The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-01-05
CITY AFFAIRS.
PROPOSITION TO LIQUIDATE THE
BANKRUPT CITY AND ORGANIZE
TWO MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS.


expenditures of the city Of New Orleans elbows
that, while the bonded debt OF the city may I
be somewhat reduced by the premium bond /
plan, yet the city has not been able. with the | q
most diigent collection of tares, with oil the !,
dire enginery Of the law kept constantly In ,
motion to squeeze enough money out OF the |
people to pay the premiums on the bonds,
and at tho same time pay the current ex-
penses OF the city government. lace
The floating debt Is rapidly increasing
city officers and employees, and the polio
and school teachers, are not paid, and hav will
not been paid for several months. .ior
The salaries OF the police and OF the schoiface
teachers are as low as they can be made witlell.
out starvation and yet for the last five or 8, has
months Of every year the city Is in default lean
the payment OF her current expenses 1t ,era Il
useless to expect good and efficient systepre-
OF government when the necessary office taa
and employees are not promptly paid in ad dis
quate salary. I,Re
Ii any one thing Is fully demonstrated byr in
hard and bitter experience, 1t Is that toeen
money cannot be squeezed out OF the peopsVith
Of New Orleans to pay the judgments aga Delo,,
the city OF New Orleans, the interest a5 5uaiH
premiums ON her bonded debt and the curretfo-
expenses OF the city. Tto
This state OF things cannot and must n
continue. We are getting deeper and deep
In the mud every year, and the end muatre
come and that speedily. The total product
the industries Of this city, the aggregate 81
OF all the profits OF her trade and CONNER
and manufactures is not sufficient to beart
burdens imposed by the governmental nEpi-
chine. No ingenuity OF the law-maker G in.
increase wealth, or add to the productive ID to
Since both the bondholder and the ofwho,
holder cannot be paid, what Ia the duty OF Him.
LEGISLATURE in the premises2 gold,
afford protection and security to life -,
property. The second duty Of the municpaa..na-
government Of a commercial city Is to kes'th,
It's wharves and streets In fit and pro tb na
ing the streets, repairing the wharves then
lighting both. The work OF primary edudrst
ton Is incidental and supposed to be cdat-
tributary to peace and security. The thfis;.
just claim-if it is possible without opprence
Ing the citizen and destroying the sourcesaen
productive industry. The law Of all civiliz :,
countries at this day does not permit tpai
means Of earning livelihood for himsefs
those dependent on him. No more can arv |
public creditor be permitted to take frthe |
the people the means OF earning living,sist
the means to secure their persons and pr ,or
erty, by the efficient administration OF just io'
II all the Judgments against the city
New Orleans, and half the floating debt on
one years interest on the bonded debt W q
taken out of one years receipts, nothnoh
would be left to pay the officers OF the CRIT
inal Court and the police, or the schools, owjll
clean the streets. II none Of the iudgmt the
are paid and none OF the floating debt, tbs OF
will not be enough received to pay the curl
expenses and the interest on the bonded dc1r-
In other words, the city Of New Orleans
municipal corporation, is hopeIessly n
solvent, and 1t must be treated like any OF
odnhTupt eet
| Of the city of New Orleans, authorize :
Governor to appoint three commissioner
liQuidate its affairs, who shall finish tt
work In two years. and be authorized to
all the assets and alienable property OF
defunct and bankrupt corporation and div II
the proceeds among the creditors pro ratt
a tableau OF distribution filed, advert
and approved by the courts.
Let the Legislature create two munic
corporations-one above Canal street, II
below Canal street, with economical and Ir
ular governments-limit their respecII.
powers OF taxation to seventy i've cents I
the hundred dollars. Let each pay the pc
within its territory-and for the prosecu
and punishment OF crimes committed vii :
Its territory, and for the support OF sch ,
within its territory.
The new corporations would be free II :
the burden OF debt The reduced taxa
would raise the value OF property, ind I
new investments OF capital In productive
dustries and the people would, under theI
impulse, soon grow rich and prosperous. 1
The new corporations would depend entt Il
on future revenues The creditors OF the B
corporation would divide among themselse' J
all its property and assets This is the o
effective measure OF relief--vhich the true
terest of the people demand. *-en