The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-11-25
THE JOBS OF THE PAST.
The New York Times in an article on " col
uption in Louisiana" says:

, The New York Times in an article on " co,
ruption in Louisiana" says:
It must be obvious to every thinking man tina
the leaders OF the governing party could not hav
carried on their audacious rObberies without tn,
connivance Of many of the minority leaders. Tn
der our forms of Government it is impossible fo
men in office to become so utterly shameless an(
corrupt as were the Louisiana politicians, if tn.
men out Of it are thoroughly honest. When the
statesman ct Blackwelps Island reigned in this
city, he had in his pay every leader Of the oppo
sltlon who was for sale, and he used them t.
silence or outwit those of their own party who
we're too honest to be bribed and sufficiently clear.
sighted to be troublesome. Nearly the same thing
appears to have been done in Louisiana.
In speaking Of some of the pet swindles OF
the Warmoth regime, the Times INDUCES in
following strong language:
We had occasion some time ago to point out
the fact that among tho chief officers of the
LOUISIANA Levse Company-a rascaliy corpora
ton as ever swindled State-there appeared
the names OF several prominent Democrats, one
OF them, Mr.. Duncan F. Kenner, being the Chair
man Of the well known Compromise Commit
tee" appointed after the temporary overthrow
OF Kellogg. In the same list, Mr.. Collector
Casey and his Deputy, Herwig, figured as Direc-
This was ony one Of many examples Of the
politicians when the common object of both was
public plumber. 1t is perfectly safe to saw that
OF the many fraudulent jobs which have been
given a legal existence in Louisiana during the
past I'VE or six years, not one has been con-
cocted without the cooperation of leading men
OF both parties. The history of the New Or
leans Canal lease is case in point. The canal
was the only valuable asset remaining to the
State at the close Of the war. In 1866 Demo-
cratic Legislature leased ii to little ring Of four
men, chief of which was this identical Democrat, |
Kenner.
Since that time, by three several acts passed at
great expense, the lessees have been released |
from paying any rent for the canal, and allowed |
10 POCKET all the tolls. As an equivalent they |
we're to improve and deepen it, and the estimated |
cost OF the work, if honestly performed was
about s6O, 900, or just years rental, for the
canal brought annually that amount in tolls. The
proceeds Of this bold operation certainly did not
vi 60 into the pockets of the carpat-baggers
or, IN addition to Kenner, We find that the ex-
confederate General, Richard Taylor, was one of
he favored few.
Another and more notorious piece Of rascality
vas the infamous "Act Eighty-One." passed
wo years ago, and which, the day it becomes q
NV, added At one stroke 81 500, 600 to the State
ebt, nearly every cent of this sum going into
he hands Of the crowd Of hungry politicians who
ad run the job through.
The Ship Island Canal job, with which War
10th is generally accredited, is another scheme
18th which the names of some prominent Demo.
ratio gentlemen are mixed up.
The Times in these structures upon the
democracy of Louisiana falls into the yerv
atural error Of denominating as Democrats
zen who have long since ceased to have any
eight in the party, and who have as a conse-
aence OF being mixed up in the very schemes
I'D jobs to which it refers necessarily become
entitied with the Radicals and carpet-bag-
FRS. We fancy the gentleman to whom the +.
ines refers must smile when he sees himself
'raded as leading Democrat, for the DAYS
hen he might have been justly so regarded
ere SO long ago that the leading Democrats
to-day scarcely have any very distinct recol-
ctlon thereof General Grant was Demo-
at once, A. P. Field, our rabid Radical de a
'to Attorney General, was a violent seces-
mist once, but neither would particularly =
1cy seeing himself held up to the world as
7oring either the one or the other s'heresy." o
The Times is very much in error when it as
It's that Duncan F. Kenner, WASH chairman of Nj
Compromise Committee, appointed after the sa
nporary overthrow of Kellogg. There was II
such committee appointed number of IN
1tlemen, most of whom were patriotic and -,
II meaning citizens, belonging to the Demo- l.
tic party, formed themselves into a com
tee for the purpose Of conference with the
llogg authorities, and of that committee
Kenner was chairman. 1t was not 3D.
ted, it was believed to be a mistake at the ha
e, and the result has proven that it was
take inasmuch as the pledges made by the
licals were broken.
he idea Of the gentlemen who formed
mselves in this committee was that thew ,
hit induce the Radical leaders to make
b concessions as would insure fair cleo No
and honest count, in this we know the ~
ority of the committee at least, were sim
/, but all their efforts were rendered una 4
rg by the unreliable, trickey and slippery ior
.acter Of the men they dealt with n