New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-02-16

pdlSu, LnlS very OemOcrdtlC party cOiucs
forth in the name of the people and de-
mands from the Legislature OF this State
the repeal of this law, or its modification, so
as to give the Democracy chance to play
| their old game of violence in the elections
next fall.
When Senator Blackman has the hardi-
hood to stand up in the Senate and tell
Republican Senators that if they do not
change the election law to suit the De-
| mocracy, the people will have fair cleo
ton, if it has to be secured by violence, it
is not astonishing that Republican Senators
should remind him that this law was
| passed for the very purpose of securing
fair elections; that Democratic violence
had created the necessity for the law.
The people need not be astonished. then,
to find such Republicans as Senators Camp
bell and Pinchback standing up in the SEN
ate and manfully contending for the rights
of the people secured by law. If the cleo
ton law has features in it that are cal
culated to defeat fair election, it is to be
hoped tie fair minded men of the Legisla-
ture, without regard to party, will combine
and make the law as perfect as human wis
dom can for that purpose. But this can not
be done, We fear, by men of Senator Black
mans fiery temperament in the Legislature
His speech yesterday was well calculated
to arouse the political feelings of Senators
opposed to him in politics; was well intended
to delay the passage of such laws as are
needed to bring about such reforms as will
rebound to the public interest and defeat
all chance of party success by unfair means.
If other Democratic Senators were dis
posed to follow Senator Blackmans course
the election bill might drag along for sew
eral days to come, in political fight that
would not tend to brighten the chances for
reform.
Considering that so much of the present
session has already been uselessly con-
sumed. it is to be regretted that violent
political discussion now threatens more
delay in the work of legislation. In cOnse-
quence of this the act to amend the election
law still hangs fire in the Senate. and it is
but right to place the fault where it properly
belongs-on Democratic shoulders.
In the House, political discussions, thus
far, have not seriously delayed the work of
legislation.
Yesterday. directly after the adoption of
the journal, Mr.. Bentley asked the unani-
nous consent of the House to take up House
bill No. 2S6. This being refused, he moved
for suspension of the rules in order to
l. ~. 1 I
by two-thrds vote. He then moved that
me House refuse to accept the Senate
amendments to the bill, and that the
Speaker appoint committee of FIVE from
the House to confer with a Senate commit
tee to be appointed for a similar purpose.
This motion was adopted, and Speaker
Brewster appointed Messrs. Bentley, Muir
ray. Ringgold. Stamps and Peter Harper to
be said committee.
As the amendments of the Senate to this
bill defeat its object. the conference com
mittee is necessary. The bill is for the sup
port of the public schools in New Orleans.
and, unless that support is provided for,
the schools will have to close. The bill, as
it passed the House, authorized the assess
ment and collection of ii tax of fve-six-
teenthS of one per cent on city property.
This was barely sufficient to answer the
purpose for the present scholastic year and
pay Indebtedness contracted last year 1t
cost Si32,090 to run the public schools in
New Orleans last year. The tax OF tive-six
teenths of q3e per cent, it is estimated. will,
yyb adj Tod m TAFT
yield $3.50. GOO a debt OF $l500O0 due on
last years expenses of the public schools in
the city has to be paid out of the SlS0.000,
which leaves but $500 to meet expendi-
lures that must reach at least $4,000. #
Will. therefore. he seen that the tax of
1iye-siXteciths OF one per cent was not sutfi
cient to meet the present requirements, and
yet when the bill went to the Senate the
fve-sixtetnths OF one per cent was changed
to one-siXteenth of one per cent. The change
will totally defeat the object of the bill.
unless it can be reversed. and the three
hundred and ninety-two teachers now em
ployed in the public schools Of our city will
be left without employment, and the twenty
thousand children enrolled in the public
schools deprived Of the advantages of pub
lie education. This must not be: and in
order that our city schools may go ahead
the Legislature should not fail to authorize
a sufficient tax to defray their expenses.
The Judiciary Committee, through its
chairman, Mr.. Davidson, recommended in
a report the repeal of the constabulary law
After the reading OF the report Mr.. David
son moved a suspension of the rules, IN
order that the bill be passed at once. The
rules were suspended and the bill passed its
final reading in the House, and was ordered
to be sent to the Senate.
Mr.. Devices asked suspension of the
rules IN order to take up the Senate apprO
priation bill. His motion was agreed to,
and the bill was considered section by sec
ton, and finally passed, with some changes,
the most material of which was increasing
the amount appropriated to pay the ex-
penses Of the General Assembly to two
hundred thousand dollars. 1t goes back to
the Senate for concurrence in the House
amendments.
The House then adjourned I'm til twelve
o'clock to-day.
When a newspaper becomes so deprayed
as to tear to pieces an old conductor ad-