The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1876-02-09


the Governor, the Secretary OF tho
State and n Judge of u District Court, to
supervise the returns OF elections OF
members OF Congress. But the present
Returning Board was not such board
az the people wanted. Mr.. Hahn re-
commended that both the Senate bill
and the House bill be rejected and that
d conference Of the two houses be had
to frame an acceptable bill.
II was agreed that the reports be
printed, and that they go on the calen-
dar TO come up In their order, according
to the rules.
The following committee was appoint
cd by the Speaker, under the resolution
Of Mr.. Gufchard, providing for an in
quiry into the report that the Admins
traitor Of Finance Of the New Orleans
Board OF Administrators has used the
those connected with the schools
Messrs. Guichard, Booth, Gilmore,
Bower and Jourdain.
A bill to incorporate the town Of Ben
ton, in tho parish Of Bossier, passed.
A bill introduced by Mr.. Jeffries
changing the charter Of the city OF
Natchitoches, gave cause for considers
able discussion.
Mr.. Raby Of Natchitoches claimed to
DO the only person who could properly
Introduce q measure purely local and
affecting the people Of his parish only.
He affected displeasiire at u member
from another parish meddling with the
affairs Of LIS parish He argued that It
was an understandable intrusion; that
people Of both political parties, Demo-
Gratis as we'll as Republicans, confided In
him, and he asserted that the majority
Of the old population, the Democratic
- n - lat ,Inna
wanted no change In their charter.
Mr.. Jefrries replied that he would be
the last to interfere In the affairs
OF a parish which he did not directly
represent, but In this case sense OF
duty to a suffering people. constrained
him to do so. Mr.. Gillespie, a gentle
man who represented the best people
In Natchitoches, had suggested this
measure and prevailed upon him to
present IL. The object WIS to afford
an opportunity for the election Of city
officers in May next. and every two
years thereafter. The bill was regarded
to their welfare, and Mr.. Jeffries hoped
IL would pass.
The vote for suspension Of the rules
for the third reading stood 10 ayes to "a
nays, which, being insufficient, the bill
lies over.
A bill to protect the inhabitants Of
towns and cities from the encroach-
mepts OF railroad companies was re-
ported unfavorably upon by the Judi
ciarv Committee.
Mr.. Hammond expressed his dissatis..
faction with the report. The bill had
been carefully prepared, and was So, a
of the Second Ward OF New Orleans he
was especially aggrieved by the action
Of the committee, for the whole front OF
that ward, above Julia street, was shut
out from the river by railroad tracks
and railroad depots. The matter. how
ever, did not rest In the House alone.
The Senator representing the Second
Ward had introduced n similar bill In
the Senate, and perhaps more favora-
BILE attention would be given to the idea
there. Mr.. Hammond moved that the
bill be recommitted, and the motion
prevailed.
A resolution addressing Levi Banks,
Recorder of the parish OF Vim, out OF
Office passed by vote OF rs to ,. Mr..
Banks, 1t was explained, had never per-
formed tho duties of tho Office. He pro-
cured the appointment to make lbs
father Deputy Recorder, but after a
while the father abandoned the Office
and left it In charge Of a person who had
no legal authority to act, wherefore the
parish was actually without Recorder.
Mr.. Wilt presented a resolution from
the New Orleans Chamber Of Commerce
In favor of the premium bond plan OF
the City Council and, on motion Of Mr..
Judiciary Committee.
Mr.. Witt called up the bill to repeal
the net OF the 14th OF March, 1879, to en-
force the collection Of State taxes.
Some member inquired IL this act were
repealed would there be any law to
enforce the collection Of State taxes?
Mr.. Wilt answered that there would
not, but the Judiciary Committee was
preparing a law on the subject, which
would shortly be presented he under
stood. The bill passed.
The bill to restore to the town OF Bayou
Sara its original charter, as prayed for
by the inhabitants. passed
Mr.. Booths bill 10 abolish the fees OF
the Auditor of the State came up, favor
ably reported upon by the Judiciary
Committee.
An explanation OF the bill being called
for, Mr.. Young stated that 1t did away
with the fee OF 81 allowed to the Auditor
for every certificate Of redemption issued
to delinquent taxpayers. In fact, the
bill did away with every fee, for they
were all unnecessary anu OD0OAlouS w
taxpayers. These fees aggregated
twenty five or thirty thousand dollars
a year, and were SO much added to the
oppressive burdens borne by the public.
The bill left to the Auditor his salary,
which was enough for his services, and
not too much. The bill passed.
The bill authorizing the government
OF New Orleans to arrange with the
Mexican Gulf Ship Canal Company. for
the purchase OF It's apparatus, and to
take from the company the drainage
contract OF hers, by virtue OF legis!a-
tive enactment, was called up by Mr..
Witt.
Mr.. Lowell desired time to discuss
this project. He warned the House that
the bill might be the cause OF involving
the city in protracted and expensive lit.
igation. The commission, which had had
this drainage contract, was, he might
say, monopoly. The rates allowed by
the act Of the Legislature were extrava-
gant-outrageous. His own opinion was
that those rates could never be recov-
cred. Hence, he warned the House to
be cautious OF its action In the matter,
and he would ask that the consideration
or the measure be deferred until 1t could
be critically examined and freely dis
cussed.
Mr.. Wiltz was DESTROYS that the bill
should be searchingly,, inspected and
.lx~S II