The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-08-02
THAT FLARE UP.
THE INVESTIGATION MADE YEsTER-
BAY BY THE BOARD
OF ASSESSORS.


appear before them, in order to asc dvtain. If
possible, who are the so-called br' ,txers that
ire alleged to have been maxi ag corrupt
propositions to the merchants OF this city in
with the reduction OF their tax on
capital.
Mr.. Michel Lion, Mr.. Bonneea.ze, Mr.. Mac
ready and Mr.. A. Prados, Jr., were the four
out Of the five requested TO appear, for we
learned yesterday that no request was
to Mr.. w FL Letehford.
MR. JOHN Fl. LUDwIGsEN,
The cashier OF che Mechanics and Traders
Bank, was absent, but on calling at the bank
yesterday our reporter was informed that he
was unable to attend yesterday, owing to the
absence Of the president Of the bank from
the institution making it almost impossible
for him (Mr. Ludwigsen) to absent himself
for any length Of time from the bank.
Mr.. Ludwigsen then took occasion to say
that there was q slight discrepancy In our re-
port which he wished to have corrected. 1t
was that, although an individual whose
name will be given when an official investga
ton is made) did offer his services to the
bank, he did not offer to have the taxes re-
durad for q consideration, This Individual
services, II the bank had any tax to pay on it's
capital, the individual in question would not
have been engaged to attend to the business,
the fact was that he had been. morally, kicked
out Of doors on the occasion referred to-that
was some time in February or May 1ast-but
for other reasons than his offer Of services.
Our interview with
MIR. ED. G. PAYNE,
one Of the assessors corrected also 81 nisap-
prehensOn OF facts in the same direction.
Mr. Payne says that it was only after he had
heard Of the propositions made by the brokers
to merchants in the Second District that his
attention was aroused to the gravity OF the
case, and suspeCting that the same practices
might have been attempted in the First Dis
trct, which Is under his charge, he began an
investigation to learn from Mr.. Ludwigsen
what is said above.
The evidence which is given below, although
not taken down very regularly, explains
itself. But it needs q short preface to be per-
fectly understood.
The object to be attained by an investiga-
ton is not only who are the brokers that have
made improper propositions to the merchants,
but how they managed to ascertain that the
tax on capital of certain firms had been in
creased this year, before the assessment rolls
were opened to the public on the first Of July,
1878, as provided for by law.
This being said, we proceed to give the evil
denCe.
MR.. MICHEL LION
was asked by Mr. Payne: When were you in
formed that your assessment on capital had
been raised
Mr. Lion studied awhile.
Mr.. A. PradOs, Jr., @ broker, here volunteer
ed to refresh Mr.. Lions memory, and Mr.:
Lion concluded that it was about the first OF
July last, a day or two after Mr.. Prados had
paid for him his last years taxes.
Mr.. Payne-Did you not tell me, Mr.: Lion,
that you had been informed prior to the fiji
teenth of June last that your assessment had
been increased. Mr.. Lion answered yes
Thri inf Md srr11 r,ti tn tho
| first of July that your assessment had been
| raised?
Mr. Llon-I do not remember who informed
| me. After the first Of July Mr.. PradOs called
had been raised to $4,000, and that it could
be reduced to $4,000 by the payment OF $40;
which proposition was put down in writing
by Mr. Prados. A few days afterwards Mr..
Prados called again, and tod MI = Lion that
| he tPrados) had made a mistake that the as
| sessment had been raised to $4,000, and that
he would have to pay one-half the amount OF
taxes saved on $4,000, in order to have it re-
duced to S5000
Mr.. Prados being asked what authority he
had to make this proposition said that he
had been informed by Mr. Stockton that this
reduction could be made by the payment OF
| this money
was, replied that he coula only be found on
the streets.
Reporter-Is Mr.. Stockton an employee of
the Department Of Assessments?
Mr. Payne-No, sir.
Mr., PradOs. being re-examined. said that he
told Mr.. Lion that he would advise him not
to trust any broker in having assessments
reduced
Mr. Lion (re-examined) was asked whether
he had ever been waited upon by any Other
broker on the subject Of having his assess
ment reduced. He replied that he had by
several, but did not remember who they were
In answer to o question Mr.. Prados said
that the reason why he did not examine the
rolls himself was because last year brokers
were not permitted to examine the ro Is :,
Reporter-Mr Payne. do you not allow
brokers to examine your rolls?
Mr. Payne-Brokers are not allowed to dt
so unless they are duly authorized agents.
MIR. BONNECAzE
, Of the firm of l.. Marquee Il Co, being ex
arnined, said that he had been waited on bJ
several persons and notified that his assess
ment had been raised, and that for q consid
GRAFTON it could be reduced. He did not know
the exact time when this proposition was
made, but could tell by the examination o
: that day. He knows that it was somewhere
about the first of July. He does not kno7
who the persons were that MAGE the PROPOSE
TONS He would know them il he saw them
He asked the broker how he proposed to hay
: The assessment reduced-whetber it wa
. through the assessors themselves. IN
broker answered no; it was through another
channel.
MIR. HOFFMAN,
8 of the firm of D. Ell. Holmes, said that he wa
= approached while writing at his desk and toll
that his assessment could be reduced. II
y told the party that he was satisfied to go t.
/. the City Hall and examine his assessment
> himself; does not know the party; never say
the party; was busy writing and told the pei
son che would have nothing to do with it.
~ MIR. MACREADY
: Of stauffer, Macready co. said , that on tn tn
! | while standing in front OF his store talkn
t. with a gentleman, q very well known ind
d vidual Of this city came into his store and r.
J. time. Mr.. Macready having accosted hin
asked saIiet him what he wanted The individu'
in question said that he wanted to see \. N
r. Macready privately. Mr.. Macready said thi
l. that spot was private enough. He then tol
witness that he had called to see
regard to his assessment. that it had bee
raised to double what it was last yea
t,,t TINT ho have If rn6upl