New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-02-18
THE STATE HOUSE.
Senate.

The Finance Committee reported unfavor-
.b,v IN the premium bond bill, and the re-
mort was accepted without debate.
Mr.. Stamps made motion to take up the
Pacific railroad bill section by section, and
on some objection being raised, the roll was
called on it. There was little flibuster'
ing, intending to prevent its being read'
but Mr.. Stamps was equal to the emergency
and insisted on hearing the document read.
He said he held printed bill, but felt GER
tain that it was not an exact copy OF tna'
on tie Secretary's desk. He stated that ne
would not object to proper railroad con-
structiop. but desired to know exactly what
he was voting on.
Mr White said that he had been informed
that printed bills had been placed on mem
bers' desks, and that sergeans-atarms had
IN accountably taken them away.
Mr.. Detiege asserted that he was certain
that rhe bill had not been placed on his
desk. as he had been in the Senate Cham
ber ever since ten o'clock.
Mr.. Wharton was positive that the printed
bills had been placed on the desks.
Mr.. Alexander said that he had found one
on his desk and read it through.
Mr.. Dumont asked Mr.. Alexander how
he stood on the bill-for or against it.
Mr.. Alexander declared himself in favor
of it, whereupon Mr.. Dumont expressed
himself as not in the least surprised on
able Senator's desk.
Messrs Cage and DetieQe said they were
in favor of railroads, but they must hear
the bill section by section.
MIR. Allain said that he had not heard q
single objection to the bill. but had heard
considerable quibbling; he asked for all OBJ
iections to be explained.
Mr., Weber-It is unusual for legislative
bodies to enact or pass bills of any nature
or kind unless they be read. l am called
on to vote for or against this bill, and am
debarred of the right to know its features.
Although in favor of railroads, shall be
compelled to vote against the bill; first,
because l do not know what the bill is;
original incorporators of the Pacific Rail-
way Company want; third, because the
bill has been changed by the committee so
"a to make the road run from Mansfield to
Shreveport, and from Shreveport to Mar
shal, a distance Of seventy-five miles, while
in the original bill the lncorporators OF the
Pacific Railway Company, and those imme
diately interested. demanded that their
road should run in direct line from Mans
field to Marshal, Texas, distance of only
forty miles. am of opinion that the road
run from Mansfield to Marshal would cost
less money to be built-would give the
country and its people quicker transit and
cheaper rates. For these reasons l vote
nay.
Mr. Blackburn said that he did not like
so much talking; there was too much
qua;reiing and too little fighting.
Mr. Stamps insisted on the bill being
read section by section, and declared his
determination to stand by his reasonable
request, and he gained his point.
Mr.. Blunt was opposed to one portion of
the bill, because it did not let the track
pass through Natchitoches.
On vote the bill finally passed.
The resolution giving the mileage and
per diem of the late E L. Pierson to his
family passed without debate. Mr.. Kidd
presented his report from the conference
committee. Mr.. Meredith introduced an
appropriation bill for the mileage, per diem,
contingent expenses, ETC., OF the General
Assembly, and Mr.. Matthews general ap-
preparation bill, which went to the Ways
proposing to Congress that the money to be
appropriated to refund the cotton tax be
applied to the levees was referred to the
Committee on Lands and Levees Other
matters were called up, but are set forth
fully in the journal, nothing causing discus
zion except the bill relative to the blockade
of the second ward of New Orleans by the
railroad depots.
Mr.. Hammond. in advocating the bill,
called the attention Of the House to the fact
that the whole front of the second ward,
with the exception of Julia street, its lower
boundary was so block AIDED as to absolutely
shut off the access of the residents to the
river He urged the House to pass it not
withsJ Janding the unfsvorable report of the
Judiciary Committee. He yielded to Mr..
Booth.
Mr. B 10Th said the condition of things in
that ward was such that it might be said
the people had lost the right of eminent
domain. They certainly had the natural
right Of access to every water course in the
United States, but by the evil this bill was
intended to remedy, they could not reach
the Mississippi river. They should have
immediate access to the highways of travel.
1t was useless for them to 60 to the courts
as the law is at present. Here was broad
street tSt. Joseph) intended when created
as highway from the New basin to the
river cut of from connection with the
latter. In the face of this intention
a railroad company had blockaded it,
and property there was deprecated fifty
per cent. The Mayor of the city has al
ways done his best. 1t WAS an imposter IN
the streets, and commerce was ut its mercy.
A few years since a small street was block
AIDED by building of charitable institu-
tion which was highly esteemed. The
street seemed email and unnecessary, but
ait was q street." and it was restored be-
cau-e the public had made it and insisted
on it. Tne public is not made Tor the court,
but the court Tor the public. This bill gives
Al: 80, L.,