New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-02-23

OF the society. He was the president OF tno
Mexican Gulf and Mississippi Canal Com
pany. Last year, he sent an agent to Eu-
rope at the expense of the State. In 1871
he spent $4,000 for room rent, ETC., but not
one cent does he show that was spent for
the benefit of the poor immigrant. Now.
don't think that such society should be
tolerated in this State. We have enough of
these societies that are eating up the
peoples money, and am opposed to main
tanning such an institution. The German
society has done more for the immigrant
than this society will ever do, and think
the institution should be abolished. l, for
one, am entirely opposed to maintain So
ciety that has not and never will do any
good to the State.
Mr. Oplatek-Mr. Speaker, the gentleman
seems to labor under a wrong impression.
The immigration commission does not cost
the State any money; the revenue for it is
derived from a law passed in Congress,
| which provides that the master of each YES
sci who brings immigrants to any of the
ports of the United States has to pay tax
of two dollars for each immigrant he i'm
| ports. This tax is called the capita tax, and
from the proceeds thereof the commission
ers sustain themselves in their office. But
the question is not whether the Office costs
the State any money or not. There is some
! thing Of greater Importance attached to
| the duties of these commissioners, if these du-
ties are honestly and faithfully performed
which am sorry to say they are not, be-
cause those officers do not comply with the
requirements of their Office; it seems that
the only thing in which they are punctual
is in the collection of that capita tax. Thou
sands of immi grants are yearly imported to
this port, while no inducement Or encour-
agement is offered to them by that commits
sion to remain here, the State having no
benefit at all of their labor and skill.
Now, Mr.. Speaker, l fully agree with tho
gentleman that the act creating these com
missioners should be repealed, as they do
not answer the purposes for which the COM
mission was created. Last year l intro
duced an immigI alton bill, which passed the
House and now lies in the Senate awaiting
its concurrence. l am in favor that the
Senate should pass that act, and the new
commission which is to be created under its
provisions, will take much more interest in
fostering and facilitating healthy immigra-
ton to Louisiana, which will make labor
cheaper and increase capital.
Mr.. johnson, of Orleans-l am in favor
of repeating this law.
In reference to travelling committees, Mr..
Oplatek said--Mr. Speaker, l see that in
this resolution as well as in all others which
have been introduced in this House, GER
| tain degree of economy is stronly mani
| tested, which restraints the committees
| acting under these resolutions from incur
| ring any expense on the State; but most
| all of them read that the committees are EN-
powered to send for persons and papers; and
! here, Mr.. Speaker, comes very important
point on which have to base my remarks,
| in order to save the State a great and use
less expense, which may be incurred. Ac-
cording to the meaning of said resolutions
we restrain the special committees from
| costing any money whatever to the State
u, ,.r.l,t 81 han Of; tor
| them a broad road for making the expenses
| as heavy as they please by allowing them
to send for persons and papers; they have
| a right to summon those persons as wit
| nesses and those witnesses charge for their
| appearance not only their witness fees, but
| mileage, and there is no possible limit to an
| enormity OF an expenditure under this pro-
| viso.
Mr. Speaker, l have made sad expert
| ence in certain investigations on an import
ant local affair which concerned only the
city. Taking the advantage while having
| the right to send for persons and papers, the
| committee issued vouchers to the amount
of several hundred dollars, while all those
persons were residents of the city, and
| within reach of the committee any day.
| Now, gentlemen, this is an ev galnst
| which we have to guard. l ANN 1akin g
here in the interests of the people, whom
| will not allow to be imposed on through
| the means of these resolutions. Now. Mr..
| Speaker, | move that this resolution be laid
| upon the table.
| Mr. Young. of Concordia, said: Mr..
| Speaker. | think we have many more i'm
| portant resolutions than this There have
| been committees to investigate gaslight
| COMPANIES, and city railroads. and other
more important matters. Now, sir, we have
only few days here to legislate, and want
| other committees to have chance tOreport
| If we appoint any more special committees.
| they can not investigate the matter they
are sent for in time for the House to take
action upon, and l hope that no more spe-
cial committees will be appointed. and that
| the members will see the necessity OF act
ing upon my suggestion. and set about that
! which they have been sent here for.
Mr.. Faulkner of CALDWELL think, as the
| gentleman from Concordia, we have but a
| few more days left to transact business, and
as we have SO many measures OF reform,
hope the members will proceed to work FOL
| the interest of the people and the State OF
| Louisiana.
Mr.. Barrett, of Orleans-Mr. Speaker, I
rise to privileged question. l have been
charged with drawing mileage and per
diem as chairman of the Committee on
Charitable and Public Institutions. Now
| l wish to state distinctly that l never drew
ten cent piece. Last year, as chairman
of the Committee on Charitable and Public
Institutions, signed various vouchers fol-
services which certain individuals rendereo
on this committee. The Warrant CLERK
refused to pay these vouchers, and said thai
there was some doubt about the legality OF
the resolution which empowered US to act
We went to the Auditor and he told us the
same thing and refused to pay the vouch-
ers at all. Now, there are a number OF
gentlemen here who have got money, who
want to keep the poorer members of thu
House out of what they have earned. linus
say | do not admire this kind of reform
but will state to the House that they hav,
treated these vouchers as worthless; Some
one has said that the appropriation bill pro
vdes for vouchers. That is not so.
does not provide for the vouchers.
Now, sir, l am not like a number Of mem
bers on this floor. l am not so wealthy
that can pay my own way, and ask thes
gentlemen if they think can discharge M,
duties and pay the expenses out of my OWL
pocket!
1 wish to state also, Mr.. Speaker, nov
that have the floor, see, to the discreet
of certain members, that if they can no
get their bills before the House, they will
not allow any other bills to be brought UP
but cry Il object" or lit is out of order.
They must remember that other member
on this floor have been sent here by a cor
stituency to legislate for their benefit, an
how are we going to do it when these men
bers get up and will not allow us even
have our bills read? Now. | am tired @
this. will tell the members of this Hous
that if they intend to hlibuster, / can fill
buster as fast as they can. If importan
bills come up, am in favor of considerin
all of them, calmly and judiciously. an
vote for or against as the case may be. an
those that vote right or wrong they will