New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-02-25
ays,.' Orleans Republican.
OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE UNITED STATES
OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF NEW ORLEANS
DEBATES OF THE SENATE.

OFFICIAL JOURNAL VI NEW UhleRNS
DEBATES OF THE SENATE.
Morning Session.
THURSDAY, February l6, 1871.
BAYOU COURrABLEAU AGAIN.
The Senate having under consideration
the bill providing for the improvement Of
BAYOU COurtableau, and making an apprO-
priation therefor
Mr.. Anderson said: I am willing that the
commissioners to be appointed to super
intend this work shall be required to furnish
any bond the Senate may think proper to
demand. II any amendment should be
offered which will give additional security
to the Senate, shall certainly accept it.
am willing that the commissioners shall be
appointed either by the Governor or by the
Senate / want nothing but what is right
and just l am willing that a provision
shall be inserted in the bill that the money
shall not be paid except on the certificate of
the engineer that the work has been done,
and then only upon the warrant OF the Gov
ernOr.
Mr.. Harris moved to amend by strikin z
out the names of the parties mentioned in
the bill, and inserting instead that the three
commissioners should be appointed by the
Governor.
The amendment was accepted by Mr.. An
dersOn, and adopted.
Mr.. Harris moved to further amend the
bill by providing that the commissioners
shall furnish bond in the sum of sixty
Thousand dollars; said bond to be approved
by the Governor.
Amendment accepted and adopted.
The bill was then considered as engrOssed.
Mr.. O'Hara: l would call the attention of
the Senate to the fact that the parishes of
Calcasieu, TerrebOnne, Lafourche, st. Mary.
in fact, nearly every one of the parishes in
this State, are cut up with little bayous
similar to this bayou COurtableau. The
navigation of all Of them needs improve
ment, and hope some Senator will intro
duce bill of general character, pro-
viding for the opening OF all the bayOus in
the State.
The bill finally passed.
INDUSTRIAL HOME FOR THE BLIND.
Senate bill No. 81, to establish an Indus
having been taken up
Mr.. Raglan said: deem it unnecessary to
take up the valuable time Of the Senate in
making lengthy explanation of this bill.
The necessity for the establishment of an
institution Of this character is patent to
everyone. After the seminary was burned
at Alexandria, the State University was re-
moved down to Baton Rouge and placed in
the building which was erected by the State
Of Louisiana for the accommodation of the
deaf, dumb and blind. The Importance of
the university, and the fOurshng condition
that it was in at the time the semi
nary was burned, made it appear
necessary in the minds of the State
authorities that its operation should
asked and obtained tie consent Of the man
ayers of the Deaf, DUMB and Blind Asylum
that the university should occupy portion
Of their building. AS there was and is not
now another building in the State suitable
for the accommodation of the university, it
has been deemed necessary to allow that
institution to remain in that building
be made for it. The blind were
necessarily driven ont in order to make
way for the university, and were obliged to
temporarily occupy Smother building at
Baton BOuge. there are, at present, about
twenty-five blind persons in that institution,
while there are about seventy-fve more in
the State, who desire that some provision
should be made by the General Assembly
for their comfort and improvement. They
are objects of public charity. l think it
highly necessary and proper that we should
take care of the suffering portion of hui
mainly in our midst. now move that tho
bill be considered as engrossed.
Mr.. Lynch moved that the bill be taken
up section by section.
Carried.
The first section was then read and
adopted.
The second section having been read.
Mr.O'Hara said This section provides that
no persons shall be admitted into the institu-
ton, except they be persons Of good moral
character. Now, who is to be the judge Of
the moral character of an applicant for adj
mission! 1t seems to me that the only con
ditiOn we ought to make is. that they shall
be Of sound mind. l move that it be so
amended.
Mr.. Lynch: 1t seems to me that this is a
very strange motion for the Senator to
make. hope he will withdraw il, as it
will certainly do him some harm. if he pres
ses it.
Mr.. O'Hara: NY reason for making the
motion is that l think any persons who are
blind and unable to take care of themselves
should not be asked whether their characters
are good, bad or indifferent, when they APP
ply for admission into this institution. 1t
is enough for us to know that person is
blind, and consequently, in need Of our
assistance. would like to know. anyhow.
who is to be the judge of the character Of
the applicant.
Mr.. Lynch: The blind in these asylums
are always together, and it is necessary
that all Of them should be Of good and moral
character in order that they may have no
evil example before them.
The amendment of Mr.. O'Hara was lost.
Mr.. O'Hara: have heard it whispered BY
two or three Senators that they would dis
like to have their names recorded as voting
in favor OF the amendments l have offered.
Now, think just as much OF morality as
any Senator on this floor but do not wish
to leave anything in the bill which can in
any way be construed to refuse admittance
to any one. Some Senators may say that
no such thing has ever happened, but l
know OF a circumstance that took place
some time ago, in my own parish, where an
insane man was taken to the Insane Asy-
!un and fifty dollars had to be paid
before he could be admitted. under
law similar to this. That is the
reason moved to strike out those words
''gOod moral character" The very gentle
men that received those fifty dollars for the
admission of that insane man into the
asylum, might be selected as Judges of tho
character Of an applicant for admission.
In passing such laws as this, we can not be
too careful in throwing every safeguard
around the unfortunate and HELPLESS.
If we leave a door open fer the re-
fusal to admit any one, it would be
better to pass no law at all upon the sub.
ject. 1t will be only the favored few that
are admitted, while the poor and unfortu-
nate will be turned away. do not wish it
to be understood, Mr.. President nor do l
desire it to be placed upon record, that, on
account OF my great abhOrreRce to morality.
am in favor of striking out this clause of
the bill. l believe that majority of the
Senate would even now favor my amend
ment, were it possible for me to offer it
again: have, however, placed myself On