New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-01-26
alt,t' Orleans Republican.
OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE UNlTEDSTATES
OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF NEW ORLEANS
The HemOrrhaxr Checked.

The HemOrrhaxe Checked.
We COPY the folIowin. from the Pic
Current:
The Senate of Louisiana sustained th'
Governors veto of the Mississippi levee bill
hy a vote of tilirty-two to two. This is. W,
presume, decisive that this proposition car
not be brought again nnder consideration
at this session. We may hope this mark
the mean tide OF special legislation and tina
from this date may be noted its decline. Il
ia time Louisiana should cease to be re
garded as the California of the lobbyists
the rich placer in which nothing was neces
sary except a pick and a sieve to enrich tht
yericst adventuvcr who might seek its treas
ures The amendment of the constitution
which limits the entire indebtedness OF the
State to an additional seven OF eight M!
lions within the next nineteen wears vii
not allow persons from abroad or at home
to appropriate such large sums as are asked
for in the bill just defeated. There would
be little left tor the long years that succeed
for other and future works OF undouDtei
Importance, and even State necessity. We
consider the levee bill AS an example OF the
most Legitimate legislation and the most
improvidcnt outlay presented By the CLASS
of bills to which we allude.
l. 1t was of foreign suggestion. This we
allege upon the pablic fact that ITS tlrst APP
pearance was in the Commercial ConFen,
ton at Louisville. 1t was then presented
to the Legislature of Louisiana With de-
mand for extraordinary privileges.
. 1t asked police jurisdiction over the
whole line of !evees.
3. II proposed the Capitalization OF the
whole cost of the lcvees built in great
part half a century ago by the private pro
prietOrs.
4. 1t asked that The Legislature should
delegate to a private corporation the power
of taxation delegated TO the Legislature By
the people.
5. The imposition of an unequal tax upon
a special interest, to be levied and collected
by private corporation.
6. A large appropriation OF State bonds.
dispropOrtionate to the present and deferred
obligations of the State
We do not propose to argue the impro-
prietv of these propositions; they are stated
as specimens of the legislation prepared at
home and abroad. and heretofore said TO
have been pushed through the Legislature,
on Joint account OF the lobbyist and the
legislator; the latter receiving the least
share from the proceeds of his own iniquity.
In fact, where such u corrupt contract may
have been made, the legislator who effects
a burglariOus entrance into the treasury
would receive but commission upon his
own rascality, bargain of unprecedented
folly among burglars. We trust that this
practice, attributed to certain parties. With
out respect to race, color, politics. or pre-
+iOus condition, is coming to an end. We
shall look for an appreciation OF the value
of State securities so soon as the capitalist
shall have been convinced that an etfectlIal
check has been placed upon this alleged
abuse Of the power of taxation.
The question will, however, recur what
ha oHNntaI tnr f,n
reparatiOn and preservation OF the levees.
These indispensable works should be re-
garded as public deferses against per-
i,etual and inappeasable enemy. The irrup-
tons Of the river do not merely inure the
frontier inhabitants who cultivate the banks
of the river, but they are teIt by every mer-
chant, mechanic and taxpayer in the State
The whole State has therefore been com
PEELED to come to the aid Of the frontiers
men, by general tax represented by an
appropriation of State bonds. This work Of
common defense has been intrusted to a
Board of Public Works. of which much has
been said, in disparagement of the integrity
Of its administration. OF this we know
nothing nor do we care to indorse the per
sonal character or capacity of any public
and political organization. The system vi
State administration of the great public
work should be intrusted to none but com
power is responsible, and the people pIiin-
;,rily responsible for eiecting honest and
competent men to office.
But supposing the State shall assume the
obligation to make and maintain the leveeS
within its limits at the general expense. ii
would be obviously the best plan to aivcr-
tise annually and let to the lowest RESPONSE
bic bidder, giving bond and security tor the
performance of his contract, the construc-
~
cubic or running yard, or by specification
the contract to cover the immediate repara-
ton of any crevaSse or other accident which
may occur in the line, with reservation OF
a right on the part of the State to supply
any force which may be required in an
emergency, at the expense Of the contractor
upon whose section the disaster may have
occurred. In a word, the levee should be
treated as a public highway, kept in repair
either by organizing the labor along the
line under the direction of overseers of the
levee sections, and payable from the public
treasury, or by letting it in sections, as is
common with other highways.
The Senate having the honor and respOn-
sibility of having defeated a formidable
raid upon the treasury, has now the position
to propose system for the PREPARATION of
the levecs which will meet the approval of
the whole people. The former system was
based upon the command OF compulsory
labor. That mode of service having passed
away, Louisiana needs free labor system
of reparation and preservation Of her de-
Tense against the foundations of the Missis
sippi. In the event Of adopting such a de-
sirable plan, the Legislature could with
great prOpriety, ask the federal government
for an aid to the State, which cOuld not so
properly be accorded to a corporation Of
private individuals. If undertaken by the
State or national authorities, or by both.
the work will be etfectually and permanently
done.
A Permanent Investment.
On the subject OF one permanent invest