The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-04-23
AN EXTENSION NECESSARY.

Kellogg, in his message Of April 81, urging
the General Assembly to prompt action
says:
!. Permit me to say that it is expected of you
| under the circumstances which have brought
you together, til 1t the great interests of the
State and city shall receive the preference in
your proceedings over the advancement Of
party ends, and that our financial condition
renders it very undesirable that the term Of
this session should be extended; nor can il
be with justice to the taxpayers and creditors
Of the State.
It is precisely the financial condition of the
State and city that renders it extremely de-
sirable that the term Of the special session
should be extended, and justice to the tax
payers and creditors of the State demands an
extension.
This is the first legislative session since
1867 in which the people have been repre-
scented in either branch. After struggle for
their rights as members, lasting from Novem-
Der, 1874, to the middle of April, 1875, a
House of Representatives has at length been
formed, coming from the people, representing
the people and friendly to the people. We
have House at last, through which it is i'm
possible to force any dishonest measure; a
House which will not subdivide into cliques
and factions; "a House which cannot be b ibed or
to enact reforms and which will not shrink
from duty or yield up its rights; House,
whose simple existence as an organized body,
although powerless without the aid of the
Senate, has worked already partial return of
that confidence which has long been q
stranger. By single act that House has
prevented the leak through the Auditors
department, which might have cost to the
State hundreds Of thousands.
By one Of its measures alone, If consum-
mated in the Senate and approved by Kel-
logg, the taxpayers Of the city will be so re-
leved and confidence so far reinstated that
real estate will at once begin to advance, and
millions Of now idle capital will begin to re-
turn to circulation. Yet this is only single
item in the list of desirable measures of re-
form and relief The General Assembly now
comes in collision with the heaped-up abuses
Of seven years of misrule. Scores Of acts
blot the statute books Of the State which call
for repeal.
The patriotic members Of either House can
turn in no direction without seeing some
great wrong to be set right; some malfeasance
to be checked; some extravaganza to be pruned
away, some villainy to be punished; some
guarantee of fidelity to be fixed; some plan of
wholesome action to be inaugarated; some i'm
portant public interest to be disenthralled;
some villainous gang of pecula.ors to be dis
persed. There is worse than Augean labor for
the reconstructed General Assembly, which
can hardly be begun in a session of ten days.
It has taken some little time for parties to
comprehend the situation. It was not at
first clearly understood that the Conserva- |
tives had other rights besides those which |
their opponents were willing to concede |
Members understand each other better now,
and all concerned need no further assurance |
that the House majority means business.
Members of opposing parties find, after
the escape Of much natural etfervescence,
that there IRE more elements Of concord |
among them than they had supposed. It is
felt and understood that the Democratic
harbor no revengeful sentiments in
of what has passed. and Repub-
]ican members who are disposed to be fair,
and to do something for the good Of the State,
are found to be more numerous and more in
earnest than they have hitherto seemed.
When more than q majority of Republican
join with the Democrats in impeach-
ing Radical offender, it is a sufficient proof
Of an improved feeling, which renders re-
forms practicable.
The State has endured seven regular ses-
sions of Legislatures hostile to her interests,
ruinous to her credit, and destructive of her
prosperity. She can very evidently
afford now one short special session of
General Assembly which will try to rebuild
her fallen fortunes and restore condition of
health.