The New Orleans daily Democrat., 1880-04-17
OUR PARKS AND SQUARES.

In an instrument 30 full Of fatal errors as
the City Charter Bill, 1t is perhaps unneces-
sary to make distinctions. Anything SO pre-
posterous as a whole ought to be damned on
its abstract merits, and so, we are sure. will
be the bill In question when our people shall
have calmly considered the overwhelming
array of argument contained in Gov. Wiltz's
veto message. It is wholly needless for us
to recapttulate these arguments. The mes
sage ia an unanswerable document, and will
carry conviction with 1t to the dullest under
standing.
There Ia one point however. which the Gov
ernor does not specially elaborate, but which
occupies prominent place In the thoughts
of patriotic eitizans. We refer to the parks
and public squares. The projected city char
ter which Gov. WiltS has happily suppressed
undertook, among other monstrous things.
to invest board Of alderman with the right
to confiscate and sell at their sweet discretion
these Invaluable properties of the people.
That fault alone would have been sufficient to
condemn the instrument In the estimation OF
all good citizens, and the very decisive fash
lon in which Governor Wiltz disposee Of the
subject Is not whit more abrupt and sweep
ing than the faets Of the case justify. II may
be set down as certain that the people Of New
Orleans will never sanction with their ap-
proval the granting to any set OF officials the
power to ALLEVIATE from them q possession
which Is essentially inalienable. and which
touches 80 closely their comfort. their enjoy
ment and their civic jealousy.
SO far from this, 1t is. on the contrary. their
entirely unanimous desire to welcome meas
ures for the beautifylng and perpetuation of
these parks. They wish to see them fostered
and developed. and preserved to them and
their descendants. and they would requlte
with their condemnation the power that de-
fillment of this aspiration.
Apropos OF this subject, and while the at
tention OF the public is directed toward these
parks. the loss OF which they have 30 narrow
ly escaped, we wish to offer suggestion. 1t
has long been matter OF regret that 50 little
effort has been successfully directed to the
establishment and utilization OF this inesti-
mable public property. Werealize the nature
aud extent OF the causes to which this fact Is
referable. but at the same time we believe
that the remedy exists. Various propositions
have been advanced. oil possessing merit and
all, we are confident, animated by patriotic
purpose; but none so far seems to have fitted
itself to the demands Of the situation. And
this emboldens US to mention plan which
has commended itself to us, and which may
perhaps find favor with our readers.
We propose, In brief, that commissioners be
appontei In such number as may be thought
best, for esch of the parks and public squares,
each having Its own commissioners. These
latter should be chosen from among the resi-
dents of the immediate orhood-public-
spirited men, worthy citizens, In whose In
tegrity the people can place implicit conf
denee, and with whose enthusiasm the people
will be inoculated. To them should be con-
tided the establishment of the parks and
squares, and the administration OF what
ever funds from private contributions may
become available Citizens Of the kind de-
sired can doubtless be found to serve without
other compensation than the pleasure of
comforting benefits upon the city, and 1t re-
Quires no gift OF prophecy to see that to
such commissioners would come, beside the
allotment of the public treasury, the glad and
patriotic assistance of private individuals of
every class. We know that there are hum
dreds who would cheerfully help according to
their means In such a work as this, Ii only
they had some reasonable assurance of the
faithful dispensation OF their gifts, and we
are equally sure that between conscientious
administration of the funds and the active
sympathy of the public the end SO long and
so sadly needed could be consummated.
| We Commend this project to the attention
of the authorities, and bespeak for it their
careful consideration.
Georgia finances are in such fourishing