New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-01-15
THH LEGISLATURE YESTERDAY

Eenates
Mr.. Belden gave notice OF bIll. ad-
dressing out of office Emile Hebert, clerk
Of the Fifteenth Judicial District Court.
parish Of Assumption.
sir. Burch's resolution, instructing tae
Committee on Charitable lnstitstions and
P.nitentiary to visit the various cha. table
institutions of tho State, located at Baton
Rouge and jackson and report ss early
a. possible. was called up. An amendment
being offered providing for u clerk. Mf.
Brewster wanted to know the cost OF the
Same to the State, and on general princi'
ples o. economy. objected to the employ
ment of clerks TO committees
Nj Buch stated tha. a clerk from the
Enrolment Committee could be detailed
Tor that purpose. In that ease mileage
would be the enly expense.
Mr.. Wharton said he was not opposed to
ths resolution: that. in fact, he was ready
20 vote for il, and would give the committee
dozen clerks il that Uould Insure re.
mort that the Senate could act On. He
called the attention Of the Senate to the
fact that eimila. committee was appointed
last year. and il made bu: partial report.
which rendered il sompaf stively worthless
as = basis for legislative action. tie said
the conduct OF the Renitentiary was dis
grace to humanity and TO the State. The
same remarks. he continued. would apply
in . Lesser degree to- the Insane Asylum at
jackson. Ha intended no reflection on
members Of committees. He simply stated
facts He hoped ths present committees
would show sesu. IN thei1 reports
sonmen surate with tbe expenses entailed
Mr.. Bufch did NOE want committees in.
structeh Heregarded the statement mads
by Tho membey frsm IbeFyilie Mr. Wha-
to1) as u reflection Oh tbe COMMITTEES OF last
session. sof wfick he tBurcbl was chairman.
The committee had made ;ssood report and
il wss publieheA il She journal of last ses-
sion. He did not SEQ what more waa want
ell. She Senatoy from Ibsy7illo was cap.
tious n the Senate gave the committee o
clerk he would guarantee % good report. al
though it might BE- worthless TO the mem.
bsr fron Ibervilfa
Mr.. s .rbep spoke IN Che same strain and
replied with much indignation 20 the re-
marks ~f the Senator from fberville. He
tBArber; WAS a member Of the committee
ia-s session and wse surprised to hear the
remarks that had been made in eegard to
the same by the nembe1 from jbegville.
AND astoni-hed to hear the gentleman from
Osachts lMr. Brewster) talking economy
iu = simpi. IN after Oh this kind. Mr.. Bar.
bes concluded By saying he hoped the Sen
ate would giys the committee . clerk.
Mr. Wharton offered as an amendment 20
the resolution that tbs somuittes be in.
s.rucsed TO report in swsnty days from The
passage of the resolution. He said thar the
isuYnal wsuld establish his statement to the
effect that the committee of last session had
made has SpartiaI report. which rendered
it worthless. The committee vas appointed.
ordered 10 proceed to Baton Rouge. and
specially instructed January II. 1873. On
the Gftt of Fshrnary they handed in a
,ne,grs and totally useless report. On the
twsn.y fourth Of February they handed in
another and eIaaiiy unsatisfactory report.
and thegs the matter euieL The commit
tee. said Mr. Wharton. had csn:ented them.
selves with snsSers 80 Questions from
parties intereete.:: had made no yecommen.
<lations; Lad nos submitted word upon
the general condition sf ia. institution. nor
spokr nf the frightful abuses carried on
there, abuses Vt So fearful = nature that
humanity. knowing it. would stand par.
s'ysed with horror. He pronounced the
ins'isut!,x a, a: present scudu cted, and as
It las been fov years. = disgrace to ihs iD'
tellig.ncs of the age. lie could not begin
to tell ths tale of horror. and yet every
n,.v. ,aens made in the direction If full
ana fair ;nvest g alton o: its affairs ~as met
and opposed by the plea Of . ested rights.
there were rights that were not vested in
tice i"sssas OF this institution. said Mr..
Wharton. and among them were those that
should give protection to the unfortunate
convic.s confined there. They areenutled
to proper tr9atm n:-Such treatment a5 the
enlightened ~piri. of the age demanded.
Tho lessees might have vested rights bud
surely they had no right to grind out the
flesh and life of criminals, that their cash
box might be full to- overhowips. MIR.
Wharton insianced the freatment Cf con.
H1cfs employed on the railroad in the par.
ish @! f5erville in proof Of what he said.
He asked the committee to inquire into
their condition; to make full and fair In
yestigation # all matters connected with
ha n ftn
Senate. Foe this purpose he was in favor
Of giving them every facility. go that when
the report comes. the Senate. knowing the
whole truth, vii! bs able to correct the
fagrant abuses that are said to exist in the
m Anagemene of the State Penitentiary.
This should be done. he said. in order that
justice be tempered With mercy.
Mr.. Stamps spoke ut some length upon
the rss,lutiun. rs and In the main sgreed with
Mr.. Wharton.
The sesoiutios then passed With the
amendment authorizing the employment Of
d CLERK.
The labor troubles in the parish Of Terre
bonne having aroused the atten tion Of the
Senate, q aresulutisn was prese nted author.
ling the appointment of y com mittee on
the part of the Senate e. proceed TO that
parish, ascertain the extent and nature o.
those troubles and gepors them to the Sen
ate. substitute was offered. calling upon
the Governor tor the desired information.
An amendment to the subs titute was Of
fered so as to include the parish of Jackson.
On ,notiot OF Mr.. Harris the substitute
and a,nendmep were laid upon she table.
He .ben moved the adoption cJ the original