The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-03-03
MEMORIAL TO THE LEGISLATURE OF
LOUISIANA.
KGects OF Excessive Taxation-It Has
Reduced the state To Poverty. NJ

Legislature that has for nearly Ten
years represented the people OF the State
and Is identified with It's Interests
would respectfully represent. that they,
i'm common. with their fellow citizens
throughout the State, anxiousiy expect
from You essential relief from the evils
inflicted upon us by the naisgovernment
of the unprincipled adventurers who
!. have 40 long ruled our State for no pur-
pose but their own personal aggrandize-
ment. ~
Ar excessive taxation mot only by its
direct exactions, but by Its indirect in
fluence In diminishing capital = has
been the chief, and perhaps the only
agent In reducing the State from q con-
az widespread and desolating poverty,
we would earnestly pray that you de-
crease and limit taxation, SO that capt.
tai will seek investments amongst us,
and by Its employment OF productive
labor, start us again on the road to
prosperity. To accomplish this end,
we would, with all respect, ask you to
bear In mind that we are now an ex-
ceedingly poor people, and that you
should therefore, gauge the public ex-
penditures, not by the standard OF orr
former wealth. nor by the extravaganza
renumerattca which our oppressors
accorded to themselves; but we ask OF
you to cut down salaries, decrease
emoluments, abolish sinecures, and
diminish adj expenditures to the lowest
point consistent with the efficient per-
Torrance Of public duties; but remem-
bering, at the same time, that the eff.
cheney OF public servants ID very fire.
quently in the inverse ratio of their
remuneration. Il
In the line of practical economy, we
ask OF you to limit the cost Of city po-
lice to $500 per annum. That we
ask nothing unreasonable In this, we
call your attention to the fact that, dur
Ing the year ending In the spring OF
1874, the city OF Milwaukee, with q pop
ulation Of about 100,0 900. or half thatof
New Orleans, was polieed, lboArd OF
prisoners included), for a43, 02O Am ef-,
ficient system OF public eduoatioA can
be carried into successful operation at
little, IL any, more than hall of bur
present disbursements for that pnrpo se.
The expense 81 public justice can be rel
duced at least 80 per cent. ard the exs'
unfinished In the same Drop ttions, and
there is no doubt but 8 earl ktll investi-
cation Of other sources pk expenditure
will enable you 70 suggest the means Of
diminishing them. BY the aforesaid
and other means, we af6 conf dent that
the iimit OF City taxation can be rel
duced lower than TWAS LAST year, by
probably one-half OF one per cent per
annum, thus increasing the value OF
property end consequently increasing
the future revenues OF the city, without
distressing the taxpayer or the commu-
nifty at large.
We would respectfully call the atten-
ton or your honorable body TO the fact
that much the greater part of the back
taxes now due by the citizens of New
Orleans and probably throughout the
State-were imposed by the govern
ment that had been placed In authority
directly In opposition to the expressed,
will of the people, by force and fraud.
A government which expended it's ex-
cessive exactions, not to promote the
welfare OF the people, but to enrich the
unprincipled men who exercised their
power-4so nefariously obtained for
spoliation alone. These taxes were ex-
cessive beyond parallel, nominalIyl
reaching as high as S per cent per
annum, but really by extravaganza
assessment-aga which we were de-
MED all legal remedy-to 10, and even
40 per cent on the true value Of our
property. The effect of these enormous
exactions was not only to impoverish
thousands, and to render them utterly
unable to pay future taxes, but by
the abstraction of capital from
the productive Industries Of the
community contributed by those
who could and did pay these
excessive taxes)-business was crushed,
trade paralyzed, and every industrial
pursuit Frustrated. Thus the source of
the revenue Of taxable property was
dried up and as a certain result of ex-
orbitant taxation, the taxpayer was i'm
fch I.Y,,n hxrt hn Ins IL, -
general business, rendering his prop
erty unrentable, than by the enormous
amounts exacted from him directly.
We, therefore, in view Of these noto- |
rious and indisputable facts, ask of you
as matter Of Justice, that these grossly |
unjust, illegal and exorbitant taxes be |
RENTED wholly or in greater part, as |!
not really and honestly due by those |
charged with them. We ask this not in |
prerequisite to the relief of this city |
now mortgaged, fettered and grooming
under this prostrating incubus.
AS an additional reason for granting |
our prayer we would call your atten- |
ton to the fact that the greater part of |
the tenants OF property have been for
years exempted from the legal obliga-
ton OF paying their rents, whilst at the |
same time taxes were extorted with
merciless severity from the unfortunate |
property holder. 3
We would further state to your hon.
orable body that for years the leaders,
managers and responsible agents ofsthe |
party opposed to usurpation have not
only proclaimed that. reduction Of tax
alton was cardinal principle, and an
essential plank in their platform, but |
urgently counseled the non-payment
Of taxes, partly because they were ex-
brilliant, Illegal and unjust, and as a
matter Of policy to weaken the enemy,
thus extorted from the people were I
withdrawn. We have for years labored,
hoped and waited for this promised re-
lief, and now confidently appeal to a |
lauitimata I,e0isiatura 70 radoar,a 49,