The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-01-10
CITY COUNCIL--OFFICIAL
REGULAR MEETING.
CRY HALL. NEw OH1EANa.

REGULAR MEETING.
CRY HALL, New ORLEANS,
WsdDs sday, January o, 1878.
The Council met this day at IL O'Clock m. in
regular session.
Present: Hon. Ed. pilst6ry, Mayor, presiding;
and Administrators Brown. Cavansc, Denis, Dia-
mopd. Edwards, McCafffey and Rsngssorff.
The reading OF the minutes OF the previous
meeting was dispensed with, and they wers sp-
proved.
Cosnmunica tions from the Mayor and
Administrators.
The following communication from the Mayor
was read
MAYoRAITY or NEW ORLEANS,
City Hall. Janusry Q, 1878. !
TO tho City Coun~il:
bave had under consideration The resolution
OF the Council. passed 81 It's last meeting. award
ing the contract for Tho city printing for tho our
rent year 20 the New Orleans DEMOCRAT.
The act Or The Legislature known ss The print
ing bill presefibea that the contract shall be ad
uaicetsd to the lowest and best iider.
Unnder these requirements, the DEMOCRAT
vas last year successful 10 obtaining the con-
tract. That journal fulfilled it's obligations to
tbs city With sigma fidelity, and TO the complete
satisfaction OF the Council, and in this respect is
entitled to oil the consideration this body can
properly bestow. .........-..
The doubts which at first seemed TO peryade
tho minds of The Administrators 10 10 their duty
in these premises we're happily removed by the
frank and formal withdrawal OF tho DEMOCRAT a.
q candidate.
rhe Council, therefore, appears now In the
attitude not only of having voted the contract to
the highest bidder, but also to one who had prao-
tcally withdrawn from the contest.
II this position can be recognized rs sound it
is not difficult TO foresee the easy stages by which
any Council hereafter may be recoDciled, upon
similar grounds. 10 award any other contract TO
the highest bidder.
ia the contract system and deprive the city OF
that fair mpetitioD 30 nece seary to an econom-
ieal administration OF It's affairs.
Ii this MEASURE be expected OF ns as tribute
to our party, respectfully suggest that the true
interests thereof may be best subserved by q
strict impartslity towards all having purely
business relations with the corporation.
Tho CITY 10 now passing through grave crisis.
The enemy 10 Mt her heels. Imposture and mis-
representation are the devices freely used to
bolster up private interests to the detriment Of
the public welfare. The property of the tizsn--
the little that has besn left to him after years
OF war and rapino-is msDaced with conf 5catiop.
Whist it is cur duty to defend those threatened
interests to the last extremity it 10 no less obliga
tory upona us to observe with scrnpulous care
that the rights Of all arc equally protected.
From these considerations, with great respect
for their opinion, am compelled to differ from
the mbJDFlty OF tD9 COUNCIL ana return Inc pre-
amble and resolution without my approval.
ED. PIL5BURY, Mayor.
Mr.. Cavanao stated that he regretted TO be
Or mpslled to differ from his honor the Mayor,
and moved that the ordinance do now pass the
veto of the Mayor to the contrary notwithstand-
ing.
Mr.. Denis seconded the motion and called for
the yeas and nays, which were ordered with the
following result:
Yeas-Brown, Cavanac, Denis, Diamond Ed
wards, Rengstorff-6.
Nay-McCaffrey-1
In casting his vote Mr.. Denis said:
II vote yes; the law stating the lowest and
BEST, and the council having on previous occa-
sions given other contracts to those that we're
not the lowest bidders"
Mr.. Diamond stated that he voted yea for the
same reasons.
The Mayor stated in reply to the observation
Of the honorable Administrator OF Finance, that
he had no knowledge Of any contract having ever
before been awarded to the highest bidder; that
he was not always in favor OF the lowest or OF
straw bids; the case in discussion being under
special act Of the Legislature, he considered
there was less discretion than usual left to the
Council.
The following statement from the Administers
spread upon the minutes:
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS,
City Hall, New Orleans, January 8, 1873.
TO the City Council:
/ submit herewith statement showing bonded
md floating debt Of the city December 81. 1877:
Bonded debt. ......... .s19 SO. 1927 46
Floating debt