New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1857-09-14
SALARIES OF PUBLIC OFFICERS.
crease in thirteen years.
PUBLIC PRINTING OF THE STATE.
at expiration Of Wing rule the amount paid

/ A4S IL lTuu 1S40 u 1000.
Having "put my finger as suggested by the Lou,
isiana Democrat, upon the above ertravagances of
his party, will specify few Of those growing out of
the administration OF the Swamp Land Funds. We
will begin with the famous Cat Island As this Demo-
cratic editor may not know where the evidences are
to be found of the prohgacy of the expenditure in
this branch of the State service, will refer him to
the report made to the Legislature of 1856, by joint
committee of both Houses, and appointed at the in
stance of Gen. B, B. SHINES of Pointe Coupee, to
investigate the conduct of the Swamp Land Commits.
sioners. Gen. SHINES is a distinguished member of
the Democratic party, and of the Sdel wing of the
party.
This report shows that the whole area of Cat Island
is JOB acres, of which Is 404 accrued to the
State under the donation acts of Congress. Of these
Is 404 acres the greater portion entered at
dollar and twenty-five cents per acre. within short
time after the design of retaining it by the funds of
the State became known that the Swamp Land
Commissioner of the district in which Cat Island lies,
had expended up to the time of this investigation in
1856, $4,000. t.. ......
Commissioner Morse, in his last report to the
Legislature, shows an additional expenditure OF
$3l 900.
The cost of retaining this land is Sal 900 : say
over 50 per acre to the State of Louisiana for re-
claiming land, sold at one dollar and quarter per
acre. .
All the funds of this district with the exception of
small amount for surveys have been expended upon
Cat Island, and at loss to the State of Sl2l IDS
the difference between the value of land sold and
the cost of retaining it afterwards.
Having "put my finger as suggested by the Red
River paper, upon the Cat Island ert1aragances we
will see what this famous Democratic report of Gen.
B. B. SHINES and William W. King, Esq. of New
Orleans, says of their distinguished chief, John
Sdell, and Commissioner G. B. Miller, of the Second
District operating upon the Atchafalaya and in
Ponte Coupee.
Gen. SHINES shows that Commissioner Miller, by
his o'cn admission had ruith the money of John .S
dell and on JOINT account, bought 1920 acres of
sscamp lands that Miller had, in his official capa
city, contracted for the making of iecces etc. which
tcere intended to and couid secure these lands from
inundation The report conclusively shows that the
whole Of the operations of Commissioner Miller were
to to the interests of himself and his associate
in the purchase of these lands.
The expenditures by Commissioner Miller for re.
claiming these lands by levees etc., and the expeu
ditures made by his successor as exhibited in his
annual report for making bitches, etc. to drain these
| lands and which will have this effect, (say $4,000
24 are not less than $l5OO00, over $40 per acre.
showing loss to the State of Louisiana of about
$l20, 900 in this sale of land to John Slidell
The report Of Gen. SHINES and w. W. King exhib
tied such mass of misconduct and yenalty in this
branch of the State government as to prevent an a
preparation being made from the Swamp Land Fund
in 1855. Venality was rampant that Democratic
Legislature dared not brave public opinion by making
the appropriation. Thomas Green Davidson eyen
denounced the bill for the appropriation for this SER
vice. This is a sufficient commentary.
This waste of the peoples money has become so
notorious-so infamous-that the chief organ of the
Democracy of Louisiana has been forced by a decent
respect for the opinions of the Taxpayers to take
notice of it and lam pleased to see in its issue of
the Sth OF August, it has in the following unequivo
cal language called public attention to the necessity
OF reform In our State affairs. The Courier saws.
speaking of the next Legislature "That the whole
machinery of our State Government will receive a
good oyerhauling. Our Public School system must
cease to be the shadop of a Nance Our Swami
Land funds must be devoted with greater efficacy to
the purposes of their grant State accountability of
TaxCollectors, Sherifs and Assessors must be ex-
acted etc. etc. y and in order that these reforms
may be made, the Courier recommends, may say
commands, ''that every Democratic Convention pause
before it dominates and reflect on its duty to the
party to the State and to the South. Let the best
captains stand at the head of our columns, and the
best leaders control our movements. This is no time
for bats and O,ris. Let none but men of brains and
honesty represent The hope of the land is in the
rural districts. Send lion skins 10 deceire
and disdPpoint us.'
This admission of the Courier is in unequivocaI
language. 1t speaks er cathedro. 1t knows that the
Democracy has ruled the State since January 1873
the Inauguration of its rule in the person of its most
able and accomplished leader, Alexander Mouton.
1t knows that, with the exception of single ses-
sion of the Legislature-that of ls52-their oppo-
nents have been in minority, and they well know
that no increase OF the State debt was made in 1852
Having all this knowledge of the working of the
State government for fifteen years past they tell us
in the planest language that they could command
g that every branch Except the Executve,) of the
State government requires a good overhaung-
that our public school system is mockery-that our
swamp land funds have not been devoted, with pro.
per efficacy, to the purposes of the gant-tha State
officers, Collectors, Sherifis, ETC., not held to
proper accountability, etc. etc. and urges the send
ing men of honesty of brains, and not bats and owls
and asses in lion skins, to the coming Legislature.
None are more competent to judge of the 1nen-of
the Representatives to our State Legislature of
their want of qualifcation-or their want of hon
esty OF the majority, and of the peryesion of trust