The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-03-01
THE DRAINAGE TAX.
A Radical Ibfamy Sduelohed.

The House bill exempting from tha
drainage tax a large portion of property
In the rear Of the city was passed final
ly yesterday by the House, with the
Senate amendments. The passage OF
this bill disposes in great me asure Of
the Infamous Radical legislation which
threw the drainage of the city into the
hands Of spectators, and permitted
them to rob it's treasury of several mil
lions Of dollars.
At the opening Of the session yester-
day @ memorial, signed flames I'D.
Guthrie, Collector Of Drainage ASSESS
ments for the city OF New Orleans"
was presented to the House, strongly
opposing the passage of the bill, claim
ing that it interfered with the vested
rights OF the holders Of warrants given
by the city Of New Orleans In payment
for the machinery, tools, etc., OF the
notorious drainage company, and en-
deavoring to detail the magnificent SER
vices Of this huge swindle during it's ex-
istence.
The memorial was so offensive In It's
insinuations, as well as in it's express
sions, that Mr.. Berry OF Orleans, who
had presented it,, found himself COM
pelled not only to withdraw 1t when his
attention was called to its contents, and
they had received his careful perusal,
but to apologize to the House for having
presented it at all.
There are many other things besides
In the memorial which, but for the sad
experiences Of our people under Radi-
cal rule. would excite the risibiiities OF
q dead man.
The object sought to be attained by
the bill is, In simple terms, the exemp-
ton from taxation for drainage pur-
poses Of lands which are not drained at
all, and to cancel the judgments in
scribed against these lands for back
drainage taxes.
= When the bill was called up Mr..
Delavigne, of the Ninth Ward Of Orr
leans, in @ few pointed remarks demOi-
ished the pretensions Of whomsoevsr
might have been disposed to entertain
the views OF "the collector OF drainage
assessments"
He laid bare the facts of the legisla-
ton connected with the passage OF the
drainage act. which were SO stupendoua
that Warmoth himself, then occupying
the gubernatorial chair. had refused
to sign the bill. Mr.. Delavigne
further showed that this grasping
company had been paid fifty cents per
yard for digging canals, and fifty cents
more per yard for piling up the dirt,
making one dollar per yard which they
had received for work really worth
NINE cents per cubic yard. He then
refuted the claim Of the memorialist to
@ vested right in judgments requiring
the collection OF drainage assessments
to pay the outstanding variants,
and proceeded to show that ST.
493, 900 In bonds, $52, 900 OF Warrants
Of ope issue, and $242, more OF
another issue, making q total OF 81, ,792,-
600, had been extorted already from the
city for the work done, and that that
sum, together with the estimated cost
of work to be done on the same prinef-
pie, would amount to $3,GO5, 600. After
touching upon the methods the Kadi-
Gals employed In assessing property
coming under the operations OF the
drainage act, citing one case Of square
mile Of land valued at S38, 900, but really
worth only about $4,000, having been
subjected to @ taxation OF 5000
Mr.. Delavigpe asserted that Mr.
Guthrie himself had offered to transfer
to him all the dredge boats, tools, ETC.,
of the Drainage Company for $15O, ,000in
warrants. The same property for which
the city has recently paid 100000.
There was not q dissenting voice
when the bill squelching the drainage
swindle was called up on It's final
passage. \