The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-08-22

How 1t Used to be Done Under Radical
Rule.
A little incident occurred on Tuesday morning
in the Office OF the assessors, at the City Hall,
which is as good o sample of the Generalization
wrought by Radical rule as can be well produced.
real estate owner, man between sixty-five
and seventy years DID, addressed himself to MIR.
Payne the assessor Of the First District and call
ing him mysterously aside. told him that he
wanted further reduction Of his assessments,
and for that purpose had prepared his applica-
tions, and at the same time he handed the folded
documents to Mr.. Payne. The latter. on unfold
ing the applications, taken aback on discover
ing that they contained two twenty-dollar and one
ten-dollar notes snugy wrapped up in piece OF
paper. Mr.. Payne, realizing the Specification
Of their presence there, was about
REsENTING THE INSULT
in q striking manner, but controlled himself in
consideration OF the age Of the offender, who had
by this time become SO badly frightened that he
could scarcely keep on his feet.
In conversation with this taxpayer, he told us
that formerly he used to transact his business
With the assessment department. through
brokers, but that they were in the habit OF
pocketing his money without obtaining any re-
auctions, and this year he thought he would at
tend to his business himself and bargain directly
with the assessor. He was informed that times
had changed and allowed to go on the promise
that he would do 30 no more, and after he had
made due apologies to MIR. Payne.
The Mayor is considering
THE ExpEDIENcY
OF taking steps to recover for the city the reve-
nues of the building at the south corner OF Gus
tomhouse and Bourbon streets, donated by the
late Mr.. J. Fisk to maintain the Fisk Free Lii
brary, located IN Mechanics Institute.
In the opinion OF the Mayor the Mechanics
Society, to whom the library and revenues have
been turned ever under certain conditions, has
failed to comply with such conditions under the
extension of their charter granted to them at
the last session Of the Legislature, as
they had failed under their original
charter. Mayor Pilsbury says that he is
Induced 10 take action in this matter not only on
the ground of justice, but that it has been
limited to him by one OF the heirs OF the legstee
that they may claim the property if the provi-
sions OF the will OF Mr.. Fisk are not complied
with
THE wHARvEs.
The wharf lessees are bringing material for the
reconstruction of the wharVes in the Third Dis
trict and by next week the caving will have ceased
sufficiently to permit them to begin work on
tho wharves and by doing so will crafty the
public generally and particularly the working
classes and trades people of the Third District.
The batture at the head of Canal street is being
dredged out by the tugboat Defiance, at the
expense of the wharf lessees, Surveyor d,Heme-
court believing that it is not desirable that the
landing there should be extended further out in
to the river.
ASSESSMENTS.
The Board OF Underwriters have had pre-
limlnary conference with the Board of Assessors,
and we're to have had meeting of their own to
further discuss the matter. It appears that some
of the insurance companies, at least, claim that
nearly all their capital is invested in United
States SOS and city premium bonds, both OF
which, under the law, are exempted from taxa
ton. Should the claim Of the insurance COM
panies prevail. it will cut down the expectations
Of the city and State treasurers quite materially
D .ubtless. however, the matter viii be referred
to the Attorney General Of the State Tor his legal
opinion.