New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-03-02
REFORM OR REVOLUTION.
An Exclamation from the Republican Sen.
ators to the Public.

New Orleans. March !, 1876. 5
We, the undersigned members of the
Senate, deem it due to ourselves and to our
constitute nts to make the following state
ment to the public:
When the General Assembly convened, in
this, the first regular session since the
Wheeler compromise and adjustment, the
representatives Of botn political parties
seemed to vie in their demands for reform
legislation. By reform measures We under
stand laws for the reduction of the costs
of Carrying on the government; q re-
duction OF the expense of assessing
and collecting taxes. TO con6ne apprc-
priations within the receipts; needed legis-
lation to relieve the financial embar-
easements of the city of New Orleans, and
kindred tnactments. We assert that the
Republicans in both houses have stood
ready during the whole session to pass
tn csc bills. But We charge that the Dem
ocratic members, while crying in tones OF
mock earle stness for reform frittered away
the entire session in efforts to gain political
and partisan advantages, end to make what
they call record to go to their constituents
upon. We charge further, that in every pre-
tended reform bill introduced by the Demo
cratic members, they have purposely IL
serted offensive political features, which
Republican members, in duty to their
party, could not accept-the Democrats pre-.
ferring to defeat sneh reform measures,
rather than not accomplish their selfish
partisan ends.
The Republican majority Of the Senate
have passed number of honest measures
uf relief: these bills have IOt been acted
upon by the House in most cases, and where
acted upon at all. they have been amended
bv the insertion Of offensive clauses, or by
the pos ponemert of their operation. we
instance among the bills passed by the
he oh a "A
city of New Orleans, submitted by the
Property Holders UGion; an act to reduce
the fees of clerks and sheritfs throughout
| the State an act to reduce the costs OF co.,
| lect NJ taxes, and other kindred refOrma-
| tory measures.
! On the otker hand, there are still pend
| ing in the Senate several important meas
| ures which we now wish to consider and
| pass. We charge that we are prevented
! from so acting by the revolutions sry, parti-
san course Of the Democratic majority IN
| the House Among these bills are several
| measures of vital importance to the public
elfare. We instance notably the act to
assist in the construction OF q rail-
| road to Texas; a bill Tor the relief
New Orleans; an act to eaualize
assessments of property throughout the
State: a hli to enable persons whose prop
erty has been sold to the State for taxes to
redeem without penalties; a bill to allow
all delinquent taxpayers to pay without
! penaltiss for specified reriOo; an act to
reduce the amount OF penalties tor delln'
quency in the future; and an act to modify
the harsh features OF tie existing laws Tor
the collection of taxes.
We charge that now, at the very end OF
the session the Democrats nave abandoned
this unfinished work, to waete the time in
futile and foolish effort to seize the State
government BY q revolutionary coup detat
We charge that the eo-called articles OF
impeachment preferred against Governor
Kellogg by the House are frivolous and
were trumped up at this late hour OF the
session in order to consume the time and
| prevent the passage of reform measures by
the Republican majority OF the Senate.
Notwithstanding that the Sepa.e, sitting
as high court of impeachment, has re
jected this impeachment and acquitted ths
Governor in due form of law, they stil
peIsi in their mad partisan cOurse, ard II
60 doing have suspended all. legisl alton il
both Houses while but one day remains b
the session.
The foregoing statement considered, VI
| submit that if the Democratic ajority o
the House continue in their revOlutiOnar
course, and compel the majority of the Sen
ate to adjourn sine die on the assembling 0
the Senate tomorrow at noon, the responsl
bility must rest with the Democratic mem
bers of the Assembly.
E. l.. Whitney, j. A. Mas!cot.
William Harper, t. Stamps
A. j, Sypber, w. w. Wharton,
J.E. b -eaux. F. F. Herwig,
O. II. Brewster, J. A. Gla,
X. II. Chadhourn, Curtis Pollard,
J George Y Kelso, .. A. Cage,
NJ H. Twitchell, 7. &. Anderson.
Raford Blunt, A. Dumont,
E. l.. Weber. p. Landry.
j. Henri Burch,