The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-10-05
Communicated
THE ADMINISTRATORS AND THE CITY
RAILROAD COMPANY.

inc epIHulalut OIL th1 ItdhU,tIte fbfid others OK
the action 81 the majority Oh thu city Adtnints~
traitors ia adiu1eatug the privilege I'll thu right
OF way through tho streets TO the City Baiffoad
Company, so far as It aseks TO throw suspicion
on the motives Of the Administrators who tnats
that adjudication. is OF q piece with other like
instnuat'ons against officials who happen not
to be Included In the ptrnvttaes roll OF tho Inn
tnnenlatslY vlrti1uis and honest.
There never WIS In insinuation which, tisd a..
little OF foundation, OF trnth or probability.
The adjudication of this contract was entirely
| question If business and poliuy upon whfef.
any seven Of the most honest and judieions oit-
lzsnH would probably differ as orr city officials
differed.
Bids had been called for by the city for tttH
privilege. The highest OF these bids wss thaA
Of the City Railroad Company. TO wit. ssaoooo.
which far exceeded tho expectations of tho eitr
administrators.
After the reception OF these bids the party
Offering the lowest bid sent to the Mayor d
| proposition to ovsrbid that of tho Clty Railroad
| Company. to wit. s76o,vo0 The Mayor. Adminis-
| traitor Glynn and Administrator Houston
thought. In View Of this higher bid there should
BIO another offering. The city had reserved Thea
| right to reject oil bids.
! The other Administrators regarded tho bid Of
tho City Railroad Company "a batter and mora
advantageous one To tho city, and did more ragtt4
larry and fnir1y made. Better and more ndvan~
iaeeous because the City Railroad would pay
tho cash down, while tho other bidder YOU'D
defer payment until possession of tlis property
WAS delivered. aud the city WINS not Ia d ooudi@
ton to walt indefinitely for 50 important and
valuable eontf ibntion to its revenues wl1fnh
would. too. probably involve d long ara tedious
litigation.
| With this sum Of seso.ooo on hand the city
would be able to effect b great reduction of ita
lnterest-bearing debt. and thereby relieve the
heavy burden upon its revenue. which cramps
and restricts its maintenanee Of It's police
functions
| The present city administrators have de-
served we'll OF the community By their rigid
economy and their efficient collection and On !
fofoement OF tho taxes. But with their rs~
sources and economy they have been compelled
to refuce their expenditures to figures which
greatly restrict and embarrass their ability Ia
satisfy the demands Of the people and the na-
cessities OF q city covering 80 large territory.
This embarrassment arises from the large sum
required for tho yearly payments on the bonded
Indebtedness.
The sum paid by tho City Railroad Oompanr
for tho privilege adudieated to them will re-
llevs them. for this year at least. oil the
pressure.
This was the view taken OF the subject BY i've
Of the Administrators who voted for this adiu-
dfeation. There was another important con-
sideration which would not have boon withouk
It's weight. This is tho grave doubt which has
been expressed ~ to the rixht OF the city To
make such d sale of d privilege. which. tn caea
OF an adjudication to any other party but the
company In possession, would have been raised
In the courts. and would have involved u long
and tedious md doubtful litigation.
The City Railroad Company having declined
to raise this issue. and offered TO pay cash down
ssao.ooo for this privilege, Justly impressed the
Administrators with their fairness and LIBERAL
ity. and the acceptance and ratification OF their
bid was an eminently wise. Just and polite one.
II 10 not often any State or city receives such h
bonus from corporation which supplies 30 Inn
portant and beneficial o pubic convenience AZ
this company does. In other cities no such bonus
is1exacted or received. The street railways are
only required to pay taxes ON their property. or
licen ses for running their vehicles. The Cftv
Railroad Company not only pays very large
tax to Stats and city. but also contributes thu
large bonus OF $4,000. nearly one-haif the cap
ital OF the company. for the exercise Of q right
Of way through the streets. Surely no just
, minded citizen can complain Of the acceptance
! OF such contribution to our straitened
treasury By our City Administrators. or OF its
tender by the liberal and enterprisine corpora-
| ton which makes 1t. X.