The New Orleans daily Democrat., 1879-01-23
MUNICIPAL.
rerr or WARNING : THE TIMEs ON
FREE WHARFAGE - THE
MAYORS nEsInE.

A note OF warning is sounded In the echoipG
corridors OF the City Hall. which should put the
pclice on It's guard. Il Ii claimed that the DO
lice force do not render all the assistance to
the city administration In enforcing city ordl-
nsnees that they might render. Several ol
these ortti nances concerning street obstructions
and nuisanoes OF every kind specially require
that the police shall report all delindueneies
and IN certain cases make afIldavit against
offenders.
Complaint is not very loud as yet. but II has
some similarity to the rumblings.of vesuvius
prior TO an eruption, aDdiwe have heard people
20 so far as to say that II more efficiency s not
some method will be resorted TO In order to &C.
cure officers and men that Will.
WHARFAGE AND PORT CHARGES.
The article Of one Of our Camp street con-
temporaries. published day or two ago; unaef .,l
is to be introduced In. the House shortly look
Inc to a reduction of wharfage fees. has e. been e 2
Sgrseine acre with tRe Ii W writer oi the article that the
greatest benefits would ,enure to our commerce
Ia consequences Of the OBJ eration Of all wharfage
charges i urged that there are too mapy o I'M q,
these charges. Ths flrst Is that the. city OF New
Orleans is simply and purely unable to, meet
Ia repair BY reason Of Its financial embarrass-
mapts.
The second which Ia not less potent. is that
corporation p for q consideration involving the
redemption OF the wharf bonds.
The natter has already been tested in the
John McMalps. bearing the No. esss. The de-
fendnnt was the owner OF the steamer Martha
which was constructed in this State. and de-
age fees under the act OF May 2s, 1874. which
provides that hereafter any steamboat or other
water craft wholly built In the stats OF Loulsi.
not pay to any corporation fees for wharfage,
provided that such exemption shall not extend
over seven years from the completion or regis
" TRe decision of the Supreme Court was de-
livered by
CHIEF JUSTICE MANNING,
and was to the following effect:
4. municipal corporation authorized by its
charter TO construct wharves on Its riv front,
and impose wharfage dues for the use OF the
wharves has the right TO collect such dues, pro-
portioned to the vessels tonnage. on ali vessels
that land ut and make use OF the wharves con.
strncted by. such CORPORATION. The collection OF
saca dues doss - not Of the
q. Where municipal corporation, under the
express AUTHORITY OF an act OF the Legislature,
cghsd wh 1d he s T.
use. Of Its wbarvee. the right is vested right.
and cannot be abr gated or Impaired BY any
Ia tie iacs s0e Of such decisIoe in case en-
bracing wider sphere than could be offered
by an ordinary claim 1t fs argued that II would
be folly on the part Of the Legislature TO waste
Its valuable Internationally at the present
stage OF the Glckering session-in passing law
that would tend to partly abrogaie the vested
rights OF the wharf lessees. which terminate
only In 1881.
THE MAYORS WISH.
In conversation with Mayor Patton on tho
subject OF the city debt, which is now being dis.
cussed So earnestly, he evidenced the wish that
eitizeps of New. Orleans tother than creditors OF
the city, should not only give their Views In the
newspapers on the question. but should lend
also TO the city administration their active sup.
port In the Legislature to bring about a settle
nent Of the financial difficulties OF the corpora
tlon. This assistance. he urges. Is needed by
the administration, who have their hands fluff
OF other matters. tho settlement OF which will
serve TO complete any plan that may be adopted.
DEPARTMENT or IMPROVEMENTS.
A communication received at this department
yesterday complains that the proprietors OF
Woods Press. on Canal street. are monopoliz-
Ing the sidewalks on several squares adjacent
TO their press and yards. and impede circula-
ton TO an undue extSnt. Attention was imme-
diately given to the complaint,