New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-02-13

- = CAs "iinS was iHteuucu ds any tHluS
personal against Lieutenant Governor
Dunn, he Mr.. Spyher), would not support it.
Mr. Campbell replied that it was not, and
cited the precedent of the United States
Senate. He (Mr. Sypher), thought then it
was better for the President to appoint the
committees, and the longer the session
lasted the more he was convinced of it.
MIR. Hunsaker-I was one Of those who
voted for the election of committees, but the
able speeches of my friend from Ouachita,
MIR. RAY, my colleague (Mr. Sypher), and
the gentleman from Jefferson (Nlr. Smith),
have convinced Ihe 1 was wrong. Laugh
with their views.
Mr.. Coupland (who was, also, almost in
audible in consequence of the prevailing
buzz. said he was certainly in favor OF the
amendment. He voted last year in favor OF
retaining the appointing power III the char
Those who voted otherwise, and now
changed their votes, reflected on the abilIty
of the late Lieutenant Governor Dunn, or
his honesty, or influence.
Mr.. Campbell think there have been
more words wasted on this subject than its
importance demands. Iregard the question
OF determining how committees shall De
chosen as within the power of this body IT.
self. If, to-day, Ithink it expedient to APP
point the committees. will vote to appoint
them if, to-lAarrOw, think it expedlent to
elect committees, l will vote to elect them
Last session l believed that wing to which
Lieutenant Governor Dunn belonged had
entered into an alliance with mischlevous,
fanatical set of men. who would drive lis TO
destruction, and felt | would rather en-
trust the appointment of these committees
to the Senate than to him, and III that opin-
ion l was joined by fifteen out OF twenty
nine Republicans.
Mr. Swords said he was satisfied he was
wrong in his vote last year, and therefore he
SHOULD vote to appoint the committees IN
future.
Mr. Blackman remarked that he agreed
with the Senator from the second district
(Mr. Cambellj, that it was in the power OF
the majority of the Senate to do almost any
thing, nd.they had done almost anything
MIR. McMillen suggested to strike out the
words "at the beginning of each session"
and let us have this thing over again every
year. The Senate might want 10 change
back again next year. There was gong to
be an election next fall, and perhaps there
would be new Lieutenant Governor.
Mr.. Ingraham-Oh, no, we will put the
Lieutenant Governor back.
The motion was carried.
Mr. Ray moved to change rule forty nine
SO as to require unanimous consent to
change the order of business, instead OF a
two-thirds vote as heretofore.
Mr. McMillen-If this change Is adopted
a single member can thwart the wishes OF
will of the Senate at any time. l do not
believe proposition of this kind very wise
or very desirable, because these are tunes
when, in consequence of the pressure OF
business and the short time left in which to
enact laws. it is necessary to call up bills
out of their regular order. If we adopt this
proposition we place it in the power OF a
single member to thwart thirty-twQ, Sen
ators. I-believe it is impolitic to place so
great power in the hands of any one
Senator. /, therefore, hope the amendment
will not prevail.
Mr.. RAY will state my reasons Tor pro-
posing this change. 1t is predcated on the
experience Of the Senate. at the last session
more particularly. think state correctly
that the order of business sas not pur-
sued but one single day in the entire ses-
sion of sixty days. l mean that when the
order of the day was called the business was
taken up out of its order. The consequence
was that bills that affected the interests Of
individuals were always taken up in prefer
ence to bills of a general chararter III which
the State had an interest. Bills to amend
the registration and election laws intro
duced by me were thrown over, and bills
with personal interest were passed in
preference. because two-thrds of the Senate
could always be obtained to take up bills in
which special interests were involved. 1t
we adopt this amendment, when we come to
the order Of the day every bill will be taken
I'D in its turn. If this is not adopted and
adhered to, the majority may postpone it to
another day. appeal to Senators, if they
are really in favor of reform, TO accept this
amendment. If they do not they will
find the same thing occurring this ses
81 loo ba I'm. wi mot
be pursued single day during the whole
session. What want is that these bills of
great public interest. which were defeated
last session should have fair chance this
term. Senators could not do an act which
will 90 further to defeat these measures
than to oppose the amendment which now
introduce, and can not but believe that
those who now vote to continue the order
of things which prevailed last session are
against reform. We shall do twice the bus
mess if we adhere strictly to the order of
business, and tell those Senators who are in
favor of reform measures that if they viii
adopt this amendment we shall be certain
to get those measures up, for they have an
early place on the calendar, and if this
amendment is not adopted the same mode
of staving off these measures which was
adopted last session will be successful this.
When a bill is taken up majority can al
L
amendment to compel the Senate 10 act
upon bill when taken up.
Mr.. Hunsaker-The argument OF the
gentlemen fails altogether; the rules of the
Senate can at any time be suspended by a
two-thirds vote, and it is absurd to make
rule requiring unanimous vote to do a thing
when two-thirds of the Senate can at any
time suspend the whole rules.
Mr.. O'Hara-The only reason why am in
r. IL. Il -l,nr
each Senator chance. We all introduce
our bills, and if we allow the business to
take the regular order, sooner or later, we
are certain to reach them as the Senator
from Ouacllta Mr.. Ray) very properly says,
when bill comes up in its regular order,
motion to lay it on the table or postpone it
is easily carried, and we gain more time by
this than the other system.
Mr.. Hunsaker moved to lay the amend
ment on the table.
Sixteen yeas, seventeen nays-the amend
ment was not tabled.
On the motion to adopt, Mr.. Campbell
moved to adjourn.
Seven yeas to twenty-seven nays-the
Senate refused to adjourn.
The amendment was adopted by seven
teen yeas to sixteen nays.
Mr.. McMillen desired to change lis vote
from nay to yea.
Mr.. Antoine objected to the Senator
changing his vote after the vote had been
announced.
The Chair ruled the point not well taken,
as the Chair had not announced the vote.
Mr.. Hunsaker and other Senators changed
their votes, and the rule was declared
adopted by nineteen yeas to fourteen nays.
THE STATE HOUSE
On the appropriation bill being called ut.
Mr.. Campbell objected to the provlso
authorizing the Mechanics Institute to be
used for party conventions. He objected TO