New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1877-04-28
TroubIes os Ihe CriuIpaI sheriG.

Surely Mr.. Houston is most undeseTved-
ly abused man. Nominated as the most
deserving man of his party for the posi-
ton, and for which he is certainly as we'll
qualified by ability and experience as any
Of his prede csssore, he was no sooner elected
than he was attacked in his most vital Or
gan-his pocket. The Property Ho dsrs'
Union, which has no faith in the justice of
obtaining money other than by equeez-
ing poor tenants, made a feroeious on
slaught on him. Like Casby, when paid to.
equetze they would squeeze to pay, and like.
that bottle-green, long haired, broad
brimmed philanthropist. put il on the be-
pevole2t ground of protecting the poor tax
payer. For their advantage the sheriff
might feed his prisoners on air, and himself
too, if they could compass it. Mr.. Hous-
toms clear statement, however, seemed to
have destroyed their temporary advantage
as champions of poverty stricken property
holders as effectually as Panck's scissors
made Cas5y the laughingstock of BlsedinE
Heart Yard.
Then his fees were cut down, and not sat
isfed with that the City Council committed
an act of high treason against the Demo-
cratic party by recognizing an act Of the
Legislature fixing them at still lower rates,
instead of following the bill Of the Old Eel
lows Hall caucus.
Naturally MIR. Houston demonstrated,
and the city still pursued him. Not satis.
fed with this, it managed that the contro-
versy should remain open, so that the sheriff
would stand fair chance of beiug starved
out lie endured it till forbearance ceased
to be virtue, and then cut down his force.
This Judge Whitaker objected to, and Mr..
Houston found himself beset on all sides.
He addressed the following letter to the
| Council:
New ORLEANS, April %, 1877.
To the Honorable Mayor and Administrators of the
City OF New OTleal:
GENTLEMEN-Hoping aud believing that il
is not the desire of the City Council to sub
ject the city of New Orleans, or me, to ex
| pensive and useless litigation to determine
| the legality and correctness of the bills fol
tees, as presented by me, for the months OF
| January, February and March, 1877, l here
by respectfully submit the following propO
sitions:
l. That the disputed amounts be referred
for arbitration to the City Attorney and at
torney to be selected by me. and in case o
disagreement the two attorneys TO selec
tho third. Or, .. If, in yOur opinion, tht
above will not fully protect the city's inter
est, let the disputed amount be referred TO
arbitration to the City Attorney, an attor
ney to ba selected by him and an attoTne,
to be selected by me. or let the whole mat
ter be referred to the Hon. B. f. Jonas Cit,
Attorney, Believing every charge claimed
by me to be strictly within the law, l an
willing TO agree to any mode of arbitration
that you may consider calculated to pro
mote the city's interest. l sincerely hop
that your honorable body will accept on
of the above propositions as an act of jus
tice 20 the taxpayers Of the city of New o.
leans and myself
Very respectfully. your obedient servant
j. D. HOUSTON,
Criminal Sheriff
But the Council disTegaIded this, OIL
noticing it by Greierence.
He then sought the process of the ooul
to bring the Council to terms, and obtaine
an order from Judge Whitaker reeihng tb
liability ct the city under Revised Statute
1912 for expenses in the Superior Crmini
Court, directing the Council to show caus
to-day why they should not make an apprt
priation to satisfy it; and alleging that the
have no supervisory control over the judy
and clerk who had certified TO the cGrrfo
ness of the accounts. The amount of th
bills is as follows;
JANUARY.