New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-03-06

The bill passed by . vote of 4s yeas to IL
nays.
On motion, adjourned.
Evening Session.
~ a.

Mr.. Lowell: It seems to me only folly,
Mr.. Speaker, to introduce bills this evening,
when it is well known to be the last evening
of the present session. These gentlemen
seem to labor under the impression that the
Governor will call an extra session. Sup
pose he does; the mere introduction CT bills
tonight will not expedite their passage. At
the hour of twelve O'Clock tonight all the
committees appointed by the Speaker will
have been dissolved, that is. they will not
be qualified to transact any business after
that hour. II there be an extra session, q
new set of committees will have to be ap-
pointed, and this work will all have to be
done over again. Bills referred to commit
tees tonight will come back TO the Com
mittee on Unfinished Business, and, as l
have already stated, this work will be all
gone over again. This same point was
raised in the Senate this evening, and was
sustained.
Speaker Carr: The Chair would state that
he has the same impression, as that ex-
pressed by the gentleman from Caddo.
have advised the members on this point;
but it remains for the House to determine
what it shall do in the premises.
The motion Of Mr.. McVean prevailed.
At this point message was received from
the Governor, calling the Legislature to
meet, in extra session, on Monday, the
seventh of March, 1870.
House had under consideration bill rel
alive to the revision OF the Civil Code and
Code of Practice Of the State Of Louisiana.
MIR. Lowell: am compelled, MIR. Speaker,
to ask for suspension OF the rules, to allow
this to 60 through at this time.
Speaker Carr: The gentleman from Cadd0
asks for suspension of the rules. Is there
any objection? There being no objections,
the rules are suspended.
Mr.. Lowell now move, Mr.. Speaker,
suspension of such rules as compel this to
be submitted to Committee of the Whole,
and wish to briefly state my reasons for
so doing. During the session of 1868, the
Legislature appointed commission to re-
wise the Civil Code and Code of Practice. The
duty of said commission was to simplify, to
make more concise, the laws of the State,
and to eliminate anything that might clash
with later legislation, and which, by reason
and in consequence of subsequent legsla-
ton. had become either supertiuous or void.
That commission, acting under the authority
delegated to it by the General Assembly.
employed an able lawyer, Mr.. Isaiah Car
rett, to whom was given the power to en-
gage other gentlemen, learned III the law, to
assist him in his arduous labOrs. The work
has been completed, and in such manner,
/ think, as will recommend this revision to
the appreciation of every lawyer in the
State. Mr.. Garrett, however, has made
e'~SNS~
ants for their compensation, to the amount
of $4,000. This is thought by some
of the members to be very large
sum, but / can assure them it Is
not. In the State in which formerly lived,
such d revision was made every ten years,
at cost of from SO, 600 to $50 900. The re-
vision under consideration, reaching, as 1t
does, over such a long period, and embracing
the numerous acts Of many Legislatures,
$ac Of that
it has been so admirably performed IS as
much matter of surprise as 1t Is OF gratlh-
cation, Considering, | say, all this, the
expense is very moderate. learned law
yer. whose practice at the bar would be
worth from twenty to twenty-five thousand
dollars year, has spent his whole time on
this work, and only asks the sum of $4,000.
When this Legislature authorizes certain
commission to perform certain duties, 1t Is
in duty bound to see that that commission
is duly compensated. believe this House
is DESTROYS of doing so, and L hope the mo-
ton have offered will meet with its apprO-
baton.
Mr.. Degrange would call the attention
of the House to the 1act that this commits
sion has already expended in salary and
mileage sum apprOXimatIng to S2O, O0O.
Mr.. Lowell: The gentleman can not prove
that this commission received salary to that
amount by the record.
Mr. Degrange I believe the honorable
gentleman was one of the commission.
Mr.. Lowell If the gentleman makes an
assertion without the record it is untrue.
Mr.. Degrange think this uncalled for.
Mr.. Lowell The gentleman has stated
Der, received salary which we were not
entitled to, and reiterate that this is I'm.
true.
Mr.. Degrange You might deny the asser.
ton without becoming so emphatic. l say
that mileage, at least, has been paid to mem
bers of the commission, and that this revls-
ion will cost the State, when all expenses
are paid, something in the nelghborhood OF
$4,000.
Mr.. Lowell: If the gentleman feels that
his constituency has been aggrieved, and
that the commi :sion has improperly received
salaries and mileage, why does he not prefer
charges against the members of the com.
mission, and bring them before the bar of
the House.
Mr.. Degrange: do not object to the
commission receiving mileage. | expected
they would receive it when appointed; but,
after twenty thousand dollars has been ex-
pended, wish to know how much the
whole work will amount to.
Mr. Noble: Mr.. Speaker, there seems to
be an impression abroad that this Is large
sum. / have given this subject some
thought, and have examined 1t carefully,
and after doing so, l think the compensa-
tion very small indeed. When it is remem-
berep that men of fine legal attalnmen's
have devoted their whole time and talents
to the completion of this work; when 1t Is
remembered that the Hon. Isaiah Garrett,
on whom deYolved the principal labor OF
this revision, is, as lawyer and profound
jurist, possibly without an equal in the
whole State, the sum will appear insignlh-
cant. When talent of the highest order is
secured, of course the compensation must
be in keeping with the ability engaged. A
cursory glance through this revision has
satisfied me that it is entitled to the consd-
Grafton and appreciation of the legal profess
sion throughout the State. | did
not intend when arose to make lengthy
argument, only to express my opinion as to
the expense of the work under considers
ton.
A messenger from the Senate announced
that the Senate had passed a bill relative to
the Monroe, Homer and Fulton Rail Road
Company, over the veto of the Governor.
EThe bill was passed by the House, the veto
Of the Governor to the contrary notwlth-
standing.
Mr. Lowell called up bill to exempt the
Freedmens' Savings Bank from taxation.
Ir. Kent: think this is wrong to allow
mem ers to call up bill after bill while some
members have not had chance to call up a
bill under the rule lately adopted. object
to it.
MIR. Lowell: This is little bill to relieve
from taxation the Freedmens' Savings Bank,
and l trust 1T will be allowed to become a
law.
The bill was passed,
A messenger from the Senate announced
that that body was ready to adjourn SINE
die.