New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-03-23

pared by the Finance Committee.
Messrs. Walker and Seaman opposed Mr.. Fen
ner's bill, and Mr.. Eager supported it.
The House refused to suspend the rnles-yeas
% nays 46.
The object of the bill was to reduce the tax on
gross sales from onefourth of one per cent. to
onetenth of one per cent, and to fix the tax upon
commissions at one-twentieth Of the whole amount
Of the per centage.
Nr. Fenner urged the bill as one of great inter
est to the merchants Of New Orleans.
Mr.. Scanlan quoted from the report of the Com.
mttee on Education on the subject Of this bill, |
that the public school system, as now established
in New Orleans was :" sufficient to answer all the |
requirements of the law and to educate all the
youths of the CITY," Mr.. s. enforced his views
by reference to census returns showing that while
the number Of white children between the ages Of
six and sixteen years, Or six and eighteen years,
was in the neighberhood of forty thousand, the
average attendance at the public schools was, in
round numbers, but ten thousand, or one-fourth of
the whole number. Further, to controvert the
argument Of the committee, that the school sys-
tenn in the city was sufficient to answer all the
requirements Of the law, he read the subjoined
extract from the annual report Of Mr.. Lusher,
State Superintendent of public instruction in rela-
ton to public schools in New Orleans:
Another disadvantage under which our schools
labor is in the character of many of our school
buildings. Some few are commodious and orna-
ments to the city. Some OF them are inconveni-
ent uncomfortable, not adapted to school pur-
poses, unsightly in appearance. disgrace TO the
city. Nearly all are deficient in suitable furniture
and in the modern improvements for heating and
ventilating large buildings. Some of them were
constructed for private residences, and being
rented by the year, afford but poor accommoda-
tions for the many pupils crowded in them. =
+ Additional school houses are much
needed, particularly in the lower part OF the CITY,
Mr.. Walker, as chairman of the Finance Com
mittee, introduced bill fixing the compensation
of State tax collectors; and the bill passed.
Mr.. Alverson called up the Senate bill author
izng the Baton Rouge, Crosse Tete and Opelousas
Railroad Company to lease the road; and the bill
was concurred in, with an amendment proposed
by Mr.. Durable.
The Senate amendments to the bill, authorizing
the improvement Of the navigation Of Bayou
Plaquemines, were concurred in.
| On motion of Mr.. Anderson, of Madison, the
Senate bill for the relief of State tax collectors
was concurred in.
| The Senate persisting in the amendments to the
printing bill, non-concurred in by the House, and
having invited conference on the subject, the
House acquiesced, and the Chair appointed Messrs.
! Jonas Anderson, Madison and Scanlan, the Con-
ference Committee on the part of the House.
The Senate bill to abolish the Board Of Cur
! rency was concurred in.
The Senate bill to exempt from taxation the
property of the Association Termeme Derech, was
concurred in.
The bill for the relief of the Insane Asylum al
Jackson appropriating $23 GOO, was passed.
The Senate bill to amend the law relative to the
collection of taxes in the city of New Orleans 81
as to reduce the commissions of the city attorney
was under consideration when the House ad
journed.
EVENING SESSION.
Mr.. Green introduced a resolution for the ap
pointment of joint committee, instead of a Hous
committee, previously ordered, to Investigate tn
charge that Mr.. Burke, who was first appoin ted b
the Governor State Engineer to survey the levees
but who was removed shortly after making tn
survey, had said he was not only paid but doubl
paid as hush money" to prevent him from max
ing disclosures in relation to the letting Of leVe
contracts.
Mr.. McCloskey, who first drew the attention 0
the House to Mr.. Burkes statement, moved t.
strike out the words "hush money because h
had not used that language, and Mr.. McC. wisht
the investigation to apply to the language USED
The amendment was agreed to and, with som
other amendments not important, was adopte
unanimously, the committee being authorized t
, sit during the recess and send for persons an
papers, Messrs. Green, Scanlan, McCloskey, Nut
and Collins were appointed the committee on tn
Y part of the House.
MIR. Williamson's resolution inviting the coop
ration of the Northwestern States to secure, b
Congressional action, the deepening Of the chal
mel of the Mississippi river at its mouth, came
. on its third reading and was passed.
!. Mr.. DeLabarre, as chairman of the Committe
Y on Enrolment presented a resolution authorizir
O the clerks of: that committee to continue the
d labors twenty days after the adjournment, al
q that their per diem shall go on for that perio
J. He would not undertake to have the work Of tt
v House completed in less time, and if his reque
d was refused, upon the House itself would fall Il
,e responsibility of any failure.
It The motion was opposed by Messrs. Stille, tt
e. eneman and Couvillon but passed by q lar!
" majority.
rt Mr.. Jonas, from the Committee on Conferenc
on the disagreement between the two houses
ne the printing bill, reported compromise, viii
10 was adopted.
i, The Joint resolutions from the Senate requesti
to Gen. Howard, or, faug, the President of
no United States, to revoke the special tax impos
ali by the freedmen's bureau for negro educatic
h. were concurred in.
he The House then resumed the consideration
he the bill to reduce the commission of the attorn
mt of the city Of New Orleans on the collection
de taxes. After lengthy discussion, the bill w
X on motion of Mr.. Williams, laid on the table,
ge A message was received from the Cover
announcing his approval of the following bills:
re- l. To authorize the Governor to issue certica
5s of Indebtedness of the State to the amount
he $500 OOO detray the expenses of building lew
bill and other purposes.
2. Relative to the Academic Department bui
to ing.
ro- 8. To authorize private markets in New
nd leans.
4. For the relief Of Sarah L., widow of Jan
ort E. R. Chisholm, deceased
of 5. To exempt from taxation the New Orle
,be School of Medicine.
it g. Declaring Bayou Rouge, in the parish of
Landry, nayigable stream.
be 7. For the relief of the University Of Louisia
me- s. Relative to a plank road from Red Chute
MID Red River, at Shreveport.
ba On motion of Mr.. Jonas, the Senate bill, ailt
ing to conyicts from the parish of Orleans, Y
eas have been sent to the penitentary at Baton Ro
rbo baI