The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1876-02-20
THE PEOPLE DEMAND ACTION,

branches of our General Assembly in othe
| and better times, it will be remembered tina
the heavy work of legislation was done duripl
the latter days of the limited session. Four
fifths Of the acts which filed the anpua
statute book were passed, usually, in the las
ten days of actual sitting. If such feeling, o.
anything kindred to it, existed now in oul
Legislature, we might anticipate similar re
suit; but, as is well known, there is no sucf
feeling, and in its stead is very positive and
active antagonism as to leading parties,
mingled with personal animosi;ies or contra
dictory opinions scarcely less than personal
and antagonistic.
The days of the session are almost ended.
There are five days for work in this week.
In next week there is Monday for work, 9
Tuesday for universal rest or recreation, leav.
ing only the following Wednesday and Thurs.
day for legislative work, under such auspices
as the preceding pleasures of Mardi Gras may
vouchsafe.
As to what ought to be done in that sho ri
period there is little difference of opinion
among the true friends of reform. But the
people are inquiring, with anxiety which in
tensifes from hour to hour, as to what our
legislators are doing or have done. We ore
sorry to say that we can give them no salts
factory answer. It was complained that
the Radical Senate was hostile to
reform, but surely that did not
hinder the Conservative House from doing
what could be done in that body? Why is it
that all the principal measures of reform and
relief. for which the people are hungering
and thirsting, have hung fire in the Demo.
cratic and Conservative branch of the Legis-
lature? WHAT has been done by the House
to meet the expectations of the people ?
Where is the law that is to restore the control
of the police to the city, which must pay for it !?
Where is the law that is to put the control of
the public schools of the city into the hands
of the City Council, where it always belonged !?
Where is ths act repeating the Park tax /?
Where is the bill to limit city taxation, the
bill to return the important work of the
assessment of city property to city officials,
the bill to take away the monopoly of drain
age excavation ? Where is the proposed and
promised act to cut down the exorbitant fees
of sheriff. clerks of courts and tax collect
ors ? Why are all these measures left un.
finished by the Dem cratic and Conservative
friends of retrenchment, economy, reform
and relief in the popular branch of the Gen.
eral Assembly until thirty-nine out of the
forty-seven working days of the session have
passed away? Something has been done by
the House, but it is little in comparison with
what was promised and anxiously expected
Much more might be done, but after these
needless, unaccountable and very remarkable
delays, what grounds have the people to
expect anything else but disappointment?
These complaints and admonitions are not
'urs only, but they represent and interpret in
;elligent popular opinion and the earnest
ceilings, wishes and fears of our citizens at
arge. The people want action, and they will
,old their chosen and trusted agents account
'ble for failure to act or for delays tantamount
o failure