The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1880-01-16

The enormous present indebtedness OF the
city was In large part contracted Without tho
appreciation Of the holders OF tho real estate,
on which IT. operates ms lien. Much OF IL
was contracted In n spirit of extrnyaEanee,
without regard tonecrssity. public Interest or
the resources OF etizens. Under an expen-
sivs echoma Of municipal government.
imposed Ivy unfrienhly hands, exotbttant
taxes have hpon levied on assessments far
above actual values, and corresponding ex-
penses were incurred. Deficiencies In revenue
have taken tho form of certificates or war
rants, which have boon bought at largo dis
count and converted into bonds.
A u further and equitable claim for tho re-
lief at your hands, which tho constitution All
ihorxea. II may bs remembered that the
greater part Of the city's now funded debt
WAS contracted when the paper currency was
only worth from seventy to elghty-ive cents
In tho dollar In gold.
CITY CHARTER.
Article asa also gives authority to tho Cen
eral Assembly to change the form OF govern
msnt of the city of New Orleans. The new
limitation to municipal taxes demands cor
responding reduction Of tho expenses OF the
city government. modification Of
the charter reducing the number of
officers and their salaries In proportion To the
new tax rate seems W be strictly necessary.
Our now constitution cuts off nearly hall tho
expent of State government. stInilar re-
durtiOn In tho expenses OF city government
Will bA IL wNlGDftIN EAilb W llH1'1S. ~ itbF
period has elapsed since the people of this
city have been able 10 express their Will ana
rhoics respecting their form OF municipal gov
ernment That ability should now be given
by presenting them With u now charter care.
fully framed, retaining all good features of
the present charter with such others rs may
DO deemed wiae and appropriate.
The chief object OF any new charter should
he to preserve and guarantee To the ettzsns OF
New Orleans all tho privileges of municipal
,I,,l, tt,.,rf tNzT AIATa tF..pn
enjoyed, without abatement or new CONDITIONS
ANY diminution of their chartered rights,
nny infringement Of their ancient and GUS
tomary privileges, would be an arbitrary
exercise III State power In violation OF tho
spirit of our Representatives institutions.
W hllo tho amount Of tax to he levied for mum
cpnf purposes IL ilmited, the general diHposal
Of the proCords should he left 10 a municipal
government chosen by its citizens. Expert
pnrs proves that large cities prosper most
when most relieved frota tho restraints ot TX
ternal or superior authority. [ anu confident
hat New Orleans will not be mn exception To
this rule, and that. while obeyinR and sals-
tstning tho government OF the State as In
inLy bound, her citizens will gain by being re-
ieyad from special legalative Interference
In the absence of any constitutional guar
lntee 1t will be wise for the General Assem-
Dly to give ample scope to municipal author
ty aud Ia refrain from all res raining l. Risla
ion not strictly necessary or manifhstly ex-
tL.
Identified with that of the State a. large, |
md this community of interest demands |
riend and cOnsiderate action from the State
government II your Legislation promotes the
progress, dsvelOpaa the business, increases
he wealth aud maintains the good name Of |
his metropolis, she will repay your solicitude
n coming years ny her Increased contribu |
ions to the State treasury and by giving I'm |
proved commercial facilities to all parts of |
louisiana.
GRUELTfES IN PUNISHMENT.
While revising tho criminal code OF tho I
,tato | AJAX the General Assembly To direct |
heir attention to the manner In which the |
eath penalty is now Inflicted. When II Grim
nal forfeit4 his life under the law AZ n penalty
N atroeous crime the law ought To be salts
led fully with the taking OF the life. All |
erdleRe pnina and horrors In taking the life
+ the laws victim should be- avoided The
orture Of execution IL no part OF the penalty,
nd 10 that extent IL IL unnecessary ille-
th and tnhumnne. From the moment
apital sentence Il passed upon II criminal to
h. moment hH ltfeis taken, all intilCtipn OF
tutoring upon him suDwarranted cruelty.
Many ways arc known to modern seienee
" which instantaneous and certain death
o n cntitnl frlOn may be CAUSED by means
n feach OF every executive officer OF the law.
rnr ths sake 0f humanity and deeency. nn
cole should prescribe some other
nd less btrbarous method III execution than
hat Of strRnRituR the cuiprit to death with n
ope-n thod often attended with pro-
,nned and in'rnsr suffering to the victim
'arteitnre Of life satisfies In full the awful
ribute demanded by the law. Previous aud
4 addition 10 this, NIL lutitetion OF pain Is un-
I4t and inhumLne.
Some enactment seems requisite fnrbldding
ruelty to c0nvtcts undergoing penal serv-
,lle. Such convicts ought not to be deprived
I sufficient wholesome food, pure water,
ure air, seHsonable, decent and com
,rtabe clothing, suitable shelter, natural
epose, and, at proper times, religious
r moral instruction The convict who has
'rfrited his liberty Tor q epeetiei period, as
n Rotation for violating the laws OF his
ountry, does not forfeit the right to resume
hat liberty when the terms Of penal service
xpires without damage to his physical con-
tituton or any avbdIuble mental or moral
Jury. Prison discipline fuliils but half It's
melton when IL fails to favor the reform and
Improvement Of the convict.
LOCAL HOME RULE.
| advise the General Assembly to do all
nat lies III their power, within tho limitations
the constitution, to foster and encourage
1e spirit OF local home rule among our par
shes aud cities. Very many OF the details of
overnment belong properly to police iuries
r such OF her local authorities as may be duly
Established. Not only should the State govern
lant ha rnlieVeh nf these minor cases. but the
eople In their primary organic ttions should
D encouraged to depend upon themselves and
aHullulSJtT tlSlT own l0tsAi HUhiTSs LOO UuCn
nyernment IL proverbaliy an evil. IL each
tate Is left 10 the exclusive management OF
q own affairs MS u State, and each political
vision of n State Is left Ia like manner to
70 management Of Its own local and special
7 trs, that evil will be greatly mitigated.
REVISION OF STATUTES.
It ID for the General Assembly to determine
neither II revision If the statute law OF the
ate will be- necessary before the close of It's {
cOnd session III 1882 Ii deemed requisite, a
'oper provision should be made, authorizing {
eecting Com missioners OF revision, pre- {
riding their duties and providing for their I
laries and expenses. 4
CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS.
Under article 81 appropriations are author =
ID for the support Of the asylums for the in '
Ne, for the deaf, dumb and blind, and the T
arlty hospitals and public charitable nsti- i
lions conducted under State authority. For a
formation respecting the condition and re-
ltreuents OF these State institutions, refer
III to the reports of the officers In charge OF
y same. Appropriations for these merito-
,nS public charities must be apportioned
curding to their relative wants and limited G.
cordiDg to the State's diminished revenue. b