New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-02-07
TIE LEGISLATURE,

The House had al extremely active
session yesterday. and no spectator who
understood wha: was going on could
accus. our legislators of standing all the
day idle.
When the session had been opened i'll
the usual form. the Speaker. Mr. Carter.
announced that he had few remarks to
offer, which, he hoped, would receive
their favorable attention. On accepting
the speakership Of the House. he had
considered it proper to "post himself '
with respect TO various matters connected
with the routine business of the House,
particularly with regard to Legislative en-
ployes. Clerks pages. etc. For this pur-
pose he had consulted the SerSeant-at-
Arms, or had obtained from him and
others such proper information as to the
capacity and efficiency Of those employed
as would enable him to act intelli-
gently. He had found that in some
way or other there were great
many more persons appointed to posi-
tons than allowed by law or warranted
by expediency. That the expense OF this
host of employees brought the expenses
of the Legislature fully up to the sum OF
one thousand dollars daily. Under these
circumstances, he had thought i. y duty
to reduce the clerical and attendant
force, aud in striking out names or re-
tanning them he had been guided solely
by tie best information he could obtain
respecting qualifications. Necessarily
somebody's friends had to ne displaced.
but members should look to the Well
being of the State.
The Speaker went on 10 say that he had
taken measures to have relieved the police
men who had cy,stomari!y been stationed
in the hall Of the House. II. considered
this as needless I'VE are surely gentle
men enough to beehive ourselves so A, not
to require the presence of police among
us: the proper place for these officials Is
the Hobbies, the galleries and the entrance
.
persons might be found. whom it might
be necessary to repress." The Speaker
| took occasion to pay some compll-
ments to the members OF the police
| forSe who had been on duty i'll the build
ing. He concluded by saying that he
! had vet on file about two hundred appll-
| cations for positions in Legislative employ.
and he begged that the members would
not indorse any more applications. We
do not give the exact words Of Speaker
| Carter, but We believe the above expresses
| the burden of his remarks. What he said
certainly indicates no small share OF ad-
ministrative ability.
| One of the resolutions offered. and,
| after some attempt, to amend. passed.
was ono to hold two daily sessions one
commencing at twelve o'clock, as is now
the practice, and another to commence at
seven O'Clock This looks like determi.
nation to push business.
expected that Yesterday the w:tr be-
tween tho giants Benjamin Buchanan,
who occupies a seat az Representative
from A!giers, and Frank Alexander. who
would rather have the seat himself, would
have moved heaven aud earth. But II
didn't The one thing that moved wa,
the Chairman of tho Committee Oh Elec
tons; and he moved that the case be con
tnuel in order to give one Of the contest
ants (pechaps both) time to get more Test:
mony.
Nj. Orcr.on has introduced 4 biz CT NJ
small Importance. and which require
consideration Oh the part OF our law
give.s. This il bill to intorce the oh
seryancc of Sunday as day OF rest. In
qae,tionably every measure tending t
make the first day Of the week one OF res
from toll. ought to be encouraged. ant
whatever has tendency to promote ;
healthy public sentiment i'll re
gard to the observation Of S"nda..
as A day of sacred rest ought to be en-
couraged. But this bill. perhaps. goe
too far It recognizes. if we understand
it correctly. the rights and views OF bu
one class Of people; apparently forgetting
that n-professors of religion have right
as we'll as pious folks. We hope that
T when this bill comes under discussion
nothing in regard to i: will be hastil
. done
, Mr.. Otto called. by resolution, the at
tention of the House to the high price {
coal. and proposing measures to reSuL't
} the cost thereof. Mr.. Davidson mad
some remarks in opposition to Mr. Otto
: views, and contended that it is always IL
+ expedient, if not mischieyous, to meddl
with matters of commerce. The resolu
ton was laid>over. Mr.. Davidson is ur
doubleday right in opposing the attemr
to regulate the price of articles, whic
regulation had better be left to the laws {
) trade But at the same time, it can nc
be denied that the present coal trad
in this city is practical monopoly
, &c burtf,l To tina interests