New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-09-24

| Mr.. Lynch: Mr.. President, the matter Of
nnance is now very Interesting. have in
ny nands a report upon the subject Of
ntn nna1ce, which, by the consent of the Sen
a.e, WI present at this time. 1t Is the re-
port OF the State Treasurer and the Senate
WaIraht CLERK upon an act authorizing the
issuing ana negotiation of 5000. 900 worth
il now. --e " Ps1-
The President: Isit to be regarded as
report Of the Finance Committee?
Mr. Lynch; No, sir, it was a special COM
mittee authorized to obtain report from
the State Treasurer and the Warrant Clerl-
The report was received and read.
Mr. Lynch: | move the report be referred
TO the Committee on Finance.
MIR. Day: Mr.. President. | would amend
that motion, that it be referred to the FL
nance committee of the two Houses.
Mr.. Lynch: will explain. There is bill
reported back by the Finance Committee
covering that whole ground. ~
The report was referred to the Finance
Committee.
Under suspension of the rules, House
bill No. 2l5, an act to provide means for the
relief of the State treasury, reported from
the Finance Committee, by substitute, being
under consideration ~ eu
Mr.. Foute: Mr.. President, would like to
be INDUCED few moments. think, sir,
that these bonds have been already set
apart as fund for a special purpose, and
can not conceive that this Legislature is
authorized to divert this fund from that
special purpose for which these bonds were
originally provided. do not think it legal.
/ think it extremely unjust to those parties
and persons who have hitherto been lead to
hope that these funds would be devoted to
building the leyees, and the planters would
be thus protected. If a bill is to be pro
vided, let it be an Independent bill, provid--
ing independent resources, and not rob the
levee fund of what has already been provid-
ed for 1t by the preceding Legislature. do
not think it just, or fair, or proper, and SO
far as l am concerned, would rather, in
my humble capacity, serve the State with
out dollar than tc thus rob that fund of
| dollar. Conceive and devise some sort of s
bill, If you will, upon which you can raise
money 10 pay the members of the Legisla-
ture and the employees Of the State Govern
ment, but do not touch this, which is, to
my mind, sacred fund. Let 1t go to the
| purpose for which 1t was originally in
tended in good faith. You might as well,
sir, take the appropriations which have
been made to the elemosenary institutions
of the State-the asylums, the schools, and
all those things which the State has hitherto
| fostered and aided in bringing into useful
ness, and in aiding and comforting the un-
| fortunate, as to take this leyee fund, or di-
| vert it from the purpose for which it was
originally intended hope gentlemen will
reflect upon this subject, and devise some
other means of attaining the proposed end
that will be just, and then I will be with
| them. But, as ] said before, regard this as
d sacred fund, set apart for a sacred .pur-
pose, from which it should not be diverted
upon any pretext whatever.
Mr.. Lynch: | agree, sir, heartily In the
argument of the Senator from Orleans. I
believe, sir, we have no right to use this
fund for any purpose except that for which
it was provided. / believe that next to
securing the personal rights Of individuals
the necessity of building these leVees is the
most important work to which we can turn
our attention, and it was with the most ex-
treme reluctance that consented to the pro-
position that one-half the proceeds of these
bonds should be put to the credit of the
general fund, and one-half to the credit OF
the levee fund. There are sir in the dis
trict where l reside So, 900 people who are
dependent for their homes upon the build
ing of the levees below the mouth of Red
river. If something Is not done, / do not
know what is to become of the people who
are living there. But apprehend that we
can agree and secure both objects, even with
out this compromise and with that object IL
view. will move that the bill be recon.
mitted to the Finance Committee, with il
structions to the Finance Committee to
report bill to meet our necessities from
other sources.
The motion was adopted.
An act to authorize the erection of neces-
sary buildings and the procuring the neces-
sary machinery for the State Penitentiary,
employment of an engineer, and to superin-
tend the erection of the same, and to provide
. means for the same, was read.
, Mr.. Ray: Mr.. President, would say in
: = - II 4 i
! hand contract that was made between
I John Baker and John Walker, and the les
I sees of the Penitentiary.
, This contract contains several separate
, stipulations in regard to the interests OF
the State. In regard to this contract am
] prepared to say that believe no better
. could be let out. This State institution, tht
/, penitenuary, had cost the State some $500.
! 600 up to the time this contract was made.
l 1t incurred all the expense of carrying on
r the penitentisry without demanding apy
thing from the State for the purpose of car
: | rying it on. 5 .t n
| The President: / will state that we have
! q report from the Committee on Pehiten
ttaries which has never been taken up.
MIR. Lynch; would like to have the bill
printed, - lrgl
Mr.. Ray: The situation in which affairs
are now at Baton Rouge makes it O
! the utmost Importance that this
r
rejected without unnecessary delay, mas
} much as the lessees have incurred up to thi
! time all the expense of the institution, an6
I they do not know whether to go forward OF
not and maintain the institution, unles
this contract is confirmed; they have al
ready expended good deal of money, fo
which they have no assurance of any re
muneratlon. Fg
; Mr.. Lynch: Is this the contract made
some time ago? .1.G
Mr.. Ray: Yes. 10
Mr. Lynch: would like to have the bill
printed. 47
Mr. Ray: will move, then, that the bill
be printed and made the special order OF
the day for tomorrow at one o'clock.
Mr.. Lewis; move that the bill be made
the special order for the day after tomorrow
} at one o'clock.
Mr.. Ray: 1t is only short bill.
Mr.. Lewis: Yes; but 1t is proper that
we men should act understanding.
ly. There is no time whatever be-
tween this and tomorrow for the
! consideration of this measure; and ask
that we may have ample time to investigate
measures that although short, are mat
ters of vital interest, aud deserve the atten-
tion and investigation Of those who act upon
them.
The motion to make it the special order
for day after tomorrow at one O'Clock
was adopted.
The report of the committee to examine
the books and papers of the committee to
examine into the election, and the necessi-
ty of giving an extragcompensation to the
clerks OF. that committee, being under
consideration