New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-02-09

After short and desultory debate on
point of order, the Senate adjourned.
WEDNESDAY, January 81, 1872.


WEDNESDAY, January 81, 1877.
INCORPORATION OF THE TOWN OF COUsHAITA
The bill providing for the incorporation
of the town of Coushatta being under con
sideration, and having been considered en-
crossed, Mr.. Blackman said:
l see that the officers to be appointed
under this bill are to remain in office untli
1874. think the people should be allowed
to elect their officers at the next gen
eral election. The Mayor and selectmen 10
disappointed will have the right to assess
and collect taxes, and il is nothing but
common justice that the people should oe
allowed to have a voice IN the matter, -, !
now move that the vote by which the OIL
was considered engrOssed be reconsldefeu'
Mr., Twitchell-This bill will hardly re-
ceive the signature of the Governor and
the officers appointed before the next cleo
ton. Another fact must be taken into con-
sideration. In almost every small town IN
the State of Louisiana, there are many
people who are indirectly opposed to ma
terial progress. The gentlemen who have
invested their capital in that town are en-
gagged in building up towns and villages on
Red river with great rapidity, and they
naturally desire that changes shall not be
made TOO frequently. With all due defer
ence to the gentleman from Claiborne lMr.
Blackman), think l understand this mat
ter, which concerns my own district only,
as well, if not better, than he does.
Mr.. Lewis-I would be willing to leave
this matter to Senator Twitchell. from the
fact that he lives among the people who are
interested in the measure, and is supposed
to know their desires and needs, were 1t not
for the fact that cannot conceive why any
Senator should object to his constituents
selecting their own municipal officers. l do
not know what the motives of the gentle
man are, but this action seems very strange
to me. The gentleman speaks OF certain
rich men who are interested in this matter.
| hold that every man, however poor he
may be, is interested in the municipal gov
eminent of the town he lives in. l want
the people to select their municipal officers
at the first election after the passage of the
bill. They may have tOisted upon them, by
the appointment of the Governor, men
them, and, under this bill, they would have
no remedy until the election in 1874. In
reference to wealthy men building up this
town, think that if the commerce OF a
town does not build it up, nothing else will.
l hope, in Justice to the people Interested,
that the Senate will strike out the clause
providing that the officers appointed shall
hold their places until 1874, and insert in its
stead provision that they shall elect their
officers at the first general election here
after. l second the motion OF Senator
Blackman to reconsider the vote by which
the bill was considered engrOssed.
The vote was recOnsidered.
The amendment suggested by Senator
Blackman was adopted, and the bill finally
passed.
RELIEF OF j. OSBORN.
House bill No. 800, for the relief of J. Os
bonn. being under consideration
Mr.. Gallup said: This gentleman, Mr.. o.
born. must be very unlucky man, as he
has lost some warrants previously.
Mr. O'Hara said there was no doubt Mr..
Osborn had lost his warrants, but he would
not vote for the bill until he was satisfied
that the State would not have to pay them
twice.
Mr. Butler said the payment of the war
rants had been stopped by al advertise
ment.
Mr.. Ray-Is there satisfactory evidence
that they have not been paid already!
Mr.. BUTTERFLIES.
Mr.. kelso said he had gone to the offices
of the Auditor and Treasurer and notified
them that the warrants had been lost.
Mr. Ray proposed that MIR. Osborn should
be required to execute a bond in favor of
the State, conditioned that the original
warrants should not be presented for pay
ment; or, if presented, should be satisfied
by him. This would secure the State
against any loss which might be incurred
by the warrants getting into the hands Of
bona ,fde holders.
The amendment was adopted and the bill
finally passed.
The Senate adjourned.