The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-04-28
LEGISLATIVE MONOPOLIEs.

A prominent feature of legislation, by the
Republican party III Louisiana, has been the
creation of the most gigantic monopolles
carpet-baggers who infest the State, we
find, from the date of their possession Of the
Government, innumerable rings organized
for the purpose of securing special legisla-
ton that might intlre to the fortunate few
individuals whose political influence en-
abled them to control the Legislature.
To crafty the avarice and cupidity OF
these blood suckers Of the body polite.
charters were granted them for organizing
companies with special and exclusive prl-
vileges. From such corporations large pro-
fits have been realized by the incorporators
and stockholders, and at the time of their
early organization they were powerful en-
gines used for directing and controlling le1is-
lation. The votes of members were bought
by the liberal issue to item oT stock fire.
nuently before an organization had been
effected or even the act of incorporation
passed.
The continued existence of these monpo-
lies is highly detrimental to the general
interests of trade, and seriously interferes
with the undoubted rights of the citizens.
Some of them, too, are 50 infamous ana
| garin.iy outrageous in their character that
we are surprised at the tameness with which
the people have submitted to them.
Take for instance the printing law. Tn
"A = IL, ,.it,
judicial printing Of the parish, is required
to be inserted in the columns Of the Repub-
Hcdn, at rates established by the act
Here then, is most unjust and arbitrary
law. 1t compels the people of this city to
support and make rich a newspaper that is
despised by nne-tenths OF the community.
But for this forced patronage, that journal
could not exist ten days, and there would
be an end to the abuse and misrcpresenta
tions of our people, that daily fill its
columns. But it is the only organ of the Re
publican party, and it must be fostered and
made to prosper coute q,se coute. The viola
ton Of personal rights, the encroachment |
upon long established usages and the mani
fest injustice to the press Of the city, which |
this remarkable law perpetrates, are argu
mcnts without force to those who were its
authors and are now its benefcaries. Other
monopolies exist which, whilst not often
sive in a political point of view, are equally
unjust to the interests of trade and violative
of the rights of the people. All of them,
however, owe their origin To "A corrupt Leg
= H.
means by the incorporators, to secure the con
of their respective pet schemes.
And whilst most Of these monOpolistic COM
panes have passed into other hands than
those of TIE original incorporators. and we
see some Of our Oldest and best citizens now
deriving the rich revenues from them, they
are none the less, from this fact, Invested Of
that odum which naturally and reasonably
attaches to such institutions.
Those of our citizens who have SO far for
gotten their duty to their own people as to
embark in such questionable enterprises as
were conceived in fraud and accomplished
throug the most reprehensible practices, by
the original parties to them, can claim no
from our censure. The Louisiana
Lottery Company, the Slaughter House Com
pany, the Levee Company, the Mexican Gulf
Canal Company, and the Sanitary EXcaya- I
ing Company, are all, in the iull sense Of !
he word, dangerous monopolics that would !
lever have had an existence but for a venal $
md corrupt Republican Legislature. {
Aud our people, far less from counte- !
lancing and maintaining corporations of l
uch doubtful character, should be found ar !
aged against and opposed to their existence t
nd operation. When we find our own d
'eople true to themselves, then, and not /
ntil then, may we hope for redemption f
rom the shares that beset us on all sides.