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

quite enough 0eDate ON TINS subject |.
would appear from the long speeches thai
in copartnership with the State printer, who
will make snug little sum of money out o.
the publication Of the debates. In order to
end this debate, and as matter of economy.
move to lay the bill on the table.
The Senate refused to lay on the table
Mr.. McMillen: Mr.. President l regard
the bill which is now before the Senate az
one of the few very important measures
which it seems to me it is necessary to pass
during the present session. Personally,
feel deeply upon this subject; partly for
the reason that have deep interest in all
those measures which affect the general in
terests of the people of the State in which
I reside; partly for the reason that 1 feel
deep interest in all those measures which
are supposed to he Of a partisan character;
and partly for the reason that was largely
and actively instrumental in having the
present printing law passed by the first
General Assembly which convened undey
the present constitution of the State. In
INV action at that time was sincere ana
honest and earnest as a partisan. l acted
then from purely partisan motives. M
object being to take away from the
Democratic newspapers OF the STATE
and to concentrate into the hands of the
Republican press whatever pubic patronage
lie printing or the official publication of al
legislative and judicial proceedings. be
lieyed then, and 1 think yet. that at that
time. and under the circumstances which
existed then, this step was proper and le
Ultimate one So far as the law which Is at
present upon our statute books has accom-
IIished the objects for which it was passed
we'll; but l fear, MIR. President land have
not hesitated upon every appropriate occs-
~
that much more has been accOmplIshe4
through the power which was conferred
upon certain parties by this printing law
than was the intention OF its promoter,
or the purpose of the Legislature which
passed the law. /. for one. would never
have given it my suppOrt-certainly would
not have become the intrOducer OF 1t in the
House of Representatives could have fore
seen the immense burden which it was
destined to impose upon the State treasury.
This printing law, in my opinion. has in
hicted serious evil upon u.s. Our State is
not in good financial condition; it has not
been since the organization of the new State
government. We found the State burdened
with both bonded and floating debt, ann
instead Of instituting measures OF economy.
| fear that we have expended the money OF
the state with too lavish d hand. and that.
bv the improper administration Of this law
and by fraud upon the part Of one of the State
officers, a burden has been imposed upon
the State treasury which was never in
tended by the General Assembly. desire
to say in this connection that l shall still
endeavor to have law enacted by the
Legislature which will retain in the hands
of the dominant party of this State all the
public patronage that can be given to it.
believe it is good policy and sound party
wisdom to do so, but when we do this let ls
not unnecessarily burden the treasury OF
the State. Whatever printing this Legis-
lature has to be done, whatever printing Is
to be done in the executive and judic;al
departments of the government, let
who shall be elected by the Genera
Assembly and who shall be permitted 70
charge the full rates which are charged b.
other parties for the performance of such
work am in favor of having the printing
Of this State done by some Republican State
printer am in favor of having the Re
publican newspapers supported through the
ING thus done: but would like to have the
leaks stOpped-tO have the evils which it
has been demonstrated exist in the present
law remedied. and new law passed which
will not work an injury to the State and at
the same time retain in the hands of toe
dominant party. to which have the honor
to belong. all the legitimate advantages
~nlcn ARISE 1Fom tHe patronage ol tEN
State. 1t seems to me that this is al
we can claim. We can use this public
patronage as a means of informing the PEG
pie of the State of the result of our labOrs
here and of the new laws that we shall pass
from time to time and we can make it .
legitimate means for the purpose OF main
tanning through the length and breadth Of
the State journals which cannot exist upon
the patronage Of the people alone. This :,
~, ~, ho
Of this printing bill. know that in many
of the parishes Of the State. 4 Republican
newspaper could not he maintained by the
voluntary patronage of the people l know
that when the present printing law was
passed. even i'll New Orleans, Il large com
mercial city, where immense printing hss
t, be done and where large dailies ara
successfully maintained, the Repub
lican newspapers were struggling
feeby along and were daily threatened
with the necessity of closing up. because
they could not pay the expenses of carrying
on their establishments as other newspapers
in the city. For that reason / favored the
proposition to give them a large and liberia,
compensation for the services which they
should perform under this law, but nevey
dreamed that it was to be carried 10 such
an extent as it has been. 1 never dreamed
that the people of this State would be taxed
four or five hundred thousand dollars for i
single years printing. In addition 10 thai
enormous expense. each branch of the Gen
eral Assembly, at each session has assumed
the ,ght to order the journals OF their respec
tive houses to be printed in various papers
throughout the State. to be paid for
out of the contingent fund of the
respective houses. In looking over the
proceedings of the House of Representa-
tives, observe that that body authorized
one of its members to have the journal of
the House for the present session pr nted
III what is called the Carroll Republican, re
terring. have no doubt, from the name ofthe
member so authorized, and from the name
of the paper itself, to some journal sup
posed TO DE published in the parish III
which reside Now. Mr.. President. there
Is no such paper there, there never was anT
such paper and there never will be, anu
vet n gentleman occupying seat on the
floor OF the House of Representatives. has
the authority conferred upon him to pub
l>h the journal of the House in this C0rro'
paid out of the contingent fund. Not salts
fed say. with granting these Gu
lacged powers to the commissioners
appa nted to enforce this law. not satisfied
with the liberal exercise of their power as
such, each house of the General Assembly.
session after session, order their official pro
ceedings to be published in the various
papers throughout the State, thereby un
necessarily increasing the grand aggregate
that is expended yearly for the public
printing of the State. l see that my friend
from ConcOrdia Mr.. Harris] introduced
resolution. few days since, ordering the
official Journal of the Senate to be published
in the Vidalia Herald. The fact that Mr.