New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-01-04
including December.

hos, including December,
"" lS ......... .............. 81 ,295, O57
idly CURT interest on
ei citbonds, about. 81, 10000
- Leesnount appropri-
ateunder head of
'ec "ci debt. interest
/ id ani redemption"
,vJ premably IN con.
neon with the pre-
miubOnd plan.... 307 500
I'll Net dcit of current interest. . 81, IA, 500
: Deficicy on app0rtionment of
Meuooltan Police ....... 10000
Defcicy on estimated cost Of
publscL ools. Observation-Disclosures. To-. 800
i, Tol deficiency for 1876 to be
Pvlded for. ............ 81, 1898, no
MakinA total existing deficiency
tor Il and 1876 of. - goa 777
Sucbn exhibit carries with it it's own
moral. The city is insolvent, and in nv
judgmt The Only course open is !, address
itself vhout unnecessary delay to some
adjustrnt of its obligations to it's credit
ors. anto provide for a more economical
admlniration of the government in future.
AENDMENr OF THE CHARTER.
The tiet defect of the present bureau
cratic orm Of city government was
early mie apparent. In presenting his
oo)ectiol to the very first budget made
unoer To new charter, Mayor Flanders
po'hteo It that there were virtually seven
oouncfsnstead of one, leach Administra-
'or existing and assuming to control
AFFAIRS Win his own department, and
oniy ieiu'.-ltly interfering with the j u
risdictlon OF hers" Though the du-
ties of SOM Of tn Administrators are mere.
ly nomiml, eac. has a f,,l s,ae |
of secretaries, clerk. and denu,;es T,o
month amount to $780, u Or ,s.r1 I1
$3.50, 900 year. This does At ;rcl,de ,hs
labor and cart hire rolls ~. ln0
| partments Of improvements. ,no 10,
and Public Buildings, which e.. .se
same month foot up $ls643 Ia;
tional. These appropriations are 49,
the average. No city situated as is
! Orleans can stand such costly system
| government. l suggest that the charter o.
the city of New Orleans be amended. The
| Council to consist of a Mayor to be eieotec
by the city st large, and seventeen alder
men. one to be elected from eacl
ward Of the city. The Mayor TO nomin
ate for the confirmation of the Council
Controller, Treasurer and City Surveyor
the latter to have general supervision owe
the streets, etc. Mayor, Controller, Treat
urer and City Surveyor to be paid adequat
but not excessive salaries; the aldermen u
serve without pay. All street improvement
and public works to be done by contract
and to be adjudicated, not by sealed propt
sails, bu. by public cutlery. The elections fe
MAYOR and aldermen to be held at ditfel
emit time from the general election, so as
be removed as far as possible from the e.
element of political contests.
LEGISLATIVE RELIEF.
There are many items OF city expendltu
. which it is in your power largely to reduc
To enumerate few, the Parish Prison az
| CITY Workhouse should be consoilda ate
: and the maintenance of the prisone
, should be intrusted to the city. L
| | number of municipal courts should be
q | dueed TO two. The excessive fees OF
J. sheriffs should be largely diminished. 1
: drainage and park taxes should be modifl
j. or abolished. These and other reforl
e and the immense reduction in sal aries VIII
g would be effected by change OF chart
o as proposed, would reduce the necesss
# annual expenditures Of the city to Pc
J. fully within the power of the taxpay
d 70 meet them without hardship. With
gard to the interest, it may be advisable
O. authorize the levy of small tax, sufhc!
TO paw. say, one quarter of the present I
Il of interest, or more, pending negotiate
X for the liquidation of the bonds.
IN LIQUIDATION OF THE DEBT.
For the adjustment of the debt OF
,oH CITY. l recommend the appointment
M board of five persons, who should
.ize clothed, by legislative enactment. with
t d. power to negotiate with the creditors OF
attel city, and to agree, on behalf of the city
rrassany equitable plan Of compromise ell
n thby the premium bond plan or any o.
posesnede that may be determined upon,
,st innll conference with the representative
al ob-he bondholders; which agreement,
rs to ,tified by the City Council, should
guise ;nding upon the city. In view OF the n
in the hude of the interests involved, 1t seem
N the IA that the persons to be chosen III
nd to act should be a. widely representa-
large possible. l suggest that tive migh
cted by the City Council, to repre-
,enses 1 CITY; two by the Board OF I'm
al in Ners and the banking associatlons'
1iture il the New Orleans Clearing nc
litical represent the bondholders, and the
tating bsppointed by the Governor or eiecte
rafted th,esislature. Without going more
,tifed dels, it seems to me that some
te, for mtod. al l have Indicated, Is the
N the cote open for the city. OF course II
ID by tharst Importance that these COL
domi- slots should be able to make an g.
pendi- to o bondholders that everything
ge of beerone that consistently could Dc
by tlclty to diminish it's expenditures
augu- to coct its revenues. In other worn
ticient CITY, fore entering upon this negoti
ment shoulbe in position to show clearly
new it's fare to continue the payment
Coun- interes on it's bonded debt is the rest
ion in want liability and not of incllnatlon'
4; two THE POLICE.
to the Tho .ost;or of the control and ms