The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-06-06
THE CITY COUNCIL.

How Taxes Come In-The Revolution I'm
the system of Attending to the streets.
The official proceedings Of the regular weekly
meeting Of the Council yesterday, published in
| this mornings DEMOCRAT, shows q lthy
condition Of affairs. The total collections of taxes
for the year 1877 amount to 1907 SIT 04, while
the collections OF taxes for 1876 are 81 068 1897 TO-
| This evidences clearly that the new order of
things has instilled confidence In our people that
| the city government will not be interfered with,
and that the people are willing and ready to pay
their taxes 10 the city whenever they are assured
that the money shall be properly expended. It
should be said that this COM arativs showing is
| the greater in favor Of the year 1877, because
Administrator Denis did not begin to collect city
taxes until forty-fve days later than the oolec-
ton was begun in the previous year. The colec-
ton OF the license tax for 1877 already SURPRISES
lin five months) the total collection of the same
tax for 1876 up to date.
THE CONTRACT sHeTEm.
Mr.. Cavanac yesterday introduced his resolu.
ton in the Council, providing that after the 19th
inst. all work TO be done on the Streets canals
draining machines, bridges, etc, Of the city to
sum amounting to $500 shall be given out by con-
tract for two years, to be accepted by the City
Council, under scaled proposals. The resolution
provides also for the division of the city into sew
eral sections for the purpose, and instrucs the
City Surveyor to proceedgat once to make esti-
mates for the work to be done hereafter.
The resolution or resolutions, for there are
three OF them, were adopted by the votes OF
Messrs. Brown, Cavanao, Denis and Diamond in
favor, and Edwards, McCaffrey and Rengstorff
against
Mr.. Rengsterfr explained his vote by saying
that he had not previously any knowledge OF ths
proposition and not being Informed OF the pre.
cina ohcaf IN ba aftpinhd IA hal IN 1ofa in, tIo
negative.
Mr.. McCafrey, In speaking in opposition 10 the
passage of the resolution, said that when the
proposition was originally broached in the
tors TO assemble in committee Of the whole TO
DISCUSS THE MATTER
but he had never received an answer. He OBJ
jected to the resolution because it would inter-
rupt and interfere with works already begun, and
others in contemplation; and referred, also, to
the aldermanic system OF former years, during
which he said very little work was done on the
streets. To adopt the contract system now
would also interfere with the system of giving |
employment to six hundred men on the streets,
TO give them enough to live on. Mr.. McCaffrey |
also said that the contract system would not |
prove beneficial to the city, owing to inability OF
the city to make cash payments.
MIR. Cavanac, in answer, simply said that his |
proposition would save at least seventy-fve |
thousand dollars to the city annually, and that |
We 9 why he had introduced H.
In favor OF the contract system, the recent |
cleaning out OF the Claiborne Canal and the
Smelling of st. Charles Avenue are given as evil
dence Of the cheap rate at which work for the |
city can be DONE
The resolutions, which it is understood will
receive the approval of the Mayor, will create
A COMPLETE REVOLUTION
in the Department OF Improvements MR. Nc
Caffrey's) particularly. and will abolish several OF
the bureaus of the department, and materially
reduce them in others. Ia fact, it would seem
that the department will need to carry on its
business only couple Of clerks and two or three
inspectors Of streets.
At the same meeting Of the Council commu.
field informing that body Of his removal by MIR.
McOaffrey as engineer Of the Bienville street
draining machine, ard asking If his removal was
based on any charges made against him. Mr..
Oavanae moved to refer the matter to commit
lee, which prompted Mr.. McCaffrey to ask the
chair whether the removals Of employees were
subject
70 THE APPROVAL
of the Council.
Mr.. Cavanac asserted that such WAS the law |
in the city ordinances.
His Honor the Mayor explained the situation by
saving that he understood that all appointments
should be made with the consent OF the Council,
Ind hence employees could not be removed with
,ut such consent. The Council had. however,
hus far neglected to formally confirm large
lumber Of employees.
Mr.. McCaffrey said that he had only asked the
question for information. He now moved that
he names of all the employees Of the city be sub
nitted to the board at its next meeting for con-
irmatiop, proposition which was unanimously
sdopted, whereupon the Council adjourned.