New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-02-13
The State House

The question of the removal of the seat o
government has been, 60 far as the Hous
of Representatives is concerned, defnitel,
settled by vote of so to in favor of wha
is known as the State House bill. This bill
consists, in brief, of an appropriation o
S250.OOO for the purchase of the St. Loui
Hotel, to be used as a State House, ant
authorizes the Governor, Lieutenant Gov
ernor and Speaker to make the contract.
This action on the part of the House il
not only to be regretted, but it will be diff
cult to find any reason to justify it. 1t il
not disputed that there is necessity for
State House. and the weight of opinion is il
favor of its location in New Orleans. Bu
the site chosen is not an advantageous one
The building is not suitable, many of it!
disadvantages being already apparent.
is between crowded thoroughfares in thu
heart of business, when it should be removed
as far as possible from them. The only halls
that can be used for the Legislature art
inappropriate, were never intended for suct
purposes, and are deficient in acoustics
| Many other irremovable disadvantages
could be mentioned in regard to the rest oi
the apartments. but enough is shown for 9
strong argument against the proposed
| purchase.
The amount named is also excessive
when considered in connection with the
price for which the building was sold year
since. IF this purchase were coEsummated
it would not be permanent, for the advo.
Gates of Baton Rouge as site could urge
its claims with moro show of reason than
they ever had before.
The State has already expended very
large sum for the rental OF this building,
and the alterations in it have not been SO
costly or extensive that its proprietors
would suffer loss if the State abandoned
it. The Legislature, no doubt, is not ami
mated by any consideration OF tenderness
for the purses of these proprietors, and this
scheme is, perhaps, the most feasible that
has been presented thus far. The Baton
Rouge advocates can not at present com.
mand the necessary two-thirds vote to re-
move the capital, and some means must be
devised for the coming year.
But the remedy is not in the purchase of
the st. Louis Hotel. 1t would be better
that it be again leased for a single year and
more carefully considered act passed at
the next session of the Legislature. Atthat
time in all probability there will be settle
ment Of the questions that now distract the
community, and the treasury will be better
able to meet such draft as $3.50, 200, if it
should be necessary.
1t will not be necessary. To show this it
is only requisite to refer to some facts in the
history of the somewhat peripatstic location
Of the seat of government. Prior to the year
1850 the Capitol was in New Orleans, occu.
pying during the later years the building
known as the old Charity Hospital. This
was built in 1915 on the site now occupied
by the Mechanics Institute, and purchased
by the State in 1884.
The constitution proposed by the conven-
ton and adopted by the people in 1915 con.
tanned this provision
ART 1l2.-The General Assembly which
shall meet after the first election of Repre-.
sentatives under this constitution, shall,
within the first month after the commence
ment of the session, designate and fix the
seat of government at some place not less
than sixty miles from the city of New Or
leans by the nearest travelling route
In accordance with this, Baton Rouge was
selected and State House erected. This
action on the part of the State left it pos
sessed of valuable property in New Orleans
without having any special use for it. 1t
never having been the practice of the State
to make money by selling its possessions, it
proceeded to give it away. For the purpose
of donce the nearest at hand was selected,
which had been created by the following
charter:
An act to incorporate the Society of Me- |
chanics in the city of New Orleans.
SECTION |. That H. NJ. Dobbs, Nicholas |
SinnOt. Moses Duffy, P. X. Wagner, Hugh |
Care, w. Liddel!. John Vesey, Martin Cor
don and j. f. Miller, and all others who are |
or may become members of the association, |
he and they are hereby Incorporated under |
the name and style OF the New Orleans |
Mechanic Society, and under that name
be capable at all times hereafter of taking, |
receiving, purchasing and possessing and
enjoying all kinds Of estates and effects
whether real or personal. to an
amount not exceeding 100000, and the
same to sell, grant, convey and dispose of,
and also to sue and be sued, plead and be
mpleaded, in all courts and elsewhere, and
to have common seal, and the same to
alter, break and renew au their pleasure.
SEC. g That the members of the said incor-
DoratiOn shall have power to make and es.
,ablish constitution or form of govern
nent, which constitution, when duly made
and assented to by majority of the mem.
)ers of the said society, shall have the force
md effect Of law, and shall bind the said
members of the eald incorporation; and to
,lect officers, under such names and denomi-
nations, for the administration of their af-
airs, as they may think proper which
election shall be made in the manner, and
1t the time to be prescribed by the said
and from time to time alter or
mend their said constitution, and make
uch bylaws as they may think necessary
or the better government Of said incorpOrA-
ion.
SEC. 8. That it shall not be lawful for
his incorporation to apply their revenues
o any other than charitable purposes, and
he promotion and improvement Of me.
hanical arts. This law shall be in force
or and during the term of twenty years.
Approved February IL, 1921.
The charter of this association was ex-
ended, as appears by the following extract
rom an act supplemental to ''an act to in
the New Orleans Mechanic
ociety, passed February II. 1921" pproved
Iarch 8, 1888:
SEC. 5. That the charter OF the said So
ety be continued for the full term of
1irty years from and after the expiration
f the act of incorporation of said society.
In the original act of incorporation it is
rnyided that none of the pronertr acnuired |