New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-01-06

/ competency be assured, and 3 com
rnupity of interest he established be-
tween all classes. Patriotic citizens,
and friends OF human progress every
where have been anxiously looking for.
ward through the weary years that fol-
z loved the war to the establishment of har-
II mOnlOus relations between the races on a
q rational and enduring basis. an glad to
81 say that the day when demagogues of either
race can stir up enmity and dissension by
q appealing to the ignoble prejudice of color
81 IS drawing to a welcome close. White men
g and colored men, native citizens and foreign
q born, are becoming aroused to lust ss,i-
mate OF shss baletul effects 0s ssass apss:-
81 onisIno
SiJBLsc lands
IhS gsb'fe lands of Loufesara Offer q
s tempting field to the smigrant There are
q over {, 1000 600 acres of State lands available
If tor cultivatione Three million acres have
been sold, and over 100000 acres Senain
q now for sale. During the past year 1900
& acres we're solds Four hundred aud thirty
one homesteads have been granted since
the passage of she homestead lave 1t is
n suggested that the price of the State lands
.s fixed By the first section of act No. l04 of
+ 1871, namely. twelve and half cents per
Il acre, is too low. The intention of Congress
Il in donating this land to the State was that
:! TtNtuile DC derived from IL 70 al0
q n building levees and draining the swamp
q and alluvial lands OF the State. This pur-
pose is noe attained. The price of the State
3 lands might with advantage be raised to
4 fifty ceHts peg acre.
Educations
?ri: SU,LIc SCHOOL. sfs1Eas
There are .j0,U0O children in the State Of
al age suitable for educatiOns It is est.
II mated, at the present cost of the public
4 schools . per head a month in the CITY
j and " per month in the country, that it
would require annual revenue Of 81 ,50O,s
600 to confer upon all these children the ad-
vantages Of the public school system. The
school revenues from all sources last wear
were 100000. The income which might be
derived from che school lands is lost for
want OF supervision. Several funds which
should b" deYoted 70 the support of She
public schools have been improperly di-
Serted. nrgeth immediate measures be
taken 70 restore to the school fund the free
school bonds alienated by act No. 81 of 1872.
steps shoulS alsO be taken to recover, if
possible, the McDonogh fund, which was
ieit as sacred trust to promote the educa-
ton of the children of the State. The re.
port of the State Superintendent of Educa-
tion which is herewith transmitted. gives
tull particulars of the workings of our pub.
DC school systrms
SHE AGRICULTURAL CoLEEGE GRaNe.
Ey act of Congress approved July 90
iS62, the general government gave to the
State of louisiana 2l0, 900 acres of land scrip,
provided the State accepted it and applied
The proceeds arising therefrOm to the estab-
ishment OF college to be devoted to the in.
teresis OF agriculture and the mechanical ,
arts. The State, by act No. e., acts of 1869. &C.
cepted the donation and created a commits
sion to receive the scrip from the United
States and dispose of it according to
the provisions OF the donating act. The
scrip was sold and the proceeds invest.
ed III State bonds; as the interest &C
crued it was collected and invested in other
State bonds, and this course pursued until
:he beginning of the present year, when the
aggregate amount reached 1897 600. To
tEls may be added one years interest OF this
amount, which is now due but u1collected. |
me commission holds these bonds subject
TO the order OF the General Assembly. This |
matter mast be acted upon during the pres. !
en-; session of che Legislatures Tor should |
the State fail to apply the fund "a directed
10y Congress. prior to July - 1884, J. Will |
lapse to the United States.
II is suggested that this grant might be !
Intllized with great advantage in connection
with the existing Louisiana State University |
heavily in debt. and very insufficiently pro- !
Tvided with accommodation since the de- |
struction ot she University buildings ., I
AlexsnGr.l.
s:eheraa Topics.
EXCESSIVE EXPENDITURE. !
Ihe expenditures of the State govern.
nent have for years been much larger than
" as necessary or jesttiable. The expense |
81 the executive department ought not to
exceed Sli0,000s That of the judiciary
ought not To exceed $2l0,000 each parish !
ral - I |
miscellaneous expenses should not exceed ]
5O00 600. The legislative expenses ought not
in any event to exceed $!50,000, making the
total expenditure of the State government
III 100000 ] earnestly urge upon you the
Importance of combining your appropriations !
withi1 thSs limit.
0AS or ELECTION.
7 recommend the correction OF the this |
lake or oversight by which the day liked |
lor general elections in this State occurs I
Ine day earlier than that of the United !
lion on the same day fixed in all the other
States is universally conceded, and ,hink
we should conform to the general rule.
'!oDIFICATIoN OF VETO.
also suggest modification Of the veto
bower OF the executive Many acts are |
passed through the General Assembly |
which are. in the main, wholesome and nee. |
-ssary, but often contain some one or more I
Objectionable features. In such cases. rs
he law now stands, the Governor must !
elther wave mis- conscientious objections to |
'ertain sections, or else, by vetoing the
whole, retard or defeat legislation which !
nay be beneficial. This difficulty may, !
mink. be removed by giving the executive !
he power 20 veto any portion of bill |
) Inch he deems ObSec tionable and approve
he residue.
IORTH 3OUSs!ANA AID TEssS RAILROAD {
BONDS.
Since the adjournment of che Assembly
t bonds of $1,000 each have been issued to } .
he North Louisiana and Texas Railroad
company. The validity of the act author.
hing this issue was questioned and the !.
batter carried to the Supreme Court, where !
decree was rendered favorable to the !
pmpany and sustaining the validity of the
r.. Under that decision l considered that
had no discretion in the premises, and the ! Z
lOnds were therefore issued. 1t is true that } 6
be Supreme Court decided, in another ease, | /.
bat the executive can not be compelled by |
handamus to sign bonds, and by proper in
erence can not be compelled by mandamus | ,
discharge any other duties. Tire princi- ! !;
Pe, If well founded, is open ID serious -
buses and should be resorted to only in the :.
lst extremity. The executive should Tot !,
(ait in the execution of the laws, of which !.
pc Supreme Court is the constitutional IL /
Prpreter. for compulsory writs from the !,
purts. Under the besG legal advice Oh ! =
Enable and in the conviction that the de- y
Sion of the Supreme Court was imperative r.
FAR as my functions were concerned, the q
onds were signed and issued. ii there was Il
adequacy OF consideration, or no coDside- , ~
lton at all, that is question which your :
pnorable body may properly consider and | .
81 upon IL Ehatever manner - deemed | :,