New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-12-20
THE STATE HOUSE.

| ing committees. 1t was read a second time
= and ordered to be laid over. Senator Weber
introduced resolution to investigate
, matter relating to the repeal OF the act au
thorizing the widening Of the New canal
1t was referred to the Committee on Inland
Navigation. Senator Wharton offered a
substitute to the resolution, previously
offered by him, asking for the appointment
Of q special committee to investigate the
alleged illegal issue Of warrants BY the late
Auditor Of Public Accounts. He said
it was charged there had been
an illegal issue Of warrants on
account OF the late election. If com
mittee was appointed now, the matter could
be investigated and report had on Fri
day, to-day. Senator Barber thought the
subject belonged to the Finance Commit
tee, and it was ordered there by the Senate,
Senator Ingraham called for his resolution
authorizing the appointment Of a committee
to investigate the affairs Of the Metropolitan
Police Board, and find out what has become
Of the police fund. He said be was daily
interrogated as to what had become of the
fund for disabled policemen. The fund had
been created for them, and he had been in
formed there was but one person on the
pension roll Of the Metropolitan Police
Board. Senator Wharton called up his
resolution requesting the Governor to order
elections to FIJI vacancies in the Senate occa-
stoned by the expulsion of Senators Camp
bell and McMillen. 1t was referred. The
President Of the Senate announced his ap,
| pointmenS of Senators Wharton and Masi-
cot as members Of the standing committee
on Metropolitan Police.
After Speaker Lowell had called the
House to order yesterday, he announced
the following standing committees for the
extra session:
| On Elections-Adolphe Tureaud, of ST.
| James; Alexander Montaldo, of Orleans;
L. A. Snaer, Of IBERIA T. G. Davidson, of
| Livingston; J. w. Armstead, Of West Fe-
liciana; A. Kenyon, of tberville. and F.
Marie, of Te1rebonne.
| On Judiciary-M Hahn, Of St. Charles;
T. G. Davidson, of Livingston; David
Young, of Concordja; c. j. Greene, of
jackson; G. C. Benham, of Carroll and A.
Dumont, of Orleans.
Mr.. Rodrigues interrogated the Speaker
in regard to the conduct, of the gentle
man from Washington, Mr.. Bckhan.
The Speaker said he knew nothing
Of the meanderings Of members outside Of
the House. He knew that Mr.. Bickham
had been returned by legal authority as a
member Of the House, and sworn in. He
would not give an opinion in supposed cases,
nor did he feel inclined to act in a matter
not properly before the House. Mr.. Rod
rigues then moved that Mr.. BicIlham be re-
quired 10 explain lis position and conduct
in attending the meetings of body styling
itself Legislature, at Lyceum Hall. The
motion was put by the Speaker and carried. |
Mr. Bickham arose and said he had no OBJ
lection to explaining both bis position and
conduct as member of the Legislature.
He said he visited the Lyceum Hall |
Legislature in obedience to a call from one
whom he supposed the Governor Of the
State, and when he had reason to believe
he had made a mistake, he returned to the !
Legislature being held in the State House, |
which he now regards as the legal Legisla- |
ture. He said, although he was a Demo
crat, he had been elected to the Legislature
as an Independent candidate, and did not
come here as party man. He came to do
his duty as a legislator to all parties. His
explanation was declared satisfactory, and
the House proceeded to other business
Mr.. Paris, of Orleans introduced reso-
luton asking for a joint committee to inves-
tigate the conduct of the Mayor and Ad-
ministrators Of this city.
resolution was introduced asking for
a committee to investigate the affairs Of the
North Louisiana Railroad Company. Ano-
tier was introduced, asking for committee
to look after the affairs of the New Orleans,
Mobile and Texas Railroad Company
communication was received from the State
Auditor, in answer to a resolution passed by
the House, asking the Auditor if additional
legislation was necessary to enable State
tax collectors to settle their accounts The
was read by the clerk. 1t
an extension of the time fixed
by. law. House bill No. | was received
from the Senate, with amendments, which
were concurred in by the House. Senate
Joint resolution No. 4, extending the time
or the settlement Of tax collectors with the
Auditor was received, and concnrred in by
,he House. A resolution was introduced,
authorizing the appointment of a com
nittee to investigate the accounts of
ak collectors. Pending the consideration
If a substitute to this resolution the order
# the day was called for, which was the
urther consideration Of the bill to incor-
,orate the Louisiana Central Railroad Com
'anv. Mr.. Heating rose to a privileged
question. He called attention to an article
n one of the city papers in regard to the
ill now before the House That article"
aid Mr., Heating, ''says it is reported that
here is what may be styled a big catch ;
u the bill" He said he was not aware of
ny trick III the bill, nor did he believe the
entlemen who proposed to build the road
rom Vermilionville to Shreveport capa- .
lie OF perpetrating one. They were CAPT
alists Of solid standing, and stood ready to !,
dvance the money to build the road, !,
nd will commence the work. Just as :
con as this bill passes. He did not think !
fair to say that because the Texas road is
OF finished the gentlemen who propose to +.
uild road from VermiionvilIe to Shreve- Il
ort will not do it. Mr.. Heating believed y
lat if this bill passed the Legislature we
-ould soon have railroad connecting this i
ty with Shreveport, and that fact would