The New Orleans daily Democrat., 1880-04-16
CITY oHARTER B1LL.

In another column will be found the reasons
assigned by Gov. Wiltz for not signing the
act to reorganizs the local government OF
New Orleans. However much the moet en-
thusiastic advocate OF q change In the form Of
our municipal government may have desired
new charter, IL is quite certain that they
never contemplated the passage of an act so
contrary to the spirit OF our institutions, and
which treepasses so grossly upon the rights Of
tho individual citizen as the bill under con-
sideratlon.
The bill is In direct conflict with article 1
of the constitution tBill of Rights which de-
| fines the powers Of government viz:
Its only legitimate end f. to protect the oiti-
and when IL assumes other functions Il ID usur.
patton and oppression.
In the face OF this constitutional provision
1t is sought TO invest board OF aldermen
with power TO suppress the amusements OF
tho people, newspapers. bakers, jewelers..
chemists, cotton olaesers, painters, carpen-
ters, printers epgravers, ooopers, architects.
builders and mechanics, hospitals, saloons.
beer houses. and hundreds Of callings that
affect the citizen In all the relations Of life, and
to fix the rates Of wagonage. drayage and cart
age.
No less Objectionable is the attempt TO em-
20 wer the council to declare any business or
property u nuisance, and without process Of
law to enter upon and take possession Of
IT,
Section 25. which provides that no contract
shall be awarded TO any but citizen Of
New Orleans, is most un wise and would sub
ieot the city to great loss 10 the future In
carr ying out any system Of improvements
as II de5ars the city from purchasing from
first hands articles not manufactured here.
Section 80 would destroy the power OF the
Council to carry on the very government
which the act attempts TO create. by giving a
preference to tho payment Of old claims over
current expenses.
Section 81 embodes an extraordinary grant
OF power to seize persons and papers In oil
questions where the interests Of the city are
involved.
Section "a empowers the Council to sell all
parks or other public grounds belonging TO
the city, and thus rob the people Of any fu-
ture benefit from the grounds which they
have made such sacrifices to pay for, In the
hope that one day they could be embelllshed.
The act In question violates the oonstitu-
tion In attempting the enactment OF special
Legislation upon subjects which are general
In character. and presents to the reader a
specimen Of crude legislation. which can only
be accounted for by the hasty and inoonslder-
ate manner In which It was amended AMI
passed through the House.
1t will be remembered that all but q few
sections OF the bill were passed In the House
within few minutes time, without debate or
consideration, and that tho bill as q whole
reached the Senate too late to receive that
careful examination which the Senate ap-
pears to have given the mass Of the business
which originated In the lower house.
Complaints have been made against the
power vested In tho administrative bureaux,
but this act would create the most deepotic
government that was ever empowered TO op-
press people, with questionable means for
promoting the happiness or welfare OF the
citizen, but with power. In improper hands.
for inealeulable evil. Under these circum-
stances the Governor Of the State has but
performed an imperative duty In withhold
ting his signature to the act.