The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-06-25
MUNICIPAL MATTERS.
THE WATER RENTS.
They Come In slowIy-Tbe Assessors De-
partlncnt

II appears that in The lower portion of The city
particularly, the water rents are not paid so
| promptly ss the Department Of Wsterworks
would Wish, and there has, consequently. been
a stirring up Of the collectors all around. This
is an old story, and the matter is one that will
have TO receive strioter attention than in past
years, until the new watsrworks company is or
ganized.
The trouble has been that the people in q ma
jority Of cases we're loo poor to pay the water
rates which are charged by The year. II has rre-
qusntly been suggested that the rates should be
charged and
COLLECTED MONTHLY,
but the part Of The city authorities it WAS ar.
gued That IL such were the during rainy
| seasons Che rate payers would dispense with the
| use OF river water, and the oity's budget wpuld
suffer IN consequences. A large majority OF the
hyarants have not been in uss for several years,
| and IL is urged that what yer falling off might
occur resulting from rains and the filing up Of
eisterns would be amply compensated by the
opening at other times OF the unused hydmnts
nearly sll Of which would bs opened if the tents
were collected monthly, for ordinary hydrspts
pay $12 year. which would be- 81 per month, q
sum tasly found. II has been objected by the
city authorities that tho
COST or COLLECTION
would be too labofiens and expensive. This la
also resuted, for it Is claimed that thero are ~
many collectors employed in the Watsrworks De-
partment as by the Gas Company. whose oollee-
tions are made monthly. The system 10 sug-
gested that the water bs rented out by the
month, payable in advance, and that the spannsr-
men be afforded employment by following the
collector and closing the bydrants whenever the
ratepsyer refuses to settle his bill. 10 Ia further
claimed that for one dollar a month ths rate
payer would willingly run the risk of having q
supersbundanoe OF river and rain water, rather
than none at all.
THE ASSESSORS DEPARTMENT.
Mr.. Hengstoff and the Board OF Assessors
hold daily meetings IN the afternoon TO consider
The returns OF tradespeople and merchants on
the amount Of their assessabe capital. The re-
turns, ID would appear, do not always prove sat-
isfaotory, and when tho rolls are completed
goodly number OF peopis will be disappointed in
their expectations Of the sum they are to pay
to the State Tax Collector aud the Administrator
OF Finance in tho shape OF tax on capital. Be-
fore any
''BAosira Dows'
takes place ON the part OF the board, the recrim-
mating parties will bo put, it is understood,
through process OF examination and proof
which. ii adhered TO strictly, must bring out the
truth.
Regarding property owners, in confsb recent
)y one Of this class OF taxpayers WAS heard 10
cay in defense OF certain rights that certain
pisoe OIL his property was worth twenty thousand
dollars, and that he had paid moro than that
sum for il. The remark was noted down. and on
examination oil the assessment rolls it was found
that the same
PfgGE or PROPERTY
was assessed for Gil, 400 only. After making all
dus allowances, the rolls were corrected and tho
property set down ss valued at eighteen thousand
dollars.
Mr. ReDgstmf, In conversation on this
subject Of assessments, says that be is not seek
ing popularity. He has duty to perform which
is. that everybody shall be assessed equally and
uniformly. aud he thinks that the assessment
rolls Of this year shall prove this.