New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-01-28
DEBATES OF THE HOUSE.

tlIhfy-SlN members prescott
PRAYER by the Chaplain.
On motion of Mr.. Uliman. of Orleans, the
Nouse reconsiieceI the vote OF yesterday
on the AppOrtionmcnt bill
Mr., Bowen, of Orleans: l move that the
bill be rccolnmitted to special committee
OF five members, to be appointed by the
Chair, and to report immediately.
The committee. beng appointed. OBTAINED
leave to withdraw.
Mr.. Oplatek. of Orleans, introduced reso-
luton asking for the appointment of
special committee of three TO inquire into
the collection of unpaid State taxes.
The Speaker. The Chair would inform
the gentleman that this comes into conflict
with the resolution introduced by himself
few days ago. The purposes tor which the
gentleman desires special committee be-
long to the standing Committee on Ways
and Means.
Mr.. Opatch. of Orleans Then | move
that the resolution Dc referred to the Com
mittcc on Ways and Means.
The Speaker: The Chair would inform the
gentleman that his resolution, which has
been adopted by the House. prevents NE
from entertaining such resolution.
Mr. OplatcH of Orleans: l withdraw my
resolution.
The Speaker: That is the only thing the
gentleman can do.
Mr.. Bowen, of Orleans. asked and ob-
duce the report OF the special committee on
appOrtiOnment.
The amendments proposed by the com
mittee were severaily read.
First amendment adopted: yeas 30,
nays %.
The second and third amendments were
lost.
Mr. Yorke, of Carroll: move the adop-
ton of the bill us amended. and call for the
previous question.
Mr.. Thompson. OF st. Tammany: ! wish
to state that am opposed to this bill for
these reasons: The constitution requires us
in article twenty. until the census has been
taken in 1875, to adopt the census OF the
United States in 1870. and says that this
apportiOnment shall he based upen the cen
aus of 1870. Now it is very evident that if
anv member will look at this bill they will
see that it is not based upon the census OF
1870 that, on the contrary 1t Is based upon
the same census on which the appOrtion
ment of 1868 was made. Consequently, it
is in direct conflict with the provisions of
the constitution. which every member Of
this House has taken an oath to support. l
call upon the members of this House 10
vote down this bill aud adopt the report of
the committee first appointed by this House,
which was based on the census OF 1870, and
which is in accordance with the constItu-
ton of the State do not see how mem
when it is evident that it is not based on
the census Of 1870, rs the constitution re-
ulires. | therefore move that we adopt
a substitute the bill reported by the special
committee a few days ago.
The Speaker: That motion is not in order.
The Clerk will read the next amendment.
The fourth amendment having been read
Mr.. Wands, of Tangipahoa: I offer an
amendment to strike out tie word Living
ston' in the tifty-seventh line and in the
tifty-eighth line after the words East Baton
Rouge and insert the words ''and Living
eton.' 1t is proposed to base this appor
tionment upon the censi:s of 1870. Ii such
be the case, want it TO give US Senator.
As this apportionment Is now mace. we
have five parishes witt! Il population %
twenty-seven thousand, and we are asked
to accept one Senator for that amount OF
inhabitants. Ii 1t was necessary to add a
parish to complete or Senatorial ratio.
would not complain. but III the parishes of
st. Tammany, Washington. Tangipahoa and
st. Helena there are twenty-three thousand
inhabitants. while the parish Of East Baton
Rouge has less than eighteen thousand. in
fact a tritle more than seventeen Thousand.
and has Senator given to IT.
We propose in this amendment - attach
thc parish of Livingston to the parish of
East Baton Rouge. for tho purpose of giving
them Senatorial representation of twenty
"
thousand.
The constitution article twenty-ninc, says
that the population of the State shall be
divided by thirty--ix, and the result pro-
duced by this division snail be the Sena-
torial ratio emitting a Senatorial District to
4 Senator.
What do you propose to do In some
Senatorial districts YOU propose to divide by
thirty-six, and in others do not know by
what number. Give us IA Senator for our
.wcnty-three thousand. and We will not com
plain: but to force upon us the parish Of
Livingston, giving us an extra parish with
out a Senator where we already have the
required number, IS only fraud and 2 dis
grace to this assembly.
Mr. Burch. of East Baton Rouge:
simply object to this sort of legislation
here. | look upon this matter of attacking |
the parish of Livingston TO the parish OF
East Baton Rouge as an attempt to make |
political poorhouse OF our parish, by giving |
us their surplus Democratic politicians. |
That. no doubt. Is the reason the gentleman |
is SO anxious to get rid of Livingston parish, |
and desires to paste it on a good Republican |
parish not that he s afraid of 4 Democratic |
majority, but that it is their object to make |
a political poorhouse Of fine parish OF East |
Baton Rouge by thus hosting on to Us this |
Democratic parish majority.
He claims justice for the Senatorial |
want justice. in the language of well!
known military cllictta!n all that We asl, is |
to be left alone We DO not want any suck |
jas'iX as is proposed.
He says we have population o! = 900 |
while he has population OF :. .pi'. The
fact Is, very few of lis know how many PEG
pie there are in the state of Louisiana.
There is map before me which tei.- me
the population OF my parish is II 900 ! do
not know about this, but | do not get paid
for that much. He tells us il has II 900 |
The reason why we cannot settle tbs appor-
tionment finally is because We really do not
know the number of inhabitants OF specific |
parishes, and the State at large: and until
we do know. | do not see how VIC can act |
lntellgentlv on this bill neither can ~
delay it from day to day TO lar' II
patched here and patched there. cut Of |
here and spliced there. gentleman Oh |
the other side of the house has told u, fiat |
the bill was unconstitutional. We can not |
see the unronstitItionalIty q: this l"gl'la
ton, because We really have 10 facts and |
hgures before US and the next best thing |
we can do is to adopt something 50 'hk We |
can have an apportonnent for the EcHt five |
years, ana then go on VITA TIE wo1l: before |
the House.
Taking this view OF the fact. shall move !
% lay the amendment of the gentleman |
from st. IaiulIlany on the ran!c
An amendment Icy MIR Gass!:,:Hn. o. OK
cans. was talked.
The vote by which the first amendment |
Eas adopted was rcconeidc.ed
Mr.. Barrett. Of 0rlcai:. I rlov: :i,a |
adoption OF the bill wittCu. any amend !
nents, and cali for the previous question.