New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-02-14

State. will vote for the bill; but as it now
stands. am not in favor of it.
Mr.. Ray: In reference to the constitution
atty of that section of the bill which per
mits the parish Judge to act as president of
the police jury, the Supreme Court has de-
cidcd that he is entirely competent to do SO.
He is competent to hold any other office ex
cept that of Judge of the Supreme Court or
Judge of the district court The Supreme
Court has held that man could not be a
clerk of two courts, but that parish Judges
could hold two offices at the same time. 1t
is perfectly proper for the Legislature to as
sign to the parish Judge, as one of his dll-
ties, the right to preside over the police jury
of his parish, and even to make him
a member of it. Therefore, so far
as that objection is concerned, it does
net affect the constitutionalty of the bill at
striking ont that particular section unless it
was the opinion of the Senate that the par
ish Judge would not be the proper party to
preside over the police jury. In my opinion,
he il the most proper party for that position,
because he is elected directly by the people,
and is generally well acquainted with the
parish. BY having an officer of the police
jury located at the parish seat. all the IRE
gularities which result from the action of
Mr.. Hunsaker: | agree with the legal
opinion expressed by the Senator from
Ouachita, that parish Judges are not in
Guided in the officers who are prohibited
from receiving the fees and cmolumcnts of
two offices at the same time. l also coincide
in his opinion that the parish judge is Il very
important acquisition to the police jury, be
cause he comes nearer to representing the
people Of his parish than almost anybody
al,
intelligent men. aud will make good mem
beers of the police j,;rleS. Ii is necessary
for the police jury to have some recognized
head, in order to give them some force and
character.
Mr. Anderson: | notice that no one but
myself has touched upon that section of the
bill which prescribes the qualifications of
members OF the police jury. My remarks
upon that subject seem to be unanswerable
do not believe anyhow that the Lc.isla
turc can assign amy duties to parish Judges
other than those provided for i'll the con
stitution. | renew my motion to rccomnit
the bill to the Judiciary committee. Car
ried.
IMPROVEMENT OF RAYoU> ID AEBoN>E AND
CoENIE
The bill providing for the Improvement
of the navi cation of bayolls d'AIbonue and
COInie having been taken up
Mr. Futch said: l move that this bill be
considered cngro>>ed. For the ntorma-
ton of Senators who are not acquainted
with the location of these two streams |
will make Il few remarks in explanation of
the bill Bayous dArbonne and Corne are
i'll the northern part of the State. Bayou
d'Arbonne heads somewhere i'll the parish
of Claiborne, | believe, and bayou Cornie
i'll Union county, Arkansas. They form ii
junction in the parish of Union by the
Cornie elnptylng into the II Arbopne. From
the point OF junction, the d'Arhonnc runs
through two parishes and cmpties into the
OuaC hl'a river Il few miles above Trenton.
There are 10 inland streams in the State of
more importance than these two, because
they run through, a large section ot country.
and probably no other inland stream
i'll the State needs Improvement as
much as they do. | have introduced
this measure At the earnest request OF the
people OF that section. 1t is not introduced
for the purpose OF speculation. or for the
purpose of Boosting that we have at last
received an appropriation from the General
Assembly 20 assist in the development Of
that section OF country: but because it is a
matter OF great interest and importance. to
a large section of the State. These streams
are navigable for steamboats,. ana steam
boats have navi gated them Tor many wears.
although the navigation has been very diff |
cult. Bayou d'Arbonne i, sufficiently wid.
and deep for the navigation OF -teamboat,
as large, perhaps, a> those which navigate |
the Ouachita river: but it i, extremely !
crooked. Some OF the bends are 80 short
that even small boat, cannot make |
much Roadway. The timber has
grown up on the banks clear down
to the edge OF the water. and the !
Overhano lng branches are very much in the F!
way of the boats. 1t is for the purpose OF |.
cleaning out and opening these streams. re-
moving the timber from the banks and. !
wherever it can be done. maxim. cut offs at
the short bends that this appropriation is |
asked for, At some places Il cutoff of
few yards will be sufficient | am not Ger |
tain that we can do much with the small |
amount asked for in thi, bill. but the work |
that it viii do Will he OF great benefit to the
people of that section. ask that tli, |
amount be handed over to the Police jury |
Of Mon parish as desire il 20 be paid into |
the hands OF men who will make it go a>
far as possible. am quite SIRE that they |
will do everything possible to make this !
appropriation a1 profitable as possible. The I
work is to be done right there. ioHr their |
homes where they can constantly attend 10
it. We have i'll that parish now. and hope |
will contlnlc to have i'll the future. 1t police !
Jury which is not on V honest. but indus |
.rious.
Mr.. Todd: They must be Democrats. if |
they are honest. Laughter.
Mr.. Futch: No. there is not a Democrat |
IN the jury. | hope there will be no serious
objection to this bill. 1t is aSkin. :, very |
small amount from the State for the benefit
IF u large portion OF the population. We
Ill know that the people of that section do
not get their fair proportion of the Hdvan-
ages and benefits of the expenditure OF
he public money. They pay literally for
he Improvement of other sections of the
State, and they do 40 willingly and prompt
Y We have very few tax suits in that
.ountrv; the people pay their debts. | do
measure as Il favor to those people, but
sk it in the name of justice and impartial
ty. If there is no objection, | would like
. have the bill considered as cn.rosscd.
Mr. Ray: | rise to second the motion OF
h. Senator from Union (Mr. Futch), that
his bill he considered as cnsrosscd. As
i've in that section OF the State. and as one
# these bayous td'Arbonne) passes through
nv parish, few remarks on my part would
Ot be inappropriate. The Improvement of
he navigation of Bayou d'Arbonne will
cry materially benefit the parishes of
)uachita, jackson, Union and Claiborne.
one years ago there was different system
f carrying on public works than at present
xists. Boats were then sent into the dit
ercnt hayous of the State for the purpose
t cleaning them out. | had the
onor ut that time to be member
f the Legislature. and | recollect that
II order was procured to send the
ands of the State. with the necessary ma-
hincry, into this bayou for the purpose of
Improving it. Previous to this time it was
OF navigablc for steamboats,. 1t was par
tally improved at that time up to the town
Farmcrsville. For a long time after that