The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-03-14
CITY AFFAIRS.
SHERIFF HOUSTON AND THE TAN
PAYERS.

At meeting last night, over HaW-
kins saloon, Of the Taxpayers Assoc
citation. called for the purpose of learn
ing from Mr.. J. d. Houston, Criminal
Sheriff, upon what he claimed thht there
should not be reduction in the statute
relative to sheriff's fees, there was q
large attendance Of the Central Council.
On motion the Council went into COM
mittee OF the whole, Mr.. T. Pfeister in
the chair.
DR.. J. Z. Tebault stated to the meet
ing that he had occasion, some time
ago. to address the Governor commu-
under the new bill before the Legisla-
ture in which forty cents per diem is
allowed the Criminal Sheriff for keep
ing prisoners was too high, and to this
communication Sheriff Houston re-
sponded. He further said that the
Criminal Sheriff was present to lay the
facts of the justice OF such charges be-
fore the meeting.
Sheriff Houston then arose and sold
that he thought no one should notice
anonymous communications in news
papers. but he had seen the Presidents
letter TO Coy. Nichols, and he therefore
would respond. He said that he had
been before the Judiciary Committee Of
the Legislature and showed the facts
relative TO the subject. He also submit
ted the figures to the Committee on City
Affairs, and The bill calling for 40 cents
per diem was prepared by the City
Council. He did not desire to keep any
Of the faets from tho Central Union, and
he would. therefore, submit statement
which had been already given to
fpt tf In
detail tho cost Of supporting prisoners,
the price Of utensils, the wages Of en-
ployes, and I'LL the incidentals OF the
office, he then read, and, after
showing that after complying with
the statutes, under the present
financial condition OF the city, it was
impossible to charge less than present
rates, he expressed q willingness to
answer any question that might be put
to him by any gentleman present.
Mr.. Todd, of the Council, then inter
rogatod Mr.. Houston relative to the
prices Of personal property in the
Parish Prison, and bis questions were
answered, after which Mr.. Jehn
Roy took the floor and said that he dim
not think the fault Of the case laid SO
much with the fees charged by the
Sheriff ag with the deprecated condi-
ton of municipal finances.
DR.. Tebault, President OF the Council,
followed. reading estimates made by
those who claimed to have cognizance
of the cost of supporting prisoners, and
then ex-Shegiff Patton was called upon.
He stated that the data upon which
these estimates were made must have
been calculated upon false premises.
and he showed how the prison could
not be managed by q smaller force than
now employed. After long, desult0ry
talk. in which Sheriff Houston was
| answering questions and explaining
his figures, Mr.. Todd arose and said that
he now felt convinced that the fault laid
not with the fee bill Of the Sheriff, but
with the Legislature that sanctioned
the city In its issuance Of paper that was
not redeemable in cash: He said that
he was satisfied that II the Sheriff was
paid in cash he could reduce his fees,
but as tho case now stood he could not
do otherwise than support the fee bill.
A vote OF thanks was then rendered
Sheriff Houston and the meeting
adjourned.