The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-02-14
GOVERNMENT PUBLIC OFFICIALS AMI
THE LlssalsLAFuWE.

THE LEGISLATURE
Eittvr Democrat "A republican form d gov
eminent, III theory at least s the only one
that gives assurances against domestic ty1an4
ny. Reasoning priofi, the people are pro-
tected against governmental oppression. In
asnnch As the interests of those who govern
aud q the governed are. Identical. because the
people really govern, themselves and there
Is no distinct governing elass. hereditary or
otherwise, S,iuh is the theory. fairly deduei-
BILE from the premises, but alas. we are palm
fully conscious that il iH wide 1T the truth.
Although ostsnsibly the servant OF the pub
lic yet no soenet Ia the official warm In his
seat than he becomes the master of the people
and exercises HE authotity, not for their behe-
tlt, but either to aggtandize himself personal
member, and which. taken collectively. he lies:
isnates as the government" His individual
feelings and interests become whilst he holds
office. antagonstic TO those Of his constitua
ents. and atp held paramount to theirs
In eselnpliilcation, 0 tax gatherer named
Taylor, from one Of the upper Parishes an
official under reform government which was
elected by aud fought into place by the people
80 that they might be relieved Of the opptesA
sse burdens imposed upon them by the pre-
cedina government. has come out In the tlib-
lie press, aud, apparently without shane. pro-
claims that - per cent per annutn is not autIi-
GENTLY onnrpuH burden to Impose upon the
property Of the tax delinquent but that a pen
atty of 20 per cent additional should be exaeted
ftpn the unfortunate public debtor. Although
this man should know that tax delinquency Ia
due iii almost oil pnsha 10 Inability 10 meet the
enormous taxes end excessive assessments
originally imposed by the earpetbag govern
,neht, vet he takes advantage Of his position.
not to aid the people by using It's influence to
eamofa for 4 continuance Ut the present OPP
prnssive taxation. and also that II shall be
male doubly oppressive TO the untoitunates
in The future. This man was probably one
Same IA the rest OF the community, and
he no doubt condemned In no stinted phrase
those expressions which he In now. by the In
nnehee Of his official poaitivn endeavoring to
office, against which the people should aei,-
la,islr guard themselves by eternal vigilance
Another instance Our excellent CITY Attor-
ney, a imam OF ptobtty. learning aud talent.
has become q member Of the Legislature.
where he eits, II not in defiance Of the letter
Of the law. certainly Ia opposition To ita spirit,
az the interests Of his elasa, the Office hulder,
ia Numerically opposed 10 the interests Of
charge and guardianship u tile Legislature.
This gentleman. IT correctly reported speaks
Of tax collecting aH being one Of the functions
Of government whereas IL is merely an incl
Of The police exhibits his devotion 10 his GLASS
IN Opposition to the interests of his constitu
ants whom he Ia supposed to represent
The Legislature. which is expected to guard
the people against The exactions and oppreass-
aionR Of the governing class the public OH
Gals that tax consuming, nunzproducng and
property absorbing class too frequently Joins
IN with and aids. Them Ia their nefarIous Of
forts 10 despoil the people
How frequently do we see the Legislature
taking counsel with municipal corporations,
police jufies. police commissioners, auhuol
boards. etc. In regard to the sums proper to
he levied TO run the respective organic .tiens
under their control, instead Of exercising their
own unbiased Judgment in behalf Of the peo-
Pile, whoae interests are directly in opposition
to those OF these officials. One of the highest
proofs of atatesmanahip s to disregard tho
opportunities and canots Of individuals or
the claims of those having special interests
In favor Of the public or general welfare, Was
there ever corporate body. however pure,
pnblic-anirited and dieinteiested, that failed
to urge the Legislative body for large appip-
priat,onsY A municipal corporation will con-
duct the public affairs wonderfully we'll on.
gay, $bo0,nn1 per ann,,m. II the Legislature,
In spirit Of forgetful and criminal liherality
were to increase the appropriation to 5000. :
600. every cent would be expended not a cent
Of surpns would remain aud the probabilities
are that public affairs would be less efficiently
performed Than when the smaller sum waa
considered sufficient.
So with school boards. or boards Of public
education. Why sir The p,,teHt school board
win work with gay 100000 per annuin. but in
r,rase II to sboo.ooo and every cont will be
used, now school houses will be built, new
furniture bought, old schools repaired and
painted, play grounds purchased. salaries In
creased. and more advanced education, will be
introduced In abort. milons will be expended
where thousands formerly sutflepd. There Ia
no limit to the power and disposition In public
bodies To spend money. That which comes
without sacrifice or self-denial In expended
without limit or computation. A Iegplt-
tuic true to ita duties must limit public ok
pnnditutr. not In accordance with tho wishes
of those who disburse the public revenue. but
in accordance with the public means and the
public interests.
The Legislature should learn that tho pub.
liz welfare has never heon promoted by any
measure or law having that end in view, but
by negative means. letting the people alone,
untrammelled by law. to act IA interest
prompts them n due regard being had To the
rights OF others, And above all the leglsla-
penditute "a the individual members of the
Of arranging in advance a programme OF
yearly expenditure without any regard to their
means to meet II. whether II exceeds the net
revenue of theirnroperty or not. Governments,
on the contrary, act in u manner that would
subject an individual to a charge Of lunacy,
by pre-artnnging expenditure without tho
slightest regard being had to the ability Of
the people tomeet IL, They act az II the pub
lie purse were ineShausthle seemingly ig-
nolant or oblyious of the fact that when taxa
ton IL excessive II acts MS an eternal bar to
tho prosperity OF the State. In their efforts
to promote the public interests they should,
II necessary. reject every item of public ex-
penditure except the cost of the machinery
/. essential to protect person and property the
only legitimate function of government