New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-02-25
DEBATES IN THE HOUSE.

DEBATES IN THE HOUSE.
| MONDAY. February 10. 1872.
The State House bill being under consid
Grafton in COMMITTEE of the Whole, an
upon a motion to recommend to the Hous
the indefinite pOstpOnement Of the bill, MI
Matthews spoke as follows:
Mr.. Speaker and Gentlemen-I favor tn
motion made by the'gentleman from St
Tammany, to recommend the indefinite
pOstponement of the bill, for these reasons
In the first place, consider the bill one
| the most monstrous frauds ever brought be
| fore the Legislature of this or any Othe
| State. and unworthy of the supper
of any Republican who desires econ
omy in the administration of the State
| government. and who tavOrs the reduction
| Of our taxes. Now let us look into this
| bill, and see what it contains. In the first
| place, it goes on to indorse act No. 81
of the session of 1871, to create a State
House commission, and to provide means to
build a State House. Now, Mr.. Speaker, !
as the constitutional amendment limiting
the State debt debars that act
from gong into effect, and bill
has already been introduced into this
House repeating said act | hope the
bill will be passed and moulded into law,
and the new. State House business swept
ont OF existence for the present and until
our finances are in better condition. The
first section of this bill goes ON and allows
this State House commission to exchange
any real property, rights, ways. privileges
or franchises, or incomes derived therefrOm,
belonging to the State. situated in the par
ishes Of Orleans. Jefferson and ST. Bernard,
for the lands that the State House
commission selects and the same
section directs them to select a portion of
land situated in the Sixth District, and
known as the Foucher property. Now,
wish to state right here that the gentlemen
who owns this Foucher property bought it
some four or five months ago for 100000,
and since they purchased it they have sold
a portion of it for city park, and realized
more than they originally paid for the
whole property, and now they want the
State to pay them several hundred thou
sand dollars for a few acres upon which
to build a State House. and these
same gentlemen in the end will realize
nearly a million of dollars for their
100000 purchase money. Now, sir, l
am opposed to allowing the State to become
u party in any such transaction. In the
same section the bill goes on and assesses a
tax of two mills Oh the dollar on all the real
and personal property in the State for Pc
riod of ten years. which is to be exclusively
used for the building of a State House and
the purchase of grounds. Now, fair esti-
mate of this tax for the ten years would
certainly realize upward of S5,O000O0;
and. gentlemen, are you going to allow
S5,o0O,OO0 of the peoples money TO be in
vested in such manner9 You all
know that the people can not
afford such an extravaganza. Our
people are too much embarrassed
and too poor to stand such tax as this bill
levies for such purpose. The friends of
the bill have shown me'a plan of the build
ing which they propose to erect for State
House. 1t is YER, beautiful design. but |
venture to say that such a building could
he erected for considerable less than
5 900, 600. HAnd now, what do they propose
to do with the balance of the money! Their
plan is to issue an immense number Of
bonds. and this money is to be consumed in
paying the principal and interest of the
bonds, and other divers ways that will !
never benefit the State. They also propose
20 exchange the property of the State for |
his land, to be redeemed at some future |
lay at valuation to be fixed by the commits |
,iOners. l have been told by good authority |
hat the property of the State, and the fran |
,hises and incomes they anticipate eXchang- /
ng for the State House grounds, amount to |
several millions Of dollars. 1t will take in !
he revenues of the new canal and the lot |
cry company and other revenues of like |
manner, ana am surprised that gentlemen |
lpOn this floor who represent large Repub- |
lean constituencies. and who profess to he |
UGH good Republicans, and " no have the in |
crest of the State in view, can support such |
measure, so open to fraud, SO huge in its |
and so dangerous to the financial
interests of the State. l am surprised that |
hese gentlemen from Caldwell and Orleans,
Who are State House commissioners, should |
re the most active members in supporting
his bill.
now wish to call your attention, gentle |
len. to printed circular order from the
auditor of State to the tax collectors
throughout the State, levying the tax for
be year 1872. He goes oH and levies the
Ak as follows: General fund tax. four
nils; school tax. two mills: interest tax,
tx and half mills; levee tax interest, one
nd half mills; special levee tax, two and
half mills: levee construction tax fund,
wo mills: levee repair fund, two mills.
,rming in the aggregate twenty and a half
Hills on the dollar. Now, gentlemen, with
nat assessment of tax staring you in the
zee, can yyon go on and levy ID two-mill tax
.ore for the purpose of building palace
.r a State House! Some OF the friends |
! this bill claim that reform bills
g going to be passed TO cut
lwn the taxes. Now. claim that the taxes
AinOt be cut down but a very little, per-
Us one or two mills. Looking over the
k:ssment you will see that the school tax
awo mills we cannot cut down, for we all
apocate free schools: then comes the in
III It tax fund, which amounts in all to ten
n. half mills-that we cannot cut down
obs we repudiate the just obligations Of
any tate, ana am sure that no man wants
that; then we have the four mills
ason tax, which is important to all the
me-, of the State, especially to the people [
from in the overtiOwed section of the State,
wayfis tax is authorized already by law,
stone tax must be paid; that forms an ag- ]
a al of sixteen and halt mills
lage, we cannot well get around. $
I'd 70 fund tax which can be cut {
as cat these reform bills are passed that t
"a thagiDg in the Senate. But | undar t
,at the friends of this bill call this
oY bill. In the name of God where a
ave alweterm sections in the bill. l have T
ind them. On the contrary, it is
ldge of ite Do you call it reform by in t
The taxes two mills, and by rob- | t
III be: State! For if you do pass this d
t Judge II be robbery of the State.
0 reform in it; it is a dangerous ! u
hose ideireform. Now, suppose the re- f
When tn do pass-which l hope they 8
tax fund can not be cut n
lrds asked than two mills at the farthest. fl
lnishmenh pass this bill. you raise it two
ad c0m-by keeping the taxes twenty fl
the laws, lills on the dollar. SO you see,
but If wehat it is impossible to reduce f,
'rsons are 'ou pass this bill, but if yOu do n
for viola We NAV be abe to reduce the | "
~ by day Ills. Now, gentlemen. ven n
1t is i'm 1T almost every Republican in t.
even for len he was before his constit- W
hat posi-, campaign. advocated the re- ii
,hment of les. and promised TO use his if