New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-01-28
GETTING READY FOE BUSINESS.

Acting upon the correct and logical proK
osition Of Speaker Hahn, the Represents
tives will assume that in cases where pei
: sons have been returned as members b
the Returning Board, and do not appea
in their seats, they prove that they eithe
| do not intend to discharge their duty, 0
distrust the validity of their election
enough members will be seated to secur
a quorum against ordinary contingencies
We think questions pertaining to the ad
mission of members is one that come
fairly within the scope of the powers o
the minority. To seat claimant doe
not require the exercise of the power o
the whole House, but it is simple recog
milton of the act of the people, compli
ance with law. Any one showing primi
facie right to a seat in the House is emit
tied to all the privileges of membership
unless his claim is questioned by some
body having stronger one The entire
absence of contestants, of course,
strengthens the presumption, and decides
the contest by consent of both parties SO
far as the House has any official knowl-
edge. Doubtless there are many cases of
absence on the part Of legally elected
members. But they have forfeited their
right by their contumacy. In such cases
the proper remedy is expulsion and new
election, while it is equally proper to ad-
NIT those who can show that they were
cheated at the polls or by the returns of
the supervisors.
Nearly one-half of the sessior-twenty-
three out of the sixty days-has now
elapsed, and not single bill has passed
either house of the General Assembly.
With only q bare quorum on the rolls of
such members as pretend to appear in
their seats at all, it is often difficult to
secure the presence of enough to transact
business. One case of sickness. a sum-
mons to attend the congressional commit
tee or the business referred to the stard.
ing committees of the House is sufficient
to break quorum and waste whole day
in fruitless waiting. Besides, unfor-
tunately, not every one who comes in the
guise OF Republican is worthy of that
honored name. Some of our parishes have
sent Representatives here who are but
little better than Democrats They shirk
their duties in the House every time they
can not have everything their own way.
Nearly every day We read in the opposi-
ton papers the gleeful announcement,
"the Conservatives will act as unit"
thus advertising the hopelessness of trying
to persuade the more reasonable to return
to their places. This strike has been the
great obstruction heretofore. But time
enough has elapsed. The House owes it
to its own dignity to remove every OBJ
stacle in the way of the transaction of |
business, and We think wise plan has
been proposed and carried out. Itshould
not, however, stop with the admission of
such members as have been defrauded of
heir election. Immediate steps should
De taken to unseat those who refuse to
come forward, and have their places filed
~ new elections. At least fifteen or
wenty members could be brought in fresh
rom the people within ten days They
re very much needed, and have been
ince the fifth instant.
The Democratic members have demon
trated in an unmistakable manner that
is not SO much their object to reform
be State government as to destroy it alto
ether. Probably none of the reform
aeasures which have formed the capital
took OF every opposition meeting during
ne past two years would ever be thought
if the Democracy were to succeed to
over They would first carefully remove
very Republican official and then adjourn
ithout m aking further changes. But the ,
epublicans entertain other views. They ,
ave read in the Governors message valu-
Die suggestions of needed changes. Sher- 8
is, clerks, city officials tax collectors, ,
'Ss"S, J"o'-SCo VI tAO pedCt, COuStd. |
es and the retinue of smaller try that ,
I'D official positions now draw pay and 7
act fees which are suggestive of war !,
mes and deprecated currency-not a +
ere discount Of ten per cent, but such r
probation as the Democracy have once .
perienced in Confederate notes and
her shinplasters issued in place ;,
money and forced upon a helpless =
lblic. There is no justice in placing
e fees of small oficiahat such a figure -
at be can retire from a two or four a
ars' term comparatively rich, while u
Ter men are forced to work in private II
siness three times as many hours per a.
y at little better than board wages. II
le salaries of city officials should be cut
WI at least fifty per cent, especially for =,
purely ornamental officials. Clerks d;
courts can be had in battalions at bi
500 year, and sheriffs and deputies
proportionate rates. The exorbitant tt
s now exacted from itigants, and es- m
tally the State and city, could by this TO
nner be greatly curtailed or saved and ~
'lied to payment of public expenses. th
The merchants of New Orleans have a ar
IL interest int the business of this ses-
u. They complain every year Of the az az
'essive inspection laws, but nearly al ca
rs after adjournment. They now have It's
+ hundred men under pay, cooped up
Deutsche Company Hall, doing worse tn
n nothing. They are not only idle
mselves, but they promote idleness and SCI