New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-08-15

The resolution was laid on the table.
Mr.. Campbell asked for suspension of
the rules to introduce an act authorizing
]. Madison Wells to sue the State of Lou
isiana.
The rules were suspended, the bill read
twice, and referred to the Judiciary Com.
mittee.
BILLS ON FIRST READING.
House bill No. 1l3, an act for the relief Of
Widows Marie Loupe and Martha Hurst,
was read, and lies over under the rules.
House bill No III, an act extending pro.
lection to laborers in the privilege and ex.
ercise of free suffrage, was read.
On motion of Mr. Ray the rules were
suspended and the bill read a second
time.
SPECIAL ORDER OF THE DAY.
House bill 26, an act making new diVis.
ion of the State of Louisiana into five Con-
gressional districts, was taken up.
Mr.. Ray: This bill, Mr.. President, was re,
ported by the Judiciary Committee with an
amendment. l think the main reason why
this bill is offered at the present time is that
the State was dlstrcted in 1864, just after
the constitution of 1864 was adopted, and at
that tine great deal of the territory of the
State was within the Confederate lines, and
the districts were 80 arranged as to get the
full number of Representatives TO which
the State had formerly been entitled, and in
doing so they were irregularly laid off
Since the State has been restored to the
Union, and we have an election for Congres-
sional representatives next fall, it is deemed
advisable that the State should be redis-
tricted in order that the districts NAV be
arranged as nearly AS possible in the proper.
ton of the population and the territory.
Mr.. Ray moved that the bill be engrossed
for its third reading.
Mr.. Blackman: Mr. President, so far as
the change in the Congressional Districts
is concerned, l can not see the object at
this time; there has been no census since
1860, and we have no sufficient data upon
which to base our calculations in redis-
triCtng the State.
You might make the Congressional Dis
tricts no more even in point OF numerical
strength that they are now. therefore,
think the action of the senator in this re-
spect is premature.
Mr.. Ray: think, Mr.. President, that if
the Senator will look at it properly, he viii
see that it is necessary to change the dis
tricts now. | did not make the calculation
with regard to population, but it was made
by my friend Mr.. Lynch, who made the
calculation from the best data that was
available, go that it will be in proportion to
the population, and such portion of the
State as have common interests will be
thrown together. AS it will be two or three
years hence before a census of the United
States will be taken and there will be two
or three sessions of Congress before the
State can be redistricted upon the basis of
that census, think it is proper to take
this action now, Iapprehend that so far
: notItinQI iuf1upnCpa pOnCnTUud IN will
make no difference, or if any, | am told
that it will be in favor of the Democratic
party. However, do not mention that
consideration as having any weight, but
think that it is proper and necessary that
the State should be redistEicted before
another election. l think with this ex-
PLANTATION that my friend from Claiborne
will not persist in his objections.
Mr.. Ray renewed his motion that the bill
be considered engrossed.
Seconded by Mr.. Jewell. of Orleans.
Mr. Whitney: Some districts near the
city having a population of 100000 are by
the old schedule entitled to representa-.
tive; this bill equalizes the districts, SO that
there will be an average of l40, 500 for each
district.
The motion to consider the bill engrossed
was adopted.
Mr. Ray moved that the bill pass.
The bill was passed on diyision-yeas
10, nays 6, and the title adopted.
LOCAL BILLS.
House bill No. 20, joint resolution relative
to recounting OF ballots cast in the election
on the seventeenth and eighteenth of April,
1865, in the city of New Orleans, was taken
up.
On motion of Mr.. Ray the bill was laid On
the table subject to call. II
Senate bill No. G, an act for the relief Of
the Printers of the late Convention.
On motion Of Mr.. Ray the further consid-
Grafton of the bill was Indefinitely post
poned s-...s
Senate bill No. 50, an act to amend an act
additional to an act relative to the collec
ton Of municipal taxes in the city of New
orleans, approved March IL 1885, and to
regulate the collection of said taxes, was
taken up and read.
On motion of Mr.. Bacon the bill was
ordered TO be printed, and was made the
special order Of the day for Wednesday
next.
Senate bill No. l03, an act to amend the
first section of an act entitled an act to in.
corporate the town of Monroe in the parish
of Ouachita, and to provide for the govern,
ment of the same, approved March 10, 1866,
was taken up, and on motion of Mr.. Ray
recommitted to the Committee on the Judi
ciary.
Senate bill No. 2l, an act for the relief Of
William Pearson, of Union parish, was taken
up and read.
On motion of Mr.. Ray the rules were sus.
pended, the bill put on its third reading,
and adopted with its title.
Senate bill No. 81, an act giving jurisdic-
ton to the Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, and
Seventh District Courts to try certain cases,
reported fayorably upon by the Judiciary
Committee.
On motion of Mr.. Ray the bill was consid-
cred engrossed, the rules suspended for q
third reading, and the bill finally adopted
with its title.
Senate bill No. ~, an act for the relief of
Charles 0. Hardy and A. f. Wrntnowsky,
reported favorably upon by the Committee
on Claims, was taken up and read.
On motion of Mr.. OHara il was consid-
cred, the rules suspended for third read
ing, and the bill read and finally adopted
with its title.
Senate bill No. 81. an act relative to the
tutolship Of the minor children Of r. W.. and
L. L. Goodwin, deceased, reported faYoras
bly, upon by the Judiciary Committee, was
taken up and read.
On motion Of Mr.. Ray the bin was oonsid-