
terly acquired strength from additions of
more modern and current expenses until
it threatens fresh and irresistible onset
which will overwhelm the treasury.
Moreover, the tax resisters have brought
the people to believe that their trouble is
caused by paying so much every year to
support Republican government. They
forget that more than sixty-six per cent of
all the taxes paid by the people Of the
city goes to Democratic officials, and is
distributed by them in the way of patron
age. This leaves to the other thirty three
and one-third per cent, paid to Repub-
lican officials, the distinction Of causing
the ruin.
But the financial doctors have at last
discovered nostrum that will most GER
tainly restore the emaciated spendthrift to
something like healthy condition. This
fortune is to determine who are to be paid
first and who compelled to wait. The
Democratic compounders of the medicine
declare it is the only thing which can by
any possibility effect q cure. It may
therefore be considered the forlorn hope.
A bill for the purpose of legalizing the
bond lottery has been presented to and
passed by the Democratic House and sent
TO the Republican Senate. The Repub-
licans do not like the bill. 1t proposes to
introduce unusual, if not immoral GUS
toms in the city's financial policy; some
Of its provisions are said to be Of very
doubtful legality. We are compelled to
take this on hearsay, as the bill has not
been made public. If it has been printed
for the use of the House, we are unable to
find it among the charters of bridge and
ferry companies which have been printed.
We have no doubt, however, that it is
substantially the plan which has been
adopted by the city government, and par
TALLY acted upon in drawing held in
January. 1t is, in our opinion, emphatic
ally Democratic measure, brought for
ward to relieve a Democratic constituency
from the straits in which they have been
placed by their "chosen representatives.
All the financial, legal and political Wis
dom of the Democratic party Of the city
is inadequate to- find a way out Of the
present difficulty, except by means Of this
tombola. The Democracy, therefore, hold
out their hands imploringly to the Repub-
licans and say: Give US a chacc- % :iy
this last e1r :ment. We believe in it.
The prope, : holders of them
favor it. 7 10 Chamber of Commerce
with ba"2 quorum Of nine mem
bers presently Endorsed it. and it
has passed the Democratic House of
Representatives. It being, therefore,
in all respects a Democratic concep-
ton, rocked N the cradles of so many
centres, and soothed with the lullabies of
Democratic choristers, proposed to re-
lieve Democratic community from the
blunders, shortcomings, and even defalca-
tons of Dem ocratic officials, we hope the
Senate will kindly consent to let them
have it. We can not ask conscientious
-nator to surrender his con-
viction that it is a humbug, nor to give it
his vote on any other ground then that it
seems to be beseechingly asked for by the
people who are the most directly inter
ested. If it prove to be an error it will
be theirs; if it should by the rarest good
luck turn out we'll, then Senators will
come in for their share of the credit.
It is generally conceded that the effect
Of the act, if passed, will be binding only
upon those who voluntarily accept its
provisions That those who desire to
change their old bonds for new ones and
accept a reduced rate Of interest, can do
so, and those who refuse may stand upon
their contract with the city. One benefit
to the bondsmen of the Administrators