New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-02-11
THE WEEKLY REPUBLICAN
Terms of subscriptions
Gre year, f5; SIX months, 81 80.
DEBATES IN THE HOUSE.
Tenth DAVIS Proceedings.

Tenth Days Proceedings.
Mr.. Estilette, in offering the followin
substitute on the funding bill, said: / otfe
this as substitute for section fifteen:
SEC. To- Be it further enacted, etc, Tha
:rom and after the passage of this act an,
until the first day Of December, 1874. ex
.ept the parish of Orleans, which time ehal
extend until the fifteenth day of July, 1874
chat all valid warrants drawn previous t,
the passage Of this act by the respectiv,
Auditors of Public Accounts of the Stat,
ON the Treasurer thereof for the salaries @
the constitutional officers shall be receiya
BILE in payment in full of all taxes licenses
penalties, interest, tax sales, and for the
redemption of tax sales to the amount duo
che State for any year previous to the frs
day of January, 1874 ana all tax collectors
are hereby directed and instructed SO re
seive said warrants as above described il
payment of said taxes, licenses, penalties.
fax sales, interest. and for the redemDtion
Of tax sales; and the Auditor of Public
accounts and Treasurer shall receive said
warrants as above indicated in settlement
Of taxes, and give the same receipts in SET
element for the same as now required by
Jaw.
Though | have arrived here only .h:s
SnOrning, and have had little tiGle to ex-
anime the question now under cunsidera
sion. vet so impres sed am | with its i,.l.
portance would feel recre8nt TO lay duty
were TO refrain from expressing my views.
This bill has for object to Tighten the
burden which, in the shape Of taxation.
has well nigh stitied all energy in orr people
end dispelled all hope of behoidiny this
State resuming its original prosperity
Every effort tending in that direction viii
meet with my assistance. But when We ex.
Srnine carefully the section now cccupvin. !.
our attention we can not but feel some APP
prehension that there turks therein some
thing of that corruption which has unior-
tunately characterized the Legislation Of
Louisiana for several years past.
1t is incumbent upon US to div.st ]. ot
everything which may excite suspicion .:
fraud or jobbery. The amendment pre-
sented by the gentleman from Cahdo to
some extent will purge the section of some
of its Objectionable features, but it goes NOT
far enough. 1t is strongly suspected that
warrants have been issued to officers of the
State government in contravention of law,
and much speculation has been INDUCED
therein in view of the passage Of this bill
IL il, therefore, ofimportance that such war
rants should be subjected to n close exam.
nation, and this could only be done by the
board you have appointed by this bin 20
issue bonds. lfyOu were to make them le
ceivable for taxes, the collectors would he
without the means of knowing those whicl,
i
would have the amendment so drawn that
only warrants issued for salaries of officers
would be receivable for taxes This would
exclude all possibility Of paying into the
treasury of the State fraudulent warrants
and would go great way in putting an end
TO that speculation in the warrants of the
State which has been so detrimental to its
credit and fair name. hold in my hand II
substitute for the amendment, bat as the
Chair rules it out of order must abide ~
- decision.
Mr.. Murrell, Of Madison-The great in.
portance of this bill to the people of Louis
lana demands of this assembly a careful
consideration of all its points. and the ner.
its and dement's of each section and esc', !
line in the bill should be scrutiaizpd with !
The greatest of care. 1t is well known, Mr.. !
Speaker. to every member on this foor that !
The State is III great distress, and that help |
must come TO her through the action Of her |
representatives at this session. Mr.. |
Speaker, we should be certain that what |
ever means we adopt for her relief should |
I've a relief, and not trick for capital to |
make more money at the expense Of the
credit of Louisiana. We should also be |
certain that the means We adopt are the |
very best and wisest that could be pro-
Guced.
Mr. Speaker, There are millions of dol
lars Of the debt recorded against the Sta to
of Louisiana that are frauds, and ! think
that the payment of the bonds issued in
a fraudulent manner should be refused.
and the bonds issued in that manner shon!d
be repudiated. And Sit. before passing
this Important bill. some of the older and
wiser members OF this body who are posted
IN the matter and who know the dates OF
The issue of bonds that this State should
fepudlate, should sir, / say, one of the
wise and well posted members should make
sucn alteration or amendment 10 this bill,
- will specify that the consolidated bonds
would not be exchanged for bonds issued
at such and such dates. Bat that the legi-
innate debts of the State should he paid in
full.
Mr. Speaker, for one look after ,he in-
Ferests ol my constituents, and do not wish
them 10 have IT to say that | allowed al
10 pass whe -ein ] could be OF
interest 10 them without taking ADVANTAGE
hereof. Now, sir, ii any gentleman On
his floor will introduce such an amend
nent he can rely upon my assistance. sir
would make the amendment myself if |
lad the dates: but. sir. there are gentlemen
ere who know, and | call upon them.
yhils doing good thing, TO do il good. and
ot half way. | am Ill favor of the bill,
ir, but l wish it to be perfect when we do
dopt it.
Now. Mr.. Speaker, there is but one more |
ioint that | wish 10 call your attention to- !
nd do not propose TO expatiate upon the |
anne, but put it out for what il is worth,
ud hepe it will be explained in a sstistac-
Dry manner to all, and that is, that there is j
discrepancy in the Auditors and Urea
urer's accounts amounting TO : and ,
$ they are on the committee that are 10
rrange for the exchange .0f these bonds,
light they not IN AXE a. great differences In
ieir reports there? And furthermore, | | :
link ttis matter of - should be
titled 10 the satisfaction OF this body be-
re the Auditor ;s placedtupoa that com s