Daily gazette and comet. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1856-186?, 1860-03-08

had upon IL, which motion prevailed.
The hour of having arrived, the House
took into consideration the first order of
the day, being an act relative TO free Bank
ing Corporations.
THE reading of the hill was proceeded
with. pending which Mr.. Allen, as test
question, move TO strike out the enaeting
clause.
Mr.. Lane. seconded by Mr. Bartlett, and
asked. as favor Of the House, that the
bill be postponed and fixed for Saturday.
This last motion prevailed.
The House then took under cOnsdera-
ton the second order Of the day, 10 wit:
An act for the construction OF Rail
road from Baton Rouge 30 the road OF the
New Orleans, Jackson and Great Northern
Railroad Company.
Mr.. Ranncy, the author Of this bill, nd
voeated its passage VI some length. lie
urged the necessities and advantages OF IT'S
construction. lie argued that IL was strict
IL conditional 60 construct this road in the
manner proposed. The road was not 10
be built 10y amy Joint stock company, but
was 90 be state work and TO belong 10
the State. lie considered that the State
had right TO make such work. lie ar
| gued that 10 would lie paying road.
Mr.. Miller opposed the passage Of the
| bill lie instaneed the Article Of the Con
stitution providing for granting one-fnh
| of the amount of their capital 30 railroads
as state aid. The present measure was
not strictly violation Of the Constitution.
II was going round the Constitution in
stead Of going through II.
| Mr.. Heron advocated the passage Of
the bill ut some length, and with great
| force of argument
lie asked could not the State dig u canal,
| 20 ,f oh
! lie considered If the State could do this, it
could build the road in question, which
was to he State work entirely. There
was now continued communication by
| the Jackson road with all parts Of the
| Union. Their connection might be, ~ had
heretofore happened, destroyed by ere
| vases below this point on the Mississippi.
In such q case. II this road were built,
travel and trade from all parts Of the
Union would be enabled 90 reach Baton
Rouge, y point very convenient 10 New
Orleans. The reason the bill was offered
IN it's present form was not that Baton
Rouge would not subscribe towards the
| building of this road Baton Rouge had
already taxed itself siOO 900 for this pur-
pose. In addition 20 this, large private
subscriptions had been offered from the
parish Of East Baton Rouge. The reason
the enterprise could not be carried out,
was that this road was proposed 10 he run
through sparsely settled region OF
country.
Mr.. Haynes opposed the measure. lie
was willing TO go rs far as any gentleman
in this matter. but considered he could not
90 beyond the one fifth Of State aid pre-
scribed in the Constitution.
Mr.. Bartlett read the l0sth article Of the
Constitution, and argued that the Consti
tuition spoke only of enterprises for the
benefit Of corporations or Joint stock com
panes. This road WINS State work. not
for the benefit Of any corporation or com
pany.
Mr.. Lane, Of Orleans, quoted the 10th
article of the Constitution rs a conteNtural
Interpretation of the article previously
discussed. The article los allowed the
State TO invest TO the amount of g. 600 ,000
in public works of such q character. II
now the State could go TO this extent, IL
was evidently not intended by the Consti-
tuition that the state should not be re-
stricted merely 30 granting aid TO corpora
tions or joint stock companies.
| Mr.. Dupuy was opposed TO .he road on
the ground that IL would run through y
section of country which would not admit
of any very profitable development.
Mr.. Coleman advocated the passage Of
|
lie argued the constitutionality Of the bill
and in detailed statement urged that the
building of the road would not cause any
outlay on the rart of the State. In the
end the road would be built and paid foI
without cost 30 the State.
lie urged that this work was but carry
ing ont Of the general scheme of rail
roads, in the State of Louisiana, projected
in previous years. Baton Rouge was the
Capitol of the State. lie felt in regard &c
this place the same pride that every man
of good feeling, felt in adjoining his domi
cil and rendering IL comfortable and con
venient for the use Of its occupants.
This was the centre Of the intelligence
Of the state, and should be easy of access
from oil parts.
Mr.. Austin asked the passage Of this bill
as sheer Justice 10 the city of New Orleans
This was the only State in which the cen
tire of government was not connected will
its commercial centre. Make this road and
Baton Rouge would DO to New Orleans
what Albany was TO the great city Of Now
York Gentlemon could leave Now Or
leans aud como out along this road. Re
sidenees would spring up all along IL. III
was surprised Mt the opposition Of the gen
tloman from East Feliciana. This ROAD
would build mp that section Of the country
IL would build mp the town of Clinton.
would render prosperous oil tho village
and their environs in this section of th'
country.
Mr.. Phillips said that ono side Of tn
question had been presented, but the sid'
of the tax payers, who were to bear tn
burden of this measure, had not beer
heard. lie won't into an historical state
ment Of tho action of tho State on tbi
subject. Previous to 1916, the Constitu
ton permitted an investment of Stat,
funds to any extent, in these public works
Tho consequence was, that the bonds o
the State had been issued TO tho amount
Of $4,000 900 lie asked where had the
State received my real benefits from thiI
policy. lilo adverted TO several works IL
which the State had invested, to prove hi