New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-03-08

ple believe can best serve their interests
| in doing So
Reporter-I don't see how a man holding
such sentiments could, under any circum-
stances, become a Radical candidate. Am
right in my suppOsition!
| Warmoth-H, under any circumstances.
l consent to become candidate for re-elec-
ton, it would only be as reformer, on the
reform platform. l consider all of the
great political questions growing out of the
| war settled. Reconstruction, the national
debt, negro suffrage right to hold office,
and civil and political equality is conceded
| by all classes, and will improve and progress
as time and educational advancement is
| made. What is now wanted is return of
| good feeling among the people; reform in
our laws. which bear too heavily on the
taxpayer; reduction of the expenses of
the national and State governments, and
| the active participation of the best men, the
| most efficient men, in the administration OF
the government. If this can not be brought
about, do not desire to be candidate for
| any office, and will not be.
| Reporter-Let me understand you little
more clearly, Governor. do you identity
the Radical party with the Reform party!
| WarmOth-By no means; but regard
great many gentlemen in that organization
as sincerely and honestly in favor OF re-
| form. confess there are some, as there are
in every party, who see only their own self
| ish interests, and sink every other consider
| alton beneath them.
Reporter-Do you think these honest men
you speak of will join you in the projected
| reform movement!
| Warmoth-I have no doubt they would:
| know that many OF them would
REFORMS THE LEGISLATURE DID ACCOMPLISH.
Reporter-But to come back to the original
<1,n
the manner in which the people of Louisiana
believe themselves to have been deceived.
You certainly had great influence over the
Legislature, if not controlling one. You
undoubtedly committed yourself to the peO-
pie of the State to the proposed reform
measures. What did your friends in the
Legislature do toward carrying out your
pledges: that is' what want to know, ex
plicitly, in full detail.
WarmOth-Well, that will take some time
and consideration.
Reporter-That don't matter, so far as
am concerned. The Times never spares
either time or means when in pursuit of an
object: and, besides, it is my duty to afford
you an opportunity in tie way Of explana
ton, which l am gratified to do.
Warmotl occasionally referring to papers
hrOughOut)-They have a great deal to
show. In the first place, not single act
which is Objectionable to anybody. But
two or three have been signed by me, and
| am sure no fault has been or can be found
to them. The other bills passed during the
session are either now on my table, await
ing my action, or in the hands of the En-
rollment Committee and will soon be given
to me, and can not Become laws without
my signature until the first of next session.
when | will veto those Objectionable. In
~ na$ has
limiting the mileage and per diem and con-
tingent expenses of the members of both
houses of the General Assembly, by which
100000 per annumMill pay the whole ex-
penses, instead of $685., 900, as cost the last
session.
The revenue law is to be amended so as
to save at least $50, 900 i'll the assessment
and collection of the revenue.
The license law is SO amended that saw
ing of Sl5O,000 per annum is saved to the
people, and all manufacturers and mechan
les are exempted from paying licenses.
The printing law is 50 amended that the
State Printer is elected annually by the
General Assembly; the price is reduced: the
city printing is RENTED to the city, and the
judicial printing to the courts; and $4,000
per annum is saved to the State. The publ
cation of the laws and journals in country
papers is saved entirely.
debtedness to $50, 900 900, and provides for
the funding of the whole of the city's in
debtedness in one class OF bonds. This
measure was approved by the citizens
committee and the City Administrators, and
generally by our banks.
The State funding bill is to the State as
good as the city bill is to the city.
The most important notifications to the
election law were made. The commits
,fa la inf cd hy-<h a
police jury. The polling places are fixed
by the police iuries, and can not be changed
until six months previous notice is given.
The ballots are to be counted Immediately
on the closing of the polls and on the spot
and public proclamation is there made
Of the result.
The registration law requires that the
supervisor of registration shall have been
resident of the parish to which be is APP
pointed for twelve months prior to the cleo
ton.
The Auditors fees, estimated at from
$4,000 to $4,000 per annum, are to be
hereafter applied to the payment of the
interest and principal of our bonded debt.
Besides, on a square vote, and at my in
stance, being on the floor of the House at
the time, the amendment to the apprOpria-
ton bill OF 1926 900. to pay the vouchers is
sued by George w. Carter for extra COM
sion of 1871, was reconsidered after it had
been adopted and was rejected and laid on
the table
The general appropriation bill is smaller
in amount than any passed by any session
of the General Assembly for the past ten
years by several hundred thousand dollars.
Such have been the reforms that say with
out hesitation that our warrants will be
worth par in six months, and our bonds
t,ran fr HOW, t1,nx- 70,
day in the markets Of the country
REFORMS THE LEGISLATURE DID NOT ACCOM-
PLISH.
Reporter-But these do not include all
the proposed measures for reform. There is
the Metropolitan Police bill. How about
that ini9uity! None bill was passed.
Warmoth-Equally opposed with your
selves to the law, my efforts to secure its
repeal have been entirely frustrated. have
no influence in the case. made all attempt
last year and failed. | made another this
year with the same result. The cOlOred
in the House were all opposed to
the new bill, and no argument served to
have any effect to change them. Senator
Ingraham and Administrator Lewis were
active in defeating it. 1t was not in my
power to secure its enactment.
Reporter-Then there was another excel
lent reform measure to which no honest
man could conscentiously object-the
bribery bill-that DID not pass. How do
you explain that,
W armoth-It passed the Senate, but the
Chief Clerk of the House. on the day after
the adjournment, informed me that the bill
was stolen by somebody and could not be
found. Speaker Brewster informed me that
Senator Ray advised against the passage
after it had reached the House. Ii was not
my fault that both these measures did not
pass. did everything in my power to Sc
cure the favorable action of the LEGISLATURE.