The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-12-03
THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL.

fixed for the commencement Of the era Of
public plunder in this State. This law, with
so innocent title, was approved by II. q.
war1no.h, July q, 1868. The first section de-
clares that the Governor, Lieutenant Governor
and Speaker Of the House OF Representatives
shall be and are directed to contract with
some person, IN tie interest Of the state, to do
all printing and publishing, and this person
was called the State Printer.
The law then points out the duties Of the
State Printer and establishes the price Of the
various kinds of printing to be executed. the
pay was certainly very liberal, as We will, see.
1t then says: 90 That in addition he, the State
Printer, shall be required to publish in his
official journal all Judicial advertisements re-
CURED by law, including sherift's and consta-
bles' sales, notices of election, succession
notices, and also all municipal advertisements
OF every description. The act then gives to
the three the same power to contract with
papers published in the several parishes, TO
publish the laws Of the State and the journals
OF the General ASSEMBLY, and all parochial
and judicial printing and advertising
There were. it appears, from the reading Of
the act, in the opinion of our new set of law
makers, no respectable journals in the State,
and to provide intellectual and moral food of
good wholesome nutriment, and to educate
the people up to the higher standard OF Re-
publican purity, was the first noble impulse Of
the first Legislature OF the new era OF civiliza-
ton. The law was not partial to one section ;
it reached every par. of the State, and for
fear some nook OF corner might be lef. in
utter darkness, other laws created new par
| ishes, which, OF course, mus. have an honest
the State Homer Illiad" was reproduced,
and when such lofty name as Grant was
given to a new parish, what could be more
natural than the springing up OF the smiling
town of Colfax, and still more, why should
not the official organ narrate the exploits OF
Kelloggs warriors by land and by sea:
No profound philosopher could confer such
grand names upon g. parish ana town without
the expectation of glorious results.
But let US see the cost Of this moral estab-
lishment. The Legislature the first year APP
propr;ated for printing and advertising S75,-
900, and for publishing the luminous decisions
of the Supreme Court under the new regime,
$4,000. This was only an experiment, and
the first dose of SS7, 600 was found to be en-
tirely inefficient. IL 1869 $50, 900 was appro-
priated for the public printing, and an addition
Of $50, 600 for the expenses Of printing the
proceedings Of the Convention Of 1865. The
$3.50, 900 was yet too little.
In 1870, the State Printer received $4,000
and the Off ,ial organs in the parishes also
received $4,000. Though this last sum
swelied up the ota. for printing in this year
to $3.50, 900, yet who can calculate the intel
lectual benefit this last sum spread over the
interior Of the State:
In 1871, the same generous appropriation Was
made In 1872, the same amount and to the
Republican Pioneer OF st. John, SIP, 260 In
1873, sl50,000 was appropriated to the State
Printer. In 1874, only $50 900 was given and
SIS 00Oto parish papers and $500 to Homer
Hiad
Though only $4,000 was appropriated to
clause which may swell the amount to re-
spectacle s;ze which says ''for all printing and
advertising authorized by law previous to 1874,
the necessary amount is hereby appropriated"
The exact sum to pay tbs necessary amount
is an unknown quantity, which Aditor Clinton
can calculate by algebraic process.
We had some curiosity to look back to 1861, |
and then the public printing cost $500
But when all municipal and Judicial adver-
tisements and printing were given to the Off
cial organ, lthe aggregate sum received must
be enormous. Add to the foregoing ali |
the printing Of the General Government, all
judicial advertisements in bankruptcy, and all |
sales, the amount paid must far ex-
coed the total Of the interes: Of the public |
debt.
What has been the result? From the first |
inception Of the idea OF improving public and
private morality to the present date, we have
seen gradual decadence in correct principles.
Nothing good has come out Of the official
organ
1t has either sanctioned the passage Of
every atrocious act Of the Legislature or has
been silent. The printing law, the metropol-
tan police law, the election and registration
lets, the park and State Capitol swindling
lets, and other acts too numerous to mention,
nave received official approval. 1t has been
silent as to the infamous manner in which the
bankrupt act has been enforced, and oblivious
Is to the plundering of the universal assignee
If the viceserent : it has applauded the ''mid-
hight order justified the action Of the
Lynch board, and gloated over the usurpa-
ion OF Kellogg 1t is paid tor its work, and
he people are taxed to supply the means.
In one marked respect this printing law and
he official organ have nearly obtained all geo.
graphical and arithmetical knowledge for in
III other States, in which elections We're held
IN Nov. Sd, the results were known in less