New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-03-22
DEBATES IN THE HOUSE.
WEDNESDAY, March 9, 1870.
House met at seven o'clock P. NJ.

House met at seven cIoCk . Iu'
Speaker Carr occupied the chair.
Mr.. Garstkamp: | move that the House
now resolves itself into Committee OF Inc
Whole for the purpose OF considering the
revenue bill.
Speaker Carr: This bill was under con-
sideration in Committee OF the Whole at
the hour Of adjournment yesterday, and,
as it is one of those designated in the Gov
ernor's proclamation conVening the Cen
eral Assembly 10 extra session, must be
given precedence.
Mr.. McVean: move TO postpone it tor
half an hour.
Mr. Lott: Mr.. Speaker, ask fol this bill
to be postponed for fifteen minutes.
Speaker Carr: The Chair has already
decided that it shall have precedence over
all other business.
Mr.. Isabelle: This assumed authority set
forth in the proclamation is all moon
shine.
Speaker Carr With that the Chair has
nothing to do. But the Chair knows his
duty, and will perform it to the best o.
his ability.
Mr.. Gartskamp: | call for my motion TO
so into Committee of the Whole.
The motion prevailed.
Speaker Carr: The House having re-
solved to go into Committee OF the Whole,
the gentleman from st. James, Mr.. Gray,
will take the chai-
Mr.. Gray IN the chair.
The Chair: At a previous session o! the
committee, the first nine sections OF this
bill were disposed Of The tenth section is
therefore before the committee.
Dir. Gartskamp: Before the hour of ad-
iournment yesterday, | made a motion TO
strike out the tenth section. I now re-
newt, and | wish TO say few words in
explanation. Ny reason for Offering this,
Is, that / think IT creates an Office which
will conflict. If passed, with the Office OF
Auditor, and may consequently do q great
deal of harm and damage. The bill III
other respects, believe to be good one,
aud am opposed to having this IN it Tor
fear 1t may defeat the whole bill.
Mr. H2rper: | understood, Mr.. Speaker.
when this bill was in the hands of the
Committee Of Ways and Means that they
were engaged in framing a revenue law for
the State OF louisiana, by with and
through which the revenue necessary to
carry on the government was to be ob-
tanned. But on examining the work of the
committee, l find that they have been
doing something else.
Mr.. McNillen: If the gentleman from
st. Charles will excuse the interruption. |
will state that the gentleman from 81.
Bernard is the author Of the bill, aud not
the committee.
Mr. Harper: 1 accept the explanation.
although it matters little to whom the
honor Of its paternity belongs. This tenth
section proposes TO create an expensive
ofice-to take five thousand dollars ont
the treasury Of the State, and it places
this Commissioner Of Revenue over the
Auditor and Treasurer. 1t really makes
the latter but a messenger to an officer not
elected by the people, but appointed by
the Governor. If our laws are to be based
on the theory that al power should be
taken from the people and vested
in single man, then We might.
as well abandon all idea Of main
tanning a republican government.
| am opposed TO this Capitalization.
becaue | consider it inimcal to
the spirit of which our institutions were
born. l am opposed 10 it i'll this case for
another reason, and that is because do not
consider the Interests Of the State demand
the erection OF this Office. The tay-gather-
ers might as well at end to the whole bust
ness at once, but the Office of Treasurer
has been created to act as a check on the
tax gasherers; then the Office OF Auditor
was made to serve as check on The Treas
urer; and now it is proposed 10 add anoth-
er check, IN the person OF the Comnis-
sioner OF Revenue, on whom will devolye
the duty OF looking after tie Auditor. Il
might be pertinent 10 ask, who vii! watch
the Commissioned to see that he does not
devlate from the narrow path OF oMcial
righteousness If this Commissioner is to
be constituted watchdog to watch the
Auditor, why not place watch dog over
every other officer in the State | am sat
ished there are many excellencies in this
bill, and would like to vote for them. but
unless | am assured that this tenth section,
and everything relative to it, is stricken
out, l will be compelled to vote against the
bill as whole
Mr.. Heidenhain: / am surprised, Mr..
Speaker, that a gentleman as intelligent as
the Representative from st. Charles should
raise such objections to this section. |
consider it one OF the very best sections in
the whole bill, and | earnestly trust that it
will not be stricken out without due con-
sideration, and for better reasons than
those adduced by its opponents upon this
floor. This is intended to create an Off
Ger whose duty it will be to guard sacrsdly
the finances OF the State. When you pass
this. Won will have thrown around the
treasury a permanent shield, and have
rendered the taxpayers d substantial bene-
fit. If, as some OF the gentlemen COM
plain, it will take $4,000 ont Of the Treas
ury, it will pay $100, 600 into it. The good
that will arise from its passage can not be
easily computed at this time. Ii the gen.
tlemen do not understand this section
fully, let Us pass it over, and give those
who desire il, ample time to examine it in
all its aspects. 1t will stand an examina-
ton, and hope, gentlemen, you will rot
act hastily in this very important matter.
AS I have said, let US take it home and
read it carefully. For my part l have
studied it carefully. and | am in favor Of
it, heart and soul, because | am a tax
payer.
The Chair: The question is, Shall the
tenth section be strlkeD out?'
The yeas and nays were called for, and
on a count Of the vote the motion to strike
out prevailed.
Mr.. Harper: / move, Mr.. Chairman,
that the committee do now rise and report
this bill back to the Committee Of Ways
and Means, in order that it may be re-
arranged and that everything pertaining
to this Commissioner of Revenue may be
erased. | am not opposed to this bill as
whole, and if this Objectionable feature
was removed I think l could supper. j:
without further reserve.
Mr.. Reese: am sorry to see that the