The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1875-01-09
DONALDSONVILLE, LA, SATURDAY, JANUARY 9, 1875
Message Of the Governor.

Message Of the Governor.
The New Orleans Republican Of the
5th instant contains the following ed
itorial comment upon Governor Kel-
logg's annual message to the General
Assembly:
The message transmitted to the
Legislature which yesterday assem-
bled is more important than any gu
bernatorial document that has ever
been laid before u Louisiana .Legisla-
ture. It is almost too much to ask OF
the opponents Of the present admin
istrati0n a careful and impartial peur-
sal Of this State document. But what
their prejudices may deny, their
purses may accord in the way of at
teution and conviction. The rate Of
taxation has been reduced seven mills,
and this in the face of the fact that
previous Legislatures had left a
legacy Of heavy obligations that have
been met and provided for.
The message opens with illusions
to the disastrous crevasses that have
swept away the productive industry
of a large portion Of the State. The
aid received from other States is freely
acknowledged, and to massachusetts
is offered the gratitude of the State.
The collection Of taxes for the past
year shows small deficit, but the
depressed condition Of all business
will sufficiently account for this.
The Recommendation to the effect
that the funding board should DO COM
posed Of the presiding officers OF the
Chamber of Commerce, the Merchants
Exchange, the Cotton Exchange and
two other citizena, calls for immediate
action. ....-.
That portion of the message sug-
costing the abolition Of fees as attach
ing to clerks Of court, portwallens,
-four inspectors, hay inspectors and
h:.rbor masters should claim the im-
mediate action OF, those who represent
the tax payers Of the State, by virtue
uf their promises of reform. A /. fur
ther measure of reduction Of expendi-
lures, the General Assembly is asked
to scrutiDize its own expenses, and to
crrt:lil it's force of pages and clerks.
The whole message is frsught with
suggestions Of economy, and leaves
to the Legislature no chance for evad-
ing the pending issues Of material re-
form.
lu relation to the lcvees the views
Of the Governor are practical and aim
at II restoration Of u thorough levee
system by equable taxation and ma
tional aid. The duty Of repairing old
levces, which his cxcellency would
impose upon riparian pr"prictors, is
lnorc than compensated by shipping
facilities and the saving Of wharfage.
While acknowledging the Importance
of railroads and the lamcntable fact
that this material adjunct to COM
mcrce is ut present in allegiance, the
Governor calls attention TO the i'm
possibility of further subsidy Or State
aid in any shape.
The message, as will be seen, ad
vocates principally retrenchment and
reform. While his excellency by no
ucauS lSuOIeS tIc SlCnI Cu0A plleCS
that would swell our commerce and
restore the State to prosperity, he
yet points out clearly and forcibly
that the interests Of the State can
only be subserved by obedience to
law, economy and energy. Honesty
and thrift alone can do the work.
Financial tact and the genius for con-
ductiug great schemes Of internal i'm
provement may answer when the
finances are flourishing, and the re-
sources of the county ready for de-
velopment. But the Governor wise
ly recommends economy, leaving to
energy to accomplish the rest, as cap
ital will undoubtedly come at the
call of State whose expenses are
less than its collections. The 'lop-
ping off of supertluous officials, and
the reduction Of fees and salaries will
meet with determined opposition. It
only for the representatives
who have proclaimed their intentions
of reform SO loudly to verify their
promises. This they can do by sus-
tanning Governor Kellogg, and by
out his wise counsel.