The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-04-09
THE QUESTION OF IMPEACHMENT.

In view Of Mr.. Schnciders admission an
in view of the facts developed by the Con
mittee of Investigation. regard it rs Gel
tain that the Council will be compelled t
resolve itself into court of Impeachment
and enter regularly upon trial OF the Al
which have been made.
The investigation so far has been exceed
ingly informal, irregular and unsatisfactory
For day or two the Committee, composed
of four members of the Council, trOtteG
around town to interview parties who were
presumed to have knowledge Of the facts
in the case, but growing tired of this, they
finally settled down in the Council Cham
Der and sent ont for parties to come in.
There was no rigid examination of the wit
nesses who appeared in answer to the sum
mons, and most of them cOntented them
selves with saying as little as possible, and
getting off TO Carondelet street again.
The evidence elected in public in the
Council Room was published in the papers,
but that portion of the evidence which was
taken by the committee from individuals
at their own Offices has for some cause been
as yet withheld.
The evidence of Mr.. Levy, which we re-
gard as important, and which is perhaps the
strongest testimony against Mr.. Schneider,
so far as outside transactions are concerned,
has not seen the light. We regard this as "a
very unfortunate oversight on the part of the
committee. for we can see no just cause why
the testimony of one witness should be
withheld while that Of others is published.
We have been frequently importuncd by
parties to know why all the testimony in
the case has not been made public, and
while having no desire to hurry SO impor-
tant a matter, we confess ourselves at a loss
to account for the action of the committee
in this regard. 1t appears to us that it
would have been infinitely preferable even
for the Administrator of Finance himself
to have had the testimony as it was taken,
given publicity.
We are inclined to regard the non-publi-
cation of testimony as an oversight, but it
is an oversight which should be repaired at
the earliest possible moment. The people
have organized themselves into sort of
grand jury in this natter and they want all
he facts in order that they may be enabled
o render an intelligent and fair verdict |
Mr.. Schneider was placed in his responsible
,flice by the people. becanse of the imp icit
confidence they placed in his honesty and
he high estimate entertained of his bust
less capacity. They want to know pre-
isely how he has justified the confidence re-
osed in him, and just how far he has been
erelict.
Section 8 of the amended charter of the
ity of New Orleans, reads as follows:
Sec. II (A.) (Sec. 8. of the amended
harter.) Be it further enacted, etc. That
he Mayor and Administrators shall be re-
lovable for malfeasance in Office, gross ne
lect of duty or disability affecting the fit
ess of the occupant to fill and discharge
he duties..of the position; upon the prefer
x of articles of impeachment by four 8
embers of the Council, the accused shall
9 suspended from Office and placed upon
'ial, which shall take place within thirty
avs; and on trials upon impeachment the
ayor, when not himself upon trial, shall (
Dte as member of the Council: and in all {
'als upon impeachment, five members
Dting in the affirmative shall sustain this
large and remove the accused from office.
,herwise he shall be restored and allowed
larry for the time of suspension, etc.