The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1876-01-04

sources, including direct tax of one and ,
half per cent, for the current year are So, $40
1872 r.
The adopted estimates of expenditures fol
the year equal the amount of receipts, and
leave unprovided for:
Past due interest coupons on city bonds, in
Guiding December, 1875 ,-............. 81 295 O51
Current interest on city bonds,
| about 81 $50 90
Less amount appropriated under
/ head of city debt, interest and
| redemption, presumably in
connection with the premium
Net deficit of current interest 81 142 500
deficiency on apportionment of Metropon-
deficiency on estimated cost of pubic schools 10 $50
Total deficiency for 1876 to be provided
Making total existing deficiency for 1915
| ana 1910 Oh. 81 t93, TT
Such an exhibit, he thinks, shows hopeless
insolvency on tbs part of the city, aud he
proceeds to propose remedies
| AMENDMENT OF THE CHARTER.
The chief defect of the present bureaucratic
| form OF city government was early made ap-
parent. In presenting his objections to the
very first budget made under the new charter,
Mayor Flanders pointed out that there were
virtually seven Councils instead OF one,
each Administrator expecting and assuming
to control affairs within his own department,
and only reluctantly interfering with the ju-
risdiction of Others. Though the au-
ties OF some of the Administrators are mere
ly nominal, each has a full staff
of secretaries clerks and deputies. The ap-
preparations tor salaries for the last month
amount to S20,65 49, or nearly $3.50, 900
| year. This does not include the labor and
| cart hire rolls of the Departments of Improve
ments, Commerce and Public Buildings,
which for the same month foot up SIS, 643 Al
| additional. These appropriations are below
the average. No city situated as New Or
leans can stand such costly system OF
government l suggest that the charter of
the city of New Orleans be amended, the
Council to consist OF mayor, to be elected
by the city at large, and seventeen alder
men, one to be- elected from each
ward of the city. The Mayor to nominate
for the confirmation of the Council Con-
troller. Treasurer and City Surveyor, the lat
ter to have general supervision over the
streets, etc. Mayor, Controller, Treasurer
and City Surveyor to be paid adequate out
not excessive salaries; the aldermen to serve
without pay. All street Improvements aud
public works to be done by contract, and to
be adjudicated, not by sealed proposals. but
by public outcry. The elections for Mayor
and Aldermen to be held at different time
from the general election, so rs to be removed
as far as possible from the excitement of
political contests.
LEGISLATIVE RELIEF.
There are many items of city expend ture |
which it is in your power largely to reduce |
To enumerate q few the Parish Prison and |!
City Work House should be consolidated, and |
the maintenance of the prisoners should be |
intru sted to the city. The number of NUM-
cipal courts should be reduced to two. The |
foo ,pT aCho 10, IL,
diminished. The DIR image and park taxes
should be modified or abolished. These and |
other reforms and the immense reduction in
salaries which would be effected BY change
of charter, as proposed, would reduce the ne
cessary annual expenditures of the city to |
point fully within the power of the taxpayers
to meet them without hardship. With re-
gard to the interest it may be advisable to au-
thor 70 the levy OF a small tax, sufficient to
pay, say, one quarter OF the present rate of
interest, more pending negotiations tor
the liquidation OF the bonds.
LIQUIDATION OF THE DEBT.
For the adjustment of the deot of the city,
| recommend the appointment of board of
five persons, who should be clothed by fegis
lative enactment, with full power to negotiate
with the creditors of the city, and to agree,
on behalf OF the city, to any equitable plan of
either by the premium bond
plan, or any other mode that may be determ-
med upon, after full conference with the rep
resentatives of the bondholders. which agree
ment. when ratified by the City Council,
should be binding upon the city. In view Of
the magnitude of the interests involved, it
seems to me that the persons to be chosen
under this act should be as widely represen-
ative as possible. 1 suggest two might
be elected by the City Council, to represent
he city; two by the Board of Underwrite RI .
md the banking associations, forming the
New Orleans Clearing House, 10 represent the
and the fifth be appointed by f
he Governor or elected by the Legislature i
Without going more into details, 1t seems to {
ne that SEINE such method as have indi-
lated, is the best course open for the city. :
)t course it is Of the first importance that .
hese commissioners should be able to make I
Il exhibit 10 the bondholders that everything
las been done that consistently could be done l
" the city to diminish its expenditures and c
o collect its revenues In other words the &
ity. before entering upon this negotiation
hould be in position to show clearly that its :