New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-11-27

JoTS anu ldAphJCiS SPSNN VI 'AS
with bated breath, and it is evident that the
Legislature to sit in January is the only body
that can be looked to, possessing the conf
dence of the public. Very naturally the
large interests involved look to the Legis-
lature for the consummation of their hopes
Of the final accomplishment Of their hopes
OF a courthouse.
The city owns just the right sort of
property on Basin street, between Canal
and Gasquet. Both sides of Basin street
could be closed, reserving single carriage
road up one side and down the other, with
narrow banquette on either side. The
public has very little use for keeping Basin
street open, and any railroad privileges
could promptly be yielded, so great would
be the advantages to the Canal and Clai-
borne Railroad of having all the parish
Offices located so near one of their termlni.
The building could have size of three
hundred feet by about one hundred, paral-
telegram shape. There is just about room
for those dimensions. 1t would contain
the seven District Courts, the Supreme
Court Mortgage and Conveyance Offices,
Recorder of Births and Deaths, Sheriffs'
and Recorders Courts; measure to con-
solidate which into one central City Court
of three judges will probably pass the next
Legislature.
In order to meet the cost of erecting
this edifee the city could be authorized
and instructed to issue its bonds for the
necessary outlay. To pay the interest on
these bonds and establish a sinking fund
for the principal, ways and means could be
devised without taxing the property of
New Orleans by new levy, as was pro-
posed by the Democratic Legislature which
passed the courthouse bill. 1t could be
accomplished by tax on litigation, which
should be made to pay for itself In fact,
the interests of litigants and of the whole
community, in the preservation of records,
would easily meet the necessary expense
and pay for the courthouse, principal and
interest, in few years.
Strange TO say, this could all be done
without increasing the costs of Justice.
There is but one way to do it; abolish OF
modify the fee bills Of the clerks, sheriffs
and all other parish officers. As most of
these officials were elected by fraud as will
be seen by Mr.. Campbells able report and
several contested election cases about to
come off, the reduction of their extrava-
giant emoluments would be work of emf
nent patriotism. But as they are all friendly
to the Constitution of 1868, which guaran-
tees their terms of office, they should be
allowed a reasonable salary for the remain
der of their terms. All the fees, however,
now going into their distended pockets
and the bills of costs which even in some
very small records amount TO sums almost |
would gladden. all eyes with the
realization that they add SO many new
bricks to the courthouse. The bar seem
as it were unanimous in favor of legal re-
form, and the popular will chimes in &C.
cord, looking to the next Legislature as
the champion of their interests and liber-
ties. This subject will be resumed, giving
and suggesting many details that ought to
be provided for in a proper bill, and giving
some startling illustrations of the working
Of the present system. At present the fee
bills operate as a denial of justice to the |
poor and honest citizen who knocks at the |
'o-called temple of justice to seek his
lights and vindicate himself against wrong. |