New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-04-24
REFORM LEGISLATION.

J. Assembly like a dose OF croton o.
Nearly every bill which has been Intro
= duced into the House needs careful scr'
tiny. There is a job Of some sort or al
other in most of them in nearly ever
l. section. 1t is out Of the question to SUI
i. pose the Senate will have time at th
eleventh hour of the session, at the yer
p end of term Of seventy days, to CIV
that attention to the legion Of subjects II
volved as the importance requires.
There are, of course, half dozen G
more printing bills, some CT which wi
: cost the public more for this bra1lch G
service than is paid now. The bill to re
form the city printing will alone, if it
passed, cost the corporation ten thousan'
dollars more than it now pays. The bill
for the State on the same subject makes
reduction in the price Of q few items, and
naturally enough provides forsgiving it t.
other parties. If they can only breai
down the REPUBLICAN newspaper they
can then make short work Of the party.
| All the clements opposed to free educa'
ton have united to pu: the schools or
short rations. Instead Of increasing the
revenues to seven hundred thousand dol
lars a year. it is gravely proposed to
promise two hundred thousand dollars,
PAYABLE when convenient in anything that
comes handy.
The proposition to sell the city prop
erty, such as, in the opinion of the
| Council, is not necessary for public use,
I covers a bigger job than anything that we
have ever before seen in the Legislature
There is o magnificent fortune in the
Waterworks alone: for while no city ad-
ministration has ever been able to make
the works pay, we may be sure that prl-
vate parties will find means to do so.
The whole scheme of reform, SO far as
We have been able to see into it, resolves
itself into propooition to rob the school
find of hundred thousand dollars or SO;
Top off as much more from police expenses,
make grand flourish over an attempt to
cut down printing rates, which will result
in giving the public printing to some sta
toner who deals il spittoons, soap, and
combs and brushes, finally to sell every
thing valuable that belongs to the city for
enough to run the government during
our time"
These matters ought TO have been pre-
sented at the other end OF the session.
The REPUBLICAN demanded an exhibit Of
the schedule, with the honest intent to
help in every needed work. There was
ample time. The Governor gave ten days
notice, during which time not q bill was
published or single section made known
to anybody outside a secret conclave Of
city politicians. And now, just as the |
precious days lave ebbed away to hours,
we have the schedule, il part at least,
presented. There is reform in the fore
head and ',job' in the belly Of these bills.
Were they honest measures they would |
bear discussion. Had not their authors |
feared the result Of scrutiny they would |
have had every one o. them presented OF
the first day of the session and referred to !
committees, instead Of wrang-
ling over the claims OF Witt and Estilette |
to the Speakership, and violating plighted
t,ith and Democratic honor as M. Frye
puts by voting legally elected mem
bcrs out of their seats.
There is one bill which Will require at
east ten days careful consideration in
committee to thoroughly understand
We are told, however, that all these
measures have been carefully considered
y the gentlemen Who propose them. BY
he gentlemen of the City Council, the
ommittees Of the Cotton Exchange, and
eyelal wonderfully able legal gentlemen.
'erhaps SO: but We would like to know |
tho has carefully examined and consid-
red these sponsors. There are others in
bis community who have rights, interests
nd fortunately some power, who are not
, the counsels Of these accouchers.
he Police Board has not been invited to t
consultation, nor asked whether any
edDction could DE made il the expenses f
the department or not We confess We c
lould be glad, if it may be found pos b
bic, to reduce the expenses. But it 5
ould have been decent in the wholesale b
formers Of all abuses except their own p
} ask for the best practical advice. IN p
Ike manner the School Board has not L
zen asked if it could drift up little Ii
earer to the rock Of starvation with its G
ecious freight Of women and children. q
be State printer has not been asked if I.
will be willing to surrender contract ii
adc i'll pursuance OF law. and let some a,
amocratc concern run away with his
gifts in the interest of reform. NJ
Even the Democratic journals have been t.
pit in Ignorance of what has been batch d
:, until It is too late for discussion. At ci
st, they have been careful not to let b
} propositions come before the pnblic OF
There are but two proper ways to dis ST
Sc Of these bills. They should either d.
postponed indefinitely or till session We
! be held where time viii be given for 81
il consideration. There ought not to
another extra session. under the cir Cd
instances, and the next regular SEES \,
n is nine months OFF. !;
he fault is not OH our side of the ~
Use. Our members have sat in their Il: