The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-06-12
MUNICIPAL MATTERS.
MURDOCH. BROKERAGE.

MURDOCH. BROKERAGE.
The "spa sm0diCan ON Police Pay - A
Deficit ofs2e, 900 in the Police Accounts.
The spasmodio Rep. endesvors 10 court the
sympathy Of the defunct Metropolitans- who
were no outrageously robbed by their own off,
Gers whilst they were risking their lives for "the
party"-by asserting that there 10 money for the
December roll 10 the hands OF the proper efRoer
TO pay the old police roe, but that for some
reason the money has been withheld; and the
same paper asserts also that one OF The members
OF the Pilsbury Police Board has been indus
triously buying up the claims Ut the late Metro
politans at discount OF twenty per cent.
In Saturdays DEMOCRAT we explained
that Meropolitans could not be p,id their De-
cember salaries because there has not been ool
looted sufficient amount Of the tax OF 1876 AZ.
fected 10 Metropolitan purposes 10 do 30.
The system has been that ~ soon as the pro
rata OF the Metropolitan Police was collected at
the City Hall, COL Denis would transfer the
amount TO the treasurer of the Metropolitan Po-
lice Board--we think his name 10 MURDOCH
who would either pay the police in caeh
or certificates Of indebtedness,
Az HE CHOSE.
Owing TO the fact that the full sum OF The taxes
OF apy one year is never collected until many
months after tho expiration OF the year, the Ger"
tifostes Of indebtedness had to be issued 20 the
police by tho board, the brokers' discountlng them
and abiding their time to r ceive the cash.
The Metropolitan Police Board having been
.extinguished by legislative enactment before
they had issued the December certificates, there
is now no person authorized to Issue Ger tiicates
OF Indebtedness to the old police force who must
wait until the money comes into the city tr as:
ury before they are paid, for the brokers viii
not advance money ON nothing; such il their
nature to be business like. And tinco there are
no vouchers Of indebtedness to be bought up
sat twenty per cent by member OF the Pilsburv
police board 1t seems singular that any OF them
should be accused Of such proceeding.
As to the eight days in January due to the po-
ice the debt is recognized. as we'll as the De
eember rolls, by the Oitv Council Tho police
pro rata on the tax of 1877, received at the CITY
Hall, 10 more than amply sufficient TO pay the
men for these eight days, and all that 10 necess ny
to be done is the adoption OF an ordinance to that
effect, which will probably be adopted tomorrow.
Judging from the informant n In our possession,
4he attempt OF
''TnE spAsMoDIoAN
TO create sympathy among the robbed Metro.
pp)itaus is one of tue most absurd and barefaoed
on record.
And none know IL better than the Metropoli-
tsns themselves, for when they waited on the
Mayor and Administrator OF Finance on Friday
u
broker, who had agreed TO buy up their vouchers
IL they could obtain them, but fading that oeri-
hoates OF indebtedness could not possibly be
issued to the old force, declined to take what
these policemen believed they could offer, that IL
a transfer Oh their claims against tic o,ty. the
Administrators being decidedly unauthorized 70
even ndorse the vouchers OF police force which
was state organization.
ASK MURDOCH.
The best thing for the old Meiropolitans TO 10
under the circum stances, is to call on Murdoch,
the late treasurer OF the Metropolitan Police
DO .rd. and ask him what he has done with their
money, which he had In his possession on the 9th
OF January, when he became fnHctus Qftcto.
Subsequently,, when the Nichols govern
ment became an undsputed fsot, Murdoch
turned over TO Col Denis about t400 IN cash and
5000 or $500 in serip, which, together Wit about
s20) more In cash found In his safe, made sum
not exceeding s9n0 Siuce th Il time tho city sd-
ministration has been engaged IN examining ne
report Of the expert, which will shortly be made,
will say that the books of Murdoch show that on
the day he went into Office there were nearly
TwENrY-sIx THOUSAND poLLAns
in the Metropolitan treasury, Of which only about
nine hundred dollars have been turned over to
Col. Denis, Administrator OF Finance, in the
words Of Murdoch 'as the residue or balance on
hand" II IL understood that Murdoch Gays that
the money has been employed In settling accounts,
but this IL not shown on his books and therefore
the settlements, IL auy, must have been made
WHILST he was out OF office. However, he will
probably better explain the whole matter himself
when he IL called OIL ialls TO do so.
We also understand that some curious charges
have been made against the policemen's pay by
Murdoch, which will edify them highly when
they hear OF them. One OF them is charge OF
ONE AND A QUARTER PER GENT
for simply performing his duties as treasurer, in
going to the offine Of the Administrator Of FL
nance and receiving the amounts TO the credit of
tho Metropolitan Police Board
This has a tough appearance, but possibly
Murdoch may also explain this TO the utmost sat
asfaction Of his brother Republicans.
IN CAUCUS.
The Mayor and City Council were In caucus on
Monday morning to consider, 1t IL believed. the
ordinance granting the right of way to the pro-
posed grain trade railroad. 1t may DO also that
She contract system resolution, adopted at the
last meeting OF the Council, has been discussed.
Regarding tho grain trade railroad. the oom-
mittee OF the whole received deputation of
property holders ON Louisiana Avenue. As far as
we could learn while the deleg alton objected to the
laying OF the rails on Louisiana Avenue, they
were willing that they should be laid on any
other street, and to admit that tho road would
be beneficial TO the community
The result Of the caucus was that the matter
should lie over for week, for further amend
mont. Ono Of the amendments will provide
against the use Of the railroad In favor OF any
particular elevator, to the exclusion of others
which may exist or be erected In the future.