The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-12-18
! might 90 web make the commission, and cid,
Think have his receipt at home.
Adjourned until ID m. Thursday.
OUR COMMERCIAL INTERESTS.
What the Legislative Commission Ar

VUH GDWWERCAAb INTERESTS
What the Legislative Commission Are
Doing to Help Our Commerce.
The Commission on Commercial Restrictions
met last evening at the Cotton Exchange.
Present: Col. II. O. Zacharie, chairman; @. j.
Berry, Esq.,, and John Ohsffe. Esq.
After the reading Of the minutes Col. Zaohsrie
read the letters prepared and addressed to per-
sons in different lines of business here, in
order to get 90 far practicable their opinions
to the operation of our license and port laws,
the following form, which was adopted:
FORM A-To PERSONS IN THE DIFFERENT TRADES.
NEW ORLEANS, December II, 1877.
Sdr-The Legislature OF the State of Louisiana
81 Its last session passed an act oreating COM
mission to inquire into the operation of the Ii
oense system, port charges, inspection laws and
other laws in their nature restrictive Of COM
meroe. This commission, now in session, would
be pleased to have your views upon the general
subject, and especially answers 10 writing to the
following questions:
/. Would any industry in which yotl are en-
gagged or interested be profted and encouraged
by the repeal of the State and city license
thereoni Ii so, please state, as explicitly as
possible, how and how much and state particu-
larry what is the effect upon the industries and
businesses with which you familiar Of the
license and capital taxi
be found expedient, or q reduction only be de-
termined upon will it encourage others in your
line of industry to set up establishments, ply ing
their trades. establishing manufactures. and
giving employment for more capital and labor in
the busness7
b. What is the percentage OF business done TO
capital employed in your industry
4. Ii your business is such as to subject Won to
the provisions of the inspection laws OF the State,
please state how those laws operate npon it,
whether benefoially or otherwise II il would
be advantageous TO abolish, modify, alter or
change those laws, and how, giving illustrations
within your own experience or that of others,
within your knowledge as to the evil or benefi-
cent result OF our lava as well as those of other
cities
8. Ii your business is such as 10 bring you into
contact and practical experience with our port
regulations and charges, including any such re-
lating to shipping and osrgoes from the time of
taking pilot off the mouth Of the river. ascend
ing the river. landing disehsrging, loading,
clearing, and as TO putting to sea again, or any
portion thereof, please state the practical opera
ton thereof rs to pr0motive or repressivs of an
increase of our commerce. State particularly
what charges are oppressive, and how they could
10 obvisted or abOished. And ii within your
knowledge, state how the regulations charges.
etc., OF the city of New Orleans compare with
those of other oties2
While answers are desired specifically TO the
foregoing questions, the commissioners would be
pleased to have any illustration sforded from
your knowledge, which would serve to show the
operation OF the laws here and elsewhere upon
=. o. zAoHAR1E,
Charm an Committee.
The following letter was addressed to the
Mayor, Administrator of Finance, land the State
Auditor, relative TO taxation By vote it was
adopted as
FORM h.
New ORLEANS, December IL, 1877.
The commission on Commercial Reductions
created by an aot OF the Legislature, 10 now IN
session and would be pleased to have answers in
writing to the following questions:
1. What is the amount OF revenue derived by
the State city for the last FIVE years from the
collection Of ioenses2 Please state each ooeu-
patton and the amount derived therefrom, If DOS
sble.
2. What is the amount of revenue derived by |
the State or city from the tax on capital during
tbs same timer State. il possible, each desorlp- |
ton OF capital, such bonds, money ut interest,"
capital in business, and other sub divisions. t.
Vetber with the amount derived from eaob7
B. What fractional part OF the total revenue |
does the income from license tax CONSTITUTED
L. What fractional part of the total revenue |
does the income from capital tax constitute
8. What addition to the tax on real estate |
would be necessary If the license tax we're abol. |
ished on all improvements save those against
public morals and those requiring especial |
police regulations by license
6. What additional tax would it be necessary TO |
.dd 30 the tax real estate if the tax on capital
we're abolished n
7. How does the assessed value OF real estate
,ompare with its value
8. What the revenues of the city from the |
ease OF the markets2
8. How far will the saving by the adoption OF |
he contract system by the city admit OF oonse-
Iuent reduction Of license tax by the city,
TO- Give q rough estimate OF what revenues
he adoption OF the Moffsts register would pro-
iuce2
Ill. Dan you suggest any measure by which the
evenue now raised by the levy of the license and
,apital taxes could be raised otherwise save by
IN addition to the rate on real estate? II yes, |
please state what and how. II by reduction oil
alaries OF officers or abolition of offices. State |
peoi6oally what Offices.
IL. If you are familiar with any cases In which
'ur inspection laws or port charges operate OPP
,ressively upon commerce. please state them
md the remedies TO obviate their recurrence.
While specific answers are desired to these
uestions, the commission would be pleased to
lear from you on any Of the subjects embraced
n the purposes for which it has been appointed, |
specially on the subjects OF inspection and port
harges, and would desire any Information which
our experience and research In the matter may
ford, the purpose being to suggest legislative
i'd in securing any reforms which an enlightened
nowledge of the present systems and their oper-
ton may show to be advisable and advantage
us. Very respectfully.
II. q. IACHARIE, Chairman.
Thereafter the meeting adjourned until Thurs
ay, January 3.
HE NEW ORLEANS CITY RAILROAD.