New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-02-15
Communicated!
The Picayune and the Legislative Reform
Measures.

My attention has just been called TO an
article in the PicayatNe OF the tenth. entitled
BILLS, Bills. Bill s. which is at once so
absurd. characteristic and malicious. that it
appears to demand some notice. These re.
marks would have been addressed to tina:
paper were it not notorious that the bond.
holders ''organ" admits nothing to its col.
ties Of ''this people,
The organ of those "oldest and best" who,
with the late Governor and his allies. united
to rob the State under the forms of the
''lOttery." ''Slaughterhouse,' "sugar she'd"
etc must have rather nice ideas of Honesty
and REFORM" The organ of those who de.
mand from the poverty stricken people of
Louisiana the full sum of one hundred cents
upon the dollar for the fraudulent bonds
which they obtained from our dishonest
representatives. without. in many cases,
the smallest consideration, must naturally
look with disgust" upon the mass of re.
fOrmatory measures which are or have been
before the present General Assembly. The
Pcoyunc is supposed to have derived in
times past to little advantage from the
questionable operations of those who have
reduced the State of Louisiana to poverty,
and we'll nj Oh to despair: it must feel very
natural disgust at the very near prospect
OF being forever cut of from the feast OF
fat things.
The general insurance bill. now before
the Committee OF the Senate as substitute
for that of Senator Ingraham and others
upon the same subject matter, is designed
to incorporate in the laws of Louisiana the
same features Of enforced protection and
suspension which in New York. Massachu.
setts and other Northern and Western
States have operated so favOrably for the
mass of the insured. The authors of the
several bills had especial interests to pro.
mote.' and that the protection of themselves
and their constituents from the fantastic
tricks which have been within few wears
past played upon the people of Louisiana
by some of the insurance managers o. New
Orleans. had the contemplated measure
been law two years since, these gentle.
men would have been unable to divert q
large portion of their stockholders property
to the support of the ridiculous farce at Odd
Fellows Hall, the folly of which operation
becomes apparent when ''this people" are
called upon to pay increased rates of in.
sufance that the cash thus lost by folly
might be restored by robbery.
The best argument in favor of retainip,
in the hands Of the State the control Of the
metropolitan Police lies in the danger that
if in the hands of the city some
turn Of the wheel might place the force
uI der the control of few malignant Sin.
capables,' or at the mercy of other gentle.
men of the same political complexion.
whose past history and present intentions
may perhaps give them natural distaste
tor the force which at present entorces in
them wholesome respect tor the laws and |
their neighbors' goods.
My friend Senator Greene, of jackson |
whose name the Pcs disgust causes il 70 |
has had the temerity to introduce |
very comprehensive measure of reform in |
he assessment and collection of State and !
,lty taxes in the parish OF Orleans 1t is
natural that the PIC should be 'disgusted"
With measure which disposes of a large
lumber OF useless offices, of vast amount
II useless city printing, and effects say
ng OF S230,OO0 in the assessment and of
2,o0O, 900 in the collection of taxes in each
our years. AS this reduction of expense
you'd permit corresponding reduc.
ion in the State taxes, it may per.
laps be apparent even to the peoples
rgan" that my honored friend from
ackson may be interested therein to an
xtent not much less than any citizen of
.ew Orleans, and although not at present
ole to spare the time to inspect and criti-
Use one OF the most important measures of
eform ever submitted to a Louisiana Leg
stature, 1t is probable that if our city Sen.
tors should vote against the bill, the Pic
7ould find time prior to the next election
OF only to inspect the bill, but to place
etore the people in very warm language
Is views upon their conduct in refusing to
this down.trodden people" so valuable a
leasure OF relief. 1t is probable that if
ouDtry members will concern themselves
l the affairs of the chief city of their ma
We State as to seek means for her relief
'om her present oppressive burdens, the
aXpayers OF New Orleans will not greatly
beet to the interference of Jackson, or
aldo, or Madison in the affairs of Orleans.
Poor Pic admits that other pending bills
lay be wise, but as they emanate from
artles who have no reputation" and no |
legal authority" it declines to descend
om its dignity as the organ of this peo-
e,' and give them share of its autocratic |
'nsiderarion. This is in much the same
diculous spirit which actuated those cid
,ly and spiteful old ladies of both sexes,
no from the accession of William of !
range to the death of Cardinal Yorke,
the sovereignty of banished
ce OF titular kings while compelled to
'ey the vigorous rule of the house of
To the Pic the present State
'vernment is what the Georges were to
e feeble and malignant Jacobin, who
ar after year regularly manifested his
votlon to James Ill, or Charles TX, by 9
ttlng halt seas over upon the anniversary
each important event in the detestable
Ign OF the second James. .
John AcEnery u the banished man whom Z