The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1876-01-11
APPROPRIATIONS AND REFORMS.

It has, no doubt occurred to members Of
the General Assembly that, while a general
appropriation act covering the anticipated
expenses of the year is convenient as saving
of time and of multiplicity of minor bills,
and therefore customary, there is no strict
necessity for making appropriations thus in
gross and in single bill. just as far as the
Radical majority in the Senate may go with
the Conservative majority in the House Of
our General Assembly in reform bills which
involve the expenditure of money from the
State Treasury, just SO far could the House
safely 60 in agreeing to any appropriations
which such reform bills may require If, for
example, the Senate will agree to Just and
economical acts relative to public printing,
and such acts are signed and promulgated,
there appears to be no improperly on the
part Of the House in acceeding to such appro-
priation as may be required to pay for print
ing under such equitable acts, the competitive
feature being insisted upon in every printing
law.
II. for another example. the Senate will
public education, cutting off supernumerary
officers, localizing the functions of directors,
cutting down the present unreasonable sala-
ries, restoring to the city Of New Orleans the
entire control of her schools, and instituting
such other changes as strict economy and the
good Of the cause of general education
plainly demand, then it would seem proper
that the House should accept the reform and
grant the appropriation to carry it out.
How far and in what particulars reforms
and appropriations might thus proceed pari
passu would remain for a spirit of cautious
concession to suggest If any good reforma-
tory law can De secured. the appropriation
necessary to comply with its provisions would
not, We believe, be con demned by the people.
Will the Republican be SO good as to point
out in what manner, either explicitly or i'm
phcitly. the Wheeler adjustment settles the
questions arising out of the election of 1873
Will the Republican likewise be 50 good as to
indicate who, in its opinion. were the parties
to the compromise entered into under that
adjustment? For our part We assert that the
Democratic resolutions are strictly correct in
declaring that the adjustment did not touch
the election of 1872, and that the Democratic
party. or the people Of Louisiana, if you will,
we're not parties to the agreement The ques-
ton before the Democratic caucus was wheth.
or or not the claims of certain members
counted out by the Returning Board should
be submitted for arbitration to certain COM
mittee, whether the award of that committee
should be accepted as final and whether the |
members voting to accept the award should
vote for joint resolution, pledging them not
to disturb the Kellogg government, OF course
for reasons connected with its usurpatory
character and origin. The caucus agreed to
these proposals and the adjustment, as it was
called, was arranged and carried into effect,
strictly and literally in accordance with them. |
The question of the legality of Kellogg's
tenure of Office was Intentionally ignored by
both parties How then can the Republican |
N .iutain that Congress is precluded |