St. Landry democrat., 1878-04-06

uHm. Irom law as to working
cunvicts, and to establish work
Total savings to city Of New Orleans,
per anIum.- --.--...-..-..-..- -S727 ,314 II
The drainage tax, included in the
drainage districts of the city of New
Orleans, which were excluded hy the
act ut 1877, amounts, by official figures,
to $755,0e8 28, and that, relieved by tie
operation OF the law which limits drain
age assessments to the property, amounts
probably to $150,O00 to 100000. This
estimate does not include the benefits
which may result from the repeal of the
smallpox hospital law, or from the re-
organization Of the Waterworks, or from
the reorganization uf the Beard of
Health, in which last, alone, by official
figures, $4,000 annually il economical.
The interests of commerce have not
been forgotten. The board of harbor
masters has been recognized and their
fees of office regulated at such sum as
WAS dectared just by merchants most
interested, and the port wartlens have
also been re-organized and regulated.
OF course, Mr.. President, in this sum
mary have not included mucl, Iegisla-
ti0n which has leen had, affecting the
well being of New Orleans and the par
islles, and which partook. of purely
restricted and local nature. In my, ex-
animation of the legislatit,n at large. /
have hitherto made reference to con-
stitutipnal difficulties in the way of
greater reduction. Sir. this alao has
been remedied, and whilst do not now
propose TO reopen discussion as to
the wisdom Of calling convention or
amending the constitution, ] desire to
say that the course pursued in snbmit-
ting amendments to the people is that
correct, by al! our sister Southern States.
ut least, until they had passed by &c vers.i
years from the naists of reconstruction.
Their example we have found worthy
nf Imitation. We have thought that
the part of wisdom, as well as the part
of expediency, dictated that we should
motto up II new struggle until time
hatienu manyof the evils under which
we suffered; until, forgetting the mis-
cries gone by, We weuld he engaged
rather III locking to. an at1spicious fn-
ture than i'll n,etiitating on a suffering
past. BIZ this rs it may, the amendments
proposed strike ont many evils, prevent
the re-aceurrence uf wrong and make.
salutary restrictions. They extend the
veto power tO the limit to which ii iias |
been advanced In the most recent well
digtste,d constitutions. They remodel
the judicial department; they restrain
the Legislature, in as complete amatilies
as any constitution in tile American
Union. They make the sessions of the
General Assembly biennial and modify
the constitutional c0rlpensatiap in ac-
cordance. with the experience of our
own and sister States. They will, If |
adopted. afford the means of econ0smiz- |
ing from $200, 900 tD ab225, 600 per annum.
Sir, the review which ] have made, |
hnye endeavOred to state with all the
fairness possible. The figures tn which
| have referred are NH, whether ssti-
mated or not, it not literally ascurate,
are correct substantially III error fiiers, ! :
ne 10 them, ltisunWittiRg. Necessarily,
I'M many instances, ] have REFERRED fe,I
1877. as the legislation of 1878 ID nor; .ipH
TIE matter of appropriations, vet per-
Iteted. know it will he said that the
fruits of the reductions To which have
referred should be MAIDS manifest ~ a
decrease IN the rate of taxation. The
tax rate has been reduced one and \
half mills for this year, which ia a res-
AHcfiaR OF more than Oae-tlilqi the
total general fund taxation. ti,s remain I
der being distributed as fOiloSa
Five and 0ne-half mills Interest tax.
Two mills school tax. ~.
Three mills ieyee tax.
Thus leaving "a nailla for the general
fund for this year. This rate at tuxa- T
ton is practically lower than III, fnrt, the
war. In 1855, 1857, 1853 and 1859. the
general fund tsaxation was III mills uf,nn
an asaeaament of S35S, 900, 900 in 1886.
and S378, Oil 600 in 1857, while this wear
IL IL 81 mills ON about S177,OOO, 900. In
connection with this abatement ii must
l.a recnilectea that the constitutional
expenses of the government are sas,w
much larger than they were then. For
in 1859 the expenses of our
judicial establishment Was s6S. 500. while /
now ii is about $3.50, 900. When the
shall have been ad0l.ted a
reduction In taxatian eli /, i,e stic-
accomplished. Way, Air, one
1t the amendments limits taxation FOR
III purposes after shis year tsl 10 mills.
The reduction for this yeah aud the
unit by ti,e amendments is fotsall pos !.
,ible, Thus;
:. Mills
ne rofssl rate this rear is..s.... lei 20
rom filis seyes tax Of mills viii Cease
nsEE ye.sr under set OF fsTT e
~ legislation as to schools, proi ably Ii
mill OF this tax can be removed next