New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-04-05


pared to advocate and to vote in the sun
light, without any hesitation, for every
thing that / consider good end righteous.
Now, have confidence in the Senators
on this floor, and l have yielded and will
still yield to the voice of common sense, if
the men will explain the bill which they
are advocating, but as it is, I can not
see anything in this for the benefit of the
city OF New Orleans. There is bill be-
fore this body taking Carrollton and JEFF
ferson and adding them to this, and max
ing grand city of nine miles in length
on this side of the river, with Algiers iu-
cluded. This seems to be a sort Of an
adjunct to this bill, and, under the nys-
FERROUS mode in which it has been Matched,
can not support it. There are men here,
as l said before, on this floor, colored men
and white men, for whom have the high
est respect, because l think they know and
are not afraid to express their sentiments.
L do not see the meaning of this, and until
some advocate OF the bill shall show me
why it is framed, and for what purpose i.
is framed, l shall oppose it.
Now, cir, | want to understand this, and
| am compelled to oppose this thing until
do understand ii. Bills have been issued
| without authority. 1 unhesitatingly say
| that it has been announced that the plates
| from which these notes have been struck
were kept in use without authority in law,
| and this general bill provides for the
| re ainment of everything OF that kind.
| God knows. | would rather trust and be
deceived and be less doubling. but there
is such cloud around the portals of this
indebtedness, or whatever you may term
it, that ought to be cleared away before
we vote in general way for the payment
of everything in the shape of Indebtedness
of the city Of New Orleans, Now, for all
purposes of improvements, for all pur-
poses that develop the agricultural and
commercial interests of the State | have
gone and will go as far as any man, but
there should be devised, and there could
| be devised, not by me. because l do not
pretend to say tbat, something better than
this bill; individual interests are wrapped
| up here mysteriously in this, but certainly
| not for the benefit of the public at large
| who pay taxes. / have, as concisely and
succincty as I could, given my views on
this bill, and / do trust that the Senators
will consider well before acting upon it.
Mr.. Ray: In reference to this section |
| would make the inquiry: 1t seems that
city notes are not included, and | would
like to have some explanation about this.
Mr. Lynch: will state, Mr.. President,
| that the Senate committee prepared this
bill as q substitute for the House bill: if
it is preferred to take up the other bill,
have no objection.
Mr.. Ray: Is there any difference be-
| tween the House bill and this except ex-
cept as to the provision in regard to city
| notes?
Mr.. Lynch: That is the essential differ
| ence
Mr.. Ray: Then, Mr.. President, to
shorten this business, 1 suggest that the
House bill be taken up.
Mr.. Lynch: By unanimous consent.
have DO objection to take up the House
bill
Mr.. Bacon: Mr.. President, I hope that
this will not be done. l think that the
Senate bill, with some alterations, is the
better bill
Mr. Ray: Why not make the alterations
in the House bill?
Mr.. Bacon: The Senate bill has cured
the defects of the House bill.
Mr.. Lynch: But am afraid, Mr.. Presi-
dent. that we can not get this Senate bill
through the House this session.
Dir. Ray: Then, Mr.. President, we pro-
pose to take up the House bill.
There being no objection, House bill
No. 81 was taken up. Section one was
read.
Mr.. Lynch: Mr.. President, | have an
amendment to offer to the first section; it
is in line twenty, after the word "depos-
itory," instead of the words " and have not
been delivered to parties entitled to the
same on the day Of the passage of this act -
to insert the following: '.Reserving enough
to exchange for certificates issued by the
said Southern bank in lieu of bonds and
which are now outstanding"
This amendment was adopted.
Mr.. Bacon: Mr.. President, there were
certain bonds, as the report of the Finance
Committee will show, as well as the recol-
lection Of those familiar with the subject,
certain bonds were issued to the McDon-
ough school fund and the Fink Asylum
fund during the last year, under an ar
rangemeEt made by the Committee on
Finance about the floating debt, which
bonds were certainly issued in error, and |
think that they ought to be included. l
therefore move to insert after the word
4" depository" the words "including the
bonds enormously issued to the Melon
ough school fund and the Fink Asylam
fund"
This amendment was adopted, and the
section adopted as amended.
The balance of the sections were adopted
with certain amendments without debate.
(See journal.)
The bill was finally passed.
Mr.. Braughn: Mr.. President, there being
no other official order, call for suspen-
sion of the rules to cal up House joint
resolution creating a joint committee to
Investigate the affairs of the New Orleans,
Jackson and Great Northern Railroad
Company.
The rules were suspended, and the bill
was read.
Mr.. Braughn: Mr.. President, will re-
mind the Senators that we passed exactly
the same resolution, with the exception
that we provided for the payment of per
diem. The House has passed an exactly
similar resolution, with the exception as
to the payment to the members of their
per diem.
Mr.. Ray: Mr.. President, l must inquire
what is the necessity of this resolution?
Mr.. Braughn: move that the rules be
suspended to put the bill on its second
reading.
MIR. Ray: Mr.. President, have one word
to say in regard to this. 1t strikes me
that there is no necessity for this resolu-
ton. If / remember the history of the
matter, as l read it in the newspapers,
there was suit instituted in the United
States Court against the railroad company,
and sitter most thorough investigation,
ultimately decree of sale was rendered,
and the property was sold under that de-
cree. | have never heard any suggestion