The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-04-17
THE CITY AUTHORITIES AND THE SO.
CIAL EVIL.

Editor De,nocrat-The Developments made In
the Ormsby case on Saturday last In regard to
the acknowledged existence OF an designation
house in the heart of the city, and AMONG the
heat aud most industrious and enterprs ing
citizens. once more brings up the Important
question az TO the right and duty OF the CITY au,
fhorities to govern and control the socia evil"
am no lawyer and de- not propose to bubble
over inalienable rights and all that sort OF ling
Go urge consistency OF action on the part Of the
authorities.
buildings 10 be erected within certain limits of
the civ what IL the object Of the ordinance ?
Why simply to protect. as far as possible; the
bri SRe Structures They are comparatively safe
from fire. The city SAYS no frame structure shall
be erected amongst Them. because that increases
the risks from fire Mob ,dy has ever gainsaid
the power to enforce or the propriety OF enforc-
ing this ordinance.
There is an ordinance which saws that steam
boilers shall not be erected anywhere In the
Ctr without permit from the author rites. and
objections Of citizens are bound to have due
consideration at the hands Of the authorities
The question Of danger to property and life
comes in here, and the powers and duty Of the
authorities are not denied by any one.
.an he enforced. Why? because it is for the
general good and II Is decent
Soap and other factories from which dis
agreeable or unwboesome udOrS cmanate can
be and ale controlled rs to location and con-
duct
tered and licensed by the authorities. but mon
cannot follow them without consent or permit
of the authorities.
But the keeper of bagnio or gaming saloon
cannot get permit or license from the author
tiles. Why2 Because, say they. these pursuits
deed. against gaming the laws of the State are
most severe. and the business is only carried on
surrepliously and through system of bribery
and corruption OF public officials.
Now II all this authority, can be exerted for
the general good by our city authorities. why
do they hesitate in the matter OF at least pro-
tectinR decent people and respectable properly
holders from the blighting influence of bagnios?
What other pursuit Is 80 shocking to the morals
OF neiRhborhood, what fire so disastrous to
property as The existence of bagniO? think
1t may be safely said that no gambling saloon
ever impaired the value of surround
Ing Of on bat h1 Ghsr ba hnnd ea fs
every man can insure his house aud its con-
tents against fire: but the bagnio is worse
YOU cannot fight It with carbonio acid and with
water. 1t wi hers your possessions silently
and surely, and you wake up some morni ng to
ntable toll are gone from You and yours,and
all because the public servants. whom you have
put in Office to protect you. and to
whom you pay Onerous taxes for this
purpose. have discovered that the keeper
Of bagnio has inalienable rights that the most
yirtu9us and industrious cltSrn has net most
rage common decency. to mock that form OF
morality which is the corner stone OF civiliza-
ton, ana TO Dl1gnt the ntartn-St0ne OF the VIZ
tuous and Industrious.
Is 1t not time that civilized men In this part OF
the world had in their positions as rulers OF
servants of The peoule. learned that 1t il their
duty to- attack boldly this great public evil and
put 1t absol utely on the defehsivep am not silly
enough to imagine that 1t is to be eradcated. fol-
It exists, like gambling saloons. inevitably, as
the result of an imperlous demand; but dc
claim that the evil is legitimately under the con
troL OF the State and city authorities. or either
and that to 1T 1t curse community ss 1t now
does this Is a fragrant derel4ction Of duty.
Mem. Con-