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

Mr.. Garstkamp: I offer the following
amendment, Mr.. Speaker. to this first
section:
Provided tina. Immediately after the pas
sage OF this act, the Governor of the State
shall give notice to the Mayor OF the city OF
Jefferson. and it shall be the duty of the said
Mayor to give fifteen days notice In the offi-
CT Il journal, for an election to be held by the
qualified voters of the city OF Jefferson, and
that portion of the parish of Jefferson, IS Is
contained IN the provisions OF TINS Dill, and
the voters shall have written or printed on
their ballots, for or against consoll.
dation, and if majority Of said voters
shall vote against consolidation, then the
city aud that portion of the parish OF Jetfer-
son mentioned in this act shall remain as it
was before the passage of this act, and this
act shall be printed at least ten (10) days
before said election, and all the expenses OF
the election shall be paid by the State on a
warrant of the Mayor Of the City of
Jefferson.
Now, Mr.. Speaker, hold that it is only
right and just to permit these people in
Jefferson, who have paid their taxes regrs
larry, to say whether or not this bill shall
go into effect. Let it be sub
mitted to them in the some way--in
the same way our State Constitution was.
This has b zen done in other cities where con-
solidation has either taken place or been at
tempted. Ii we don't do this then, sir, you
will take from the community | represent
their vested rights under their charter,
without even asking their opinion. They
should not be asked to pay seventeen or
eighteen millions of debt incurred by the
city Of New Orleans. We can pay our own
municipal debt il LETT TO ourselves, but we
DO not propose to pay that of the city of
New Orleans.
This bill has no other than q political eff
feet, SIS far rs ! am able to understand it,
and it seems to me 1t is being pushed
through in order that the commissioners
may get possession OF the finances at once.
This is the secret OF it being brought up at
drawing to a close. 1t should have
been introduced early IN the ses-
sion in order that we might have
a chance 10 examine it carefully and be.
STOW upon it that care SO necessary TO per-
feet it.
Perhaps it is intended to put it through at
the last moment. with such things in it as
will make US blush afterwards, ike the
gambling law of hast year.
This bill proposes to do away with twenty
four men, and give everything iute the
hands of six men. Now, if twenty-four men
can not legislate properly how Can six be
exp ected to do more.
am opposed to taking away in this pre-
cipitate manner the rights of corporate
Guy. LUIS OIL VIII uUL hllOW Tue people any
more to elect their own City Attorneys;
their own Surveyors, their own Assessors.
These commissioners will appoint their
friends, and the city government will dWin-
die into family affair. This bill does not
even grant the Mayor the veto power it
simply says he shall preside over the CouE-
Gil.
This bill has great deal, too,
to do With the floating debt
and the finances of the city, and therefore
it should not be passed, without first being
submitted to the people. For all I know,
there may be something in this dill giving
these commissioners the right TO open
gambling houses within the corporate Limits
of New Orleans. l hope my amendment
will be adopted.
Mr. Lee: would like to hear the amend.
meDt read, Mr.. Speaker.
Speaker Carr: The Clerk will read the
amendment.
The amendment was read by the Chief
Clerk.
Mr.. Lee: l move to lay that amendment
on the table. Carried.
Mr.. Lee: now move the adoption of the
first section. Carried 81 TO IA.
Mr.. Devices: / move the vote, by which
the House resolved to consider this, section
by section. be reconsidered.
Mr.. Witt: l hope this motion will
not prevail. When the House resolved
to consider this, section by section,
it evidenced disposition on the part of the
majority to allow us TO discuss 1t. When | |
say Us, Edo not smean Democrats, but the
minority on the floor OF this House, who are
opposed to its passage in its present form. |
When Mr.. Devices makes such IL motion
Mr.. Devices: l withdraw my motion.
Speaker Carr: The Clerk viii read the |
second section.
The section was read by the Chief Clerk, |
and is as follows: |
That all that portion of the parish of Or |
leans situated on the left bank of the Misss- |
sippi river and all that portion of the parish |
OF Orleans situated on the right bank of the |
Mississippi river shall constitute the parish |
of Orleans and the C ty of New Orleans, and |
that all the Inhabitants thereof shall be |
body corporate, to be known by the name |
of the city of New Orleans. and by that |.
name they and their successors shall be |
known in law, and shall be capable of suing |
and being sued, and of prosecuting and de. |
Tending in all courts, and in al actions and |
matters whatsoever; and shall have com
mon seal, and may alter ard change the |
same at pleasure, and by the same name |
they shall be capable of holding and convey
ing any estate, real and personal, for the |
use of said corporation, under the restric |
tions and limitations hereinafter set forth; |
and upon the first organization of the |
Council, as herein provided shall be vested |
with all powers, rights, privileges and i'm |
munities incident to a municipal CORPORA |
tion, and necessary for the proper govern
ment of the same.
Mr.. Witt: I earnestly hope, SIR Speaker, |
this House will pause before setting the |
seaA OF their approval upon this section. 1t |
proposes to consolidate and make a part of |
the city of New Orleans that portion Of the |
parish of Orleans Known as the right bank. |
Now, sir. If the p 'ople of the city of New |
Orleans desire to make the right bank Il part |
Of he city, and the right bank is willing TO |
accept all the responsibility OF such Iela- |
tionshlp | will not raise my voice nor will |
cast lay vote IN opposition TO the consum- |
nation of IA connection mutually agreeable. |
But neither the citizens Of the right bank |
nor those of the city have came here and |
asked for annexation. 1t is GU our part, a |
gratuitous gift altogether. and | DEFY any |
member 10 rise in his seat AID say that any |
such petition has been received. You might |
as wei force me to make one of business |
firm without my consent and against NV |
will. When this Was first introduced it |
should have been referred to delegation,
composed OF those who reside In the |
city and those who live in that section |
you propose to consolidate or annex. THINK !
it unjust and unkind for the untry mem. |
bers TO come here and force this annexation |
upon us. Ii my constituents were 10 come |
here and ask me to vote for it | would do |
so. but until they do SO, l will oppose it, be |
lleving that, in doing So serve their best /
interests. As the Representative of the |
people it proposes to tax, / rise now and |
protest against it becoming a law There |
have been men composing the L gislature |
OF Louisiana in days past whose honesty |
and patriotism suspicion never raised her |
tongue against. 1t Was such men framed |
the present charter-men whose names |