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

which there was no debate, a motion to ad.
journ to seven O'clock, P. NJ, was carried.
Evealng Session.
FRIDAY, February Is, 1870.
House met at seven O'Clock P. NJ.
Speaker Carr in the chair
House had uuder consideration bill to
allow Peter Belot to sue the State.
Dir. Lee: am opposed 10 this bill. There
ls nothing 80 dangerous as the granting OF
such permission to every person who ap-
plies tor 1t. To sue the State before our
courts now is to secure your claim beyond
| all possibility OF failure. You might as well
allow these people to put their hands in the
treasury; and |, therefore, move its indef-
mite pOstponement.
| Mr.. Demarest: Let it be referred to q
committee to examine it.
Mr. Lee: No, sir; let him bring up his
claim here. and will vote for the relief of
any just and honest claimant, but will not
| vote to allow any person TO sue the State.
AS | have already stated, we might as well
give them permission to put thelr hands in
| the pockets of the State.
The bill was indefinitely postponed.
| On motion the House resolved itself into
| a Committee of the Whole tor the purpose
of considering House bill No. 1872, being an
act to consolidate the cities of Jefferson and
| New Orleans, and for other purposes.
Mr. McVean in the chair.
| The Chair: The first section was under
| consideration when the committee arose
| to day.
Mr. Garstkamp: have an amendment to
| offer. In the thirteenth line strike out
| 'Carroliton" and insert sJetfersou.' This
| will exclude jefferson from the operations
of this bill.
| Mr.. Degrange: Mr.. Chairman, am op-
| posed to this amendment because by its
adoption the whole bill is useless and of no
| practical account. This amendment defeats
! the consolidation of the two cities Of New
| Orleans and Jefferson. and renders the law
| null and Void. Now, | am III favor of con-
| soliCation. 1t will enhance the value of
| real estate in both places, and / sincerely
believe it will r dound to the good of both
communities. The present city charter is
good enough. and will answer every pur-
| pose, if this bill does not provide for con
solidatiOn. If we do not interd to con-
solidate, we don't need any new charter
The present one is better than any one you
may pass. The benefits that will acrue
from shaviDg these two cities in
one are manifold. 1t will save the expense
OF keeping up TWO city governments; IL Will
relieve the taxpayers and 1t viii add TO the
character and importance of our city abroad
rs well as at home. We have wanted this
for years and why not have it tonight,
Il
tatlye from one OF the most important sec
tons of this great city | am in favor of con-
solidation. The City OF Jefferson would be
benefited. Peace aud order would give
place to turmoil and dissatisfaction, and
where it has now two Mayors and two sets
Of councils wrangling ana fighting, the ma
chinery oftheir municipal affairs would glide
smoothly along. improvements would fol
low of material nature, and the people
would be more prosperous and happy than
at present. The two cities are one now; they
are identical in feeling and interests, ana
only little ditch two feet wide divides
them. Ever since the session of 1868
we have been trying to pass this.
The Senate and House appointed
charter. This committee has brought to its
work intelligence and an earnest desire for
the public good. The Property Holders
Association have favored it then, and now
We are asked to complete the good work.
l am friend of this bill, if it consoli.
dates the cities; if it does not. l am opposed
to it In every particular. Look at the I'M
pleasant condition of affairs in Jefferson
now. The men in power have not been able
to govern the city in safety to themselves
or the property holders. These good
citizens ask US for protection; they ask for
redress, and what redress can you give
them but annex them to city of order and
good government. Let us show them how
to govern; let US bring order out Of disorder,
peace cut OF chaos. We will soon have an
election. Let both parties forget all diff, r.
ences, and look only to the well being of the
whole people. The people are in favor Of
this consolidation. 1t is only opposed by "A
few politicians, who see in it the end of their
Vaccinations. This bill will provide for
the funding Of both debts it Will
restore the credit of both cities, and will
provide tor stable and proper government.
The gentleman from Jefferson would agree
with me if he was not actuated by personal
motives. He knows that the people desire
this, aud still he comes upon this floor, and
opposes the passage of this bill, which is
only intended to give to his constituents
that peace and good government which
they go ardently desire.
MIR. Garstkamp: The gentleman from
Orleans has said that the city of Jefferson
was not capable OF self-government. If we
did have disturbances in Jefferson, we did
not shed blood like you did in New Orleans.
1t is well known that your city was in pos.
session of thugs and desperadoes, and that
your streets were stained with the blood of
its citizens. If we do not know how to gov
ern ourselves in Jefferson. we do not wish
to be taught by New Orleans. We do not
desire to be educated in such pernicious
school.
He has said the people favored the
passage of this bill. Now, sir, | know the
people do not want.it As far as | am per
sODally concerned, / do not care, but l will
oppose this bill, until am certain my con-
stituepts demand such measure. / am not
in favor of imposing a tax of two per cent
on the people, without first asking their con-
sent to do so.
As the gentleman from Orleans says, the
property may be enhanced, but will not the
taxes be doubled. We have at present only
$3.50, 300 of debt. New Orleans has between
seventeen and nineteen million, and the
way the city government Is conducted it
will be doubled in five years New Orleans
has become notorious for the bad manage
ment of her municipal affairs, and to-day
we would not have had a city government
here at all, had not the late General Mower
protected it with the strong arm of military
authority, from total annihiation. | IN
derstand the gentleman has few lots in
Jefferson, which he hopes will be enhanced
ten dollars or so by the passage of this bill,
but l can tell him if this passes we will
have no improvements up there for
good while. We will be on the |
outskirts of a big city, and will never be |
noticed at all.
Mr.. Witt: As a representative of one of
the wards of the city of New Orleans, deem |
this bill. The parties to whom have been |
entrusted the delicate work of framing |
new city charter, have made a great mis-
take. They propose to consolidate Jeffer. |
son and New Orleans, Right Bank, as it is |
commonly called, into one city, without |
asking the permission of any of the con-
tracing parties. You might as well force |
me to associate in business with . man. ]