New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-02-21

offices, it would not. of course, cover his
case, and his appointment as supervisor
could not be prevented. For that reason I
favor the adoption of the section as it
stands. and 1 think it will give more salts
faction to the people throughout the couit
try than the amendment offered by the
gentleman (Mr. Harris). l do not see any
necessity for the supervisors OF registration
having ANYTHING to do with the officers of
election. / want them placed entirely and
distinctly apart.
to the arguments which nay oeen maae on
this point, and AVE arrived at the conciu-
sion that the section should stand in its
original state. l think there is just as much
danger to be ~apprehended from the appoint
ment of parish officers as supervisors OF re
gistratiOn as the appointment of State Off
GERS. In my W parish am satisfied that
we can get a perfectly competent supervisor
of registration, who has not heid an once
for the last twelve months, and perhaps
never held one. There is a little knot OF
men in my parish who appropriate all the
offices to themselves. One man holds five
offices, and he will certainly be an applicant
for the Office of supervisor if a prOhibitOry
clause is not inserted in this bill. l am con-
fident there are plenty of men in every par
ish of the State who would be competent,
under this provision, to fill the office of
supervisor. The object is to get a registrar
who has not meddled IN the political affairs
of the State, and who Will be perfectly fair
and impartial in the discharge of his duties.
This is a very valuable provision, and l
would dislike very much to see it stricken
from the bill. In order to test the sense of
the Senate on the subject, l move to lay the
motion of the Senator from West Baton
Rouge tMr. Gallup on the table.
The Senate refused to table.
MIR. Blackman-If this clause is stricken
out, what would prevent any member from
resigning as soon as this session is over
and becoming a supervisor of registration !
| am willing to except parish officers. from
State nor district officers nor members of
the General Assembly. l otter that amend
ment.
Mr.. McMillen-I am in favor of the en-
actment of fair, just and properlaws, couched
in such plain English that they will not
admit of misconstruction. l do not believe
it possible for legislatures to guard thor
oughly against the abuse of wholesome
laws. We must look with some degree of
confidence to the persons who are charged
with the execution of the laws and to a
healthy public sentiment to see that those
officers discharge their duties properly. l
do not think it possible for US to frame this
law in such q name as to absolutely pre-
vent its abuse if tie persons entrusted with
its execution see proper to abuse 1t. l think
the proposition Of the Senator from West
Baton Rouge lMr. Gallup, as amended,
will be amply sufficient to secure proper
persons as supervisors Of registration
in the different parishes of the State.
| | think some discretion should be left with
| the appointing powers. l do not believe
| that any person in whom this appointing
power is lodged would feel at liberty to ap-
| point as supervisor any one who is now a
-.4,-Ion ~ %ho Ga.ano1 Aconn,b1r don't
believe that public opinion would tolerate
such an act, nor do l think it probable, not
to say possible, that any member of the
General Assembly would SO far outrage
public opinion as to resign his seat when
we shall have finished our legislative Ia
bors here and accept an appointment as
registrar. look upon the present state OF
feeling of the people of the State as the
best possible guard against the preparation
of any election frauds. Therefore, l see no
improperly in the adoption of the motion
of Senator Gallup as amended. The bill
will then expressly provide that no State
officer, nor any member of the General As
sembly, shall be appointed as supervisor OF
registration. and | do not see any necessity
for the adoption of more stringent pr0vls-
ions. 1t is as plain as the English language
can make it; it expresses the intention OF
the General Assembly fairly and clearly.
and l do not believe that any one charged
with its execution would violate or miscOn-
strue it,.
Mr.. Harris-I am opposed to the amend
ment of the senator from Claiborne (Mr.
Blackmanl for this reason: In the section
of country | represent there are very few
Republicans who are competent to I'LL the
position OF supervisor. Ii the amendment
of senator B~lackman is adopted L do not
believe there could be found in my parish a
single man belonging to my party VINO
would be capable Of filing the position I'M
Ger this provision.
Mr.. Thompson-Have a Warmoth Demo-
crat appointed.
parish. We are all moral and decent and
honest people.
The amendment Of Senator BIackman
was laid upon the table.
Mr.. Barber offered a substitute TO the
amendment of Mr.. Gallup. providing that
no State or municipal officer should be-
eligible to the position of supervisor.
MIR. Barber in the chair
Mr.. Pinchback-l understood the gentle
man from Carroll mr.. McMil!en) to intro.
duce his amendment as a compromise. and
to state that he was in favor of any person
holding the position of supervisor, even II
they had held an office within a year prior
to the election. The proposition OF the
Senator from Orleans (Mr. Barberl is not
to prevent a man who may have possibly
held an office within twelve months prior
to the election from acting as a supervisor
of registration. but to prevent any man
who holds an office at the time of the elec
ton from doing SO. If you propose TIC
make State officers and members OF the
Legislature ineligible, | would like to know
by what rule of ethics you should make
other ofice-holders eligible! All over the
State there are number of gentlemen who
hold a ,lIrralIrU of offices IL Won are
guided by the newspapers, YOU will be
lieve that | hold two or three. Persons
NAV hold five or six offices each, and yet
under this amendment, they will be eli
gible to the office OF supervisor simply
because they are not SO unfortunate
as to be members of the General Assembly
or State officers. If you desire to strike a
the root Of this evil, you must make inelegi
bic to the position OF supervisor, any person
who, at the time of the election, holds am
Office. whether it be legislative, municipal
parochial or State office. | do not bellev'
in making a man ineligible simply because
he NAV have held an office within a yea
previous to the election. If you propose t.
make men who happen to live in the coun
try eligible to any and every office, L shall
insist upon the same privilege for thos'
who do not live in the country, and VIII
are not parochial officers. l am in favor o
laying all the amendments upon the table
Mr.. Blackman moved to table all tn
amendments. Carried.
Mr.. Hunsaker asked if a person holding
the position Of supervisor at present, coul'
be appointed supervisor at the next cleo
ton. He thought the position of supervise
was an office, and under the provision n
such person could be appointed.
t Mr.. Ingraham-They can be r%eappolnte'
if they have not held Office within a yea