New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-03-29
DEBATES OF THE HOUSE.
MONDAY, February 9. 1874.

Mr.. Harris-Mr. Speaker, l ask that
the report of the Committee on Elec-
tons in the case of Pierson We. Black
stone be taken from the table and
adopted. The contestant, Mr.. Pierson.
has made an earnest, honest and strenuous
effort to secure the seat to which be felt en-
titled. He had spent his time and his
money during the extra session, the session
OF 1873 and the present session to secure a
recognition OF his rights on this floor, and
the committee has done barely Justice
they could not have done less than to re-
commend the payment of mileage and per
diem to this faithful and persistent con-
testant. If he took his seat for a while in
the Odd Fellows Hall Assembly it was be-
canse he was denied participation in the de-
alterations OF this body, which he has al
ways recognized as the legal Legislature Of
the State of Louisiana. 1t was only after
lengthy and elaborate investigation that
the committee agreed to confirm the present
occupant N his seat, and it would be unj ust
and parliamentary to deny 10 the con-
testant that remuneration always allowed
in similar cases.
Mr. Cain Sartain-I wish TO know why he
took his seat in the other Legislature if he
called this the legal Ones
Mr. Harris-Because he was denied his
seat here, and no man then knew which
government would prevail; yet he remained
there but few days, and then came here
under the forms of law, and has since con-
stantly and persistently sought the seat he
claimed as his own. l therefore ask that
the matter be taken from the table, and the
majority report adopted.
Mr.. Blackst0ne-Mr. Speaker, l agree
with Mr.. Harris, and would ask that the
matter be taken from the table and the ma
jOrity report passed.
MI Y0ung-Mr. Speaker, have no OBJ
jections that all legal and lawful contest
ants should be paid; but, sir, wish to know
in the first place that they are legal con-
testants, for in the way which things are
going now, $3.50, 900, sir, would not be
enough to pay the different parties contend
ing for seats.
Mr.. Murrell of Madison-Mr. Speaker,
sir, if you pass this resolution, sir, you will
have TO make a special appropriation. Sir,
! wish to state that last season there was
resolution passed in this House to pay GER
here l wish TO say, sir, that it the gentle
man is entitled to his seat he is also entitled
to his mileage and per diem. l understand,
Sir, that there was q compromise made by
certain members OF the House, and wish
the gentleman to know that l am not
party to any such measure, and, sir, l wish
the House to know that ! will not vote to
pay Two members from aparish that is only
entitled to one; tor, sir, should any such
precedent be established any gentleman
might step forward and contest my seat
who has not the slightest shadow of claim
to the aforesaid seat simply because he
could get his mileage and per diem, sir. He
might come to this city and have a good
time, and cay will enjoy myself for the
Legislature will pay my expenses. So, Mr..
Speaker, in honor to the claims OF my
constituents, will strenuously oppose
any such measure; for, sir, | am here
to protect the people who sent me
here, not to see them burdened with the
greatest of all curses, the curse of unneces-
say taxation, for to pay certain persons
who have never done the State any service.
And, sir, understand that there is a CON-
promise between certain members for the
purpose of passing this measure, and wish
to state that / am party to no such
measure, and in honor to my constituents
] am opposed to any such measure.
Mr.. Armstead-I wish the gentleman to
directly understand that there is NO CON-
promise, and that l will be a party to no
such measure; for, sir, under such circum-
stance the door will be left open for all and
every party to contest seat. Take, for in
stance, Mr. Speaker, that l was duly and
lawfully elected to an honorable position in
the House Of Representatives of the State,
an entirely obscure man might arise and
contest my seat. For what purpose, you
ask. Simply for the sake of mileage and
per diem. And, Mr.. Speaker, in justice to
myself and to my constituents am thor
oughly opposed to any such measure.
Mr.. Young-Mr Speaker, l do not wish
the measure laid over. wish the question
to come to a point at once. i said, Sir, when
the House first opened that all members
should have their pay, and l wish to say |
that my friend does not know what he IS
talking about when he says said that the |
door would be left open for anybody to en-
ter. My only objection to the bill was, sir, |
that ] did not know where we were going |
to GET the money to pay them; bnt now, sir, |
that we are going to pass the bill tor con- |
tingent expenses, move that the member |
get bis mileage and per diem, as the report
of the committee calls for. and hope that |
the objections may, be withdrawn, and the |
committee allowed to make their report.
Mr.. Stewart-I wish to know, Mr..
Speaker how the House can support two
sets of members Sir, this establishes a
had precedent. 1 am willing, sir, in consid-
Grafton of the great trouble and expense
the member has incurred in contesting his
seat, to pay him his mileage and not his per
diem, as understand he got his pay from
the McEnery Legislature. Sir, as said be-
fore, this is a bad precedent 70 establish:
for, sir, understand there is man now in
the lobby who says he is going TO contest
seat: he knows the man whose seat he in
tends to contest, but does not know what
parish he is from.
Mr. Harris-I rise to say to the gentleman
from Tensas (Mr. Stewart), that he is labor
ing under grave misrepresentation as to
the facts, for Mr.. Pierson never received
his mileage aud per diem from the McEnery
As to paying two sets OF Off
GERS, establishing bad precedent and all
that. l will inform the gentleman from Ten
sas tStewart), and the gentleman from Mad |
son (Mrrrell) that the precedent Of paying
an honest contestant his mileage and his
per diem up to the date OF the decision of
bis case, is an invariable rule in the Con-
yress of the United States and in the Legis-
ature of every State in the Union. To
such a practice would be to de-
stroy the rights of every candidate who
was defrauded Of his seat. The man first
seated, whether he was elected or not,
would always retain his place, for contest
ants would not assert their rights at the
peril Of enormous expense. We have al
ready. as was proper, paid contestant
rom the parish OF De Soto, who did not get
1is seat, his mileage and per diem up to the
late of the decision of his case. Shall we |
make fish Of one and flesh of anotherl To
leny TO Mr.. Pierson what has been asked
or him by the majority report would prove
Ibis house to be without justice or fair deal
ng, and totally ignorant Of parliamentary
Usage and law.
Mr. Bryant wish to ask Mr.. Blackstone |!
f he actually believes the member who
his seat was elected?
Mr. Blackstone-No, sir. In reply to the
reptleman will state do not. or, if did,
would not appear on the floor of the
House: and, as it is. 1 hope the report of {
he committee will be accepted.
Mr. Bryant-Mr. Speaker, hope the re-
BORT of the committee be not accepted; for,
,ir. here we are before the public not only
IF the State of Louisiana but OF the United {
States. The eyes of the mass of the people
are upon us, and if we deviate from the