New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-02-28

now! This bill was introduced in the early
part Of the present session, and it has been
postponed, day after day, until we are nav
very near the close of it, and yet, after the
made and after the bill has been before the
Senate for nearly two months, a Senator
has the audacity to rise in his seat and ask
a further pOstpOnement, pretending that he
does not understand the bill yet. 1t has
been said that the Republican party could
not pass this bill because many OF iSe mem-
bers were public printers and were
making money under the present
printing law, and therefore interested
in its retention on the statute book.
They assert that many papers which
could not exist if they depended entirely
upon private patronage, are now published
in the various county parishes Of the State,
which are supported entirely by the printing
given them by the State. Now. the circu-
lation OF most Of these papers would not
pay them for the cost OF the press. Ii they
cannot be kept up without the public print
ing if their subscription Lists are not large
enough to make them seli-sustaining. then,
it is a perfect farce to publish the laws of the
State in them, as they are never read by
anybody. 1t certainly cannot benefit the
Republican party to keep such papers up
by giving them the public printing. On
the contrary, it has a tendency to drag the
party down, as it gains it the name OF being
IL party of monopoly and party OF
plumber. l was surprised to see how
quickly this bill brought every public
printer in the Senate to his feet. There was
not single one OF them who did not rise in
his seat and say that We were taking away
from them the public pap that was sustain
ing them. There is nO use i'll talking about
the public printers in the Senate not being
personally interested in this matter. 1t is
a matter of interest to them. because there
is not one single paper published by any
public printer upon the floor of this Senate
that is able to sustain itself by its subscrip-
ton list alone. If a mans property is
seized by the Sheriff, he Is compelled to
have it published in paper that is not
read by half Il dozen persons, and the con-
sequence is that his property is sold for a
mere song on accOun OF the scarcity Of
bidders. This Is a rank injustice, to say
the least of it. 1t is unjust that the people
OF the State should be forced to support a
swarm Of vampires, and receive no benefit
from them in return.
Mr.. Smith: There has been a great deal
OF buncombe displayed in the debate on
this question, and some arguments have
been made which should not have been
made in the Senate chamber. My name, in
particular, has been mentioned in cOnnec
ton with the public press / admit that i
| am doing a little in that way, but can
not imagine why that should have any
thing to do with my vote upon this ques
ton. l am willing to vote for any reasona-
BILE printing bill that is brought before the
Senate. and l am willing that any bad
features which may exist in the present
law should be stricken out. l want, how
ever, to hear the gentlemen who are add
vocatlng the passage of this bill back it up
| with logical arguments. and not make as
sertions which have no foundation whatever.
Let them talk like men. and we will meet
them on their own ground.
Mr.. Harris: l think We have afforded
ample entertainment TO the lobby for one
night, and l, therefore, call for executive
session.
Mr.. Blackman rose TO the point OF order
that the call was not in order, executive
session having been called for once before
on this same bill.
Tue Chair decided the point well taken.
Mr.. Raglan: do not intend to entertain
the Senate with an argument Ia opposition
to this measure, because the real merits OF
the case have not yet been touched upon.
! wish only to state, i'll regard to the con-
versation which Senator Pnchback alleges
that he had with certain Senators in refer
ence to the advocacy OF this measure by
Senator Blackman, that am not one of the
Senators who expressed such sentiments. l
will state further that | would as readily
favor a measure introduced or advocated by
d Democrat as q measure introduced by
Republican. This measure, however, has
been forced upon the Senate as a party
question, and regard it as such. Now, it
is d well known fact that the
dominant party III any and every
State in the Union supports its own press.
When the Democratic party was in power
it sustained the press of its denomination.
and now that the Republican party is dom
nant am in favor of the same rule. The
Senator from Carroll seems to regard this
as a measure of economy and retrencll-
lnent. from which am led to believe that
he had withdrawn from his connection with
the public printing.
Mr.. McMilien: Does the Senator have re-
ference to me when he speaks o.. the Sen
ator from Carrol9
Mr.. Raglan: | understand that you have
Withdrawn from your connection with the
pub c printing.
Mr.. McMillen: l beg to correct the gen
tlc,nan in his premises. | never owned
| dollars worth Of interest in any journal:
vas never, in any manner, connected with
the public printing in this State, and newer
had any interest III it. directly or Indirectly.
Mr.. Raglan: beg the gentleman's pardon.
1t seems that | have peen misintOrmed. l
can now see some reasonable ground for his
opposition to the present printing law. SO
far as the question of the public printers
III the senate DtlUp interested LII INC ncdS-
ure is concerned | am of the opinion that
they are interested in any measure that
comes before this body. Whether they have
a pecuniary interest in it or rot is left to the
Senate to determine under its rules. Now.
have not read this bill, and, consequently,
am not informed IA to what it proposes to
do 1t is true that it was introduced early
in the present session, but it was placed in
the hands of the printing committee. and
remained in their hands until within a few
days ago. 1t having been brought 80 re
Gently before the attention OF the Senate, it
is certainly unjust to force it down our
throats without fair opportunity to exam
Inc into its merits and purposes. l there
fore move that the further consideration OF
this measure be postponed until tomorrow
at two o'clock.
Mr. Sypher withdrew his motion TO post
pone until Monday next
Mr.. McMillen moved to lay the notion o.
Mr. Raglan on the table.
The Senate refused to table the motion,
Mr.. McMillen moved to adjourn.
The Senate refused to adjourn.
Thdo1uestiOn then REQUIRED on the motion
Of Mr. kagan, to postpone until tomorrow
at two o'clock.
Adopted.
aLAUGHTERHOUsE BILL.
House bill No 209 THE slaugEterhousa
bill') having been called up.
Mr.. McMllen said Imove to refer this bill