The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1876-02-02
THE SITUATION.

Since our last the Lower House
nave passed the Apportionment Bill,
and it has gone to the de faeto Gov
ernor for approval. The Bill. leaves
the Senate as it is now constituted,
thirty-six Senators in all. The
House goes up to the Constitutional
limit, one hundred and twenty mem
bers. Rapides and Vernon will form
our Senatorial District, and we will
have three Representatives as at
present. This apportionment is no
doubt fair and just one, and the
best which could be reached. The
Election Bill of the House, which
passed last week, and which we have
not yet seen, has also gone through
two readings and then handed over
to the Committee. There will be a
fight over it in the Senate, the Radi-
Gals being determined to retain in it
the infamous Returning Board, which
the House Bill ignores. Packard and
the N. o. Republican are the hackers
of the Returning Board and will fight
hard for it's retention in the Election
Bill, but there seems to be a chance
that it will be killed. Now that the
Apportionment Bill is passed we feel
certain the reform measures, which
we have so often preached and cher
ished for the dear peoples sake, will
be pushed forward and forced on
Radicalism as the laws of Louisiana.
The Eustis-Pinchback Senatorial
question will now soon be brought to
a close. The following Geographic
synopsis concerning it explains how
far it has got to reach to come to a
final halt:
"Mr. Morton, from the Committee
on Privileges and Elections, reported
back the papers relating to the claim
of j. B. Eustis for a seat as United
States Senator from Louisiana, with
written report declaring that in the
opinion of the committee there is no
vacancy in the Senate, 7. B. S. Pinch
back having been elected United
States Senator for the term common
cling March 4th, 1873.
He recommended that the papers
be laid on the table and printed. So
ordered.
Mr.. Salisbury said, as member
of the Committee on Privileges and
Elections, he dissented from the con-
clusion of the majority. In his
judgment there was vacancy exist
ing in the Senate at the time of the
election of Mr.. Eustis, and his Gre
dentiais, although not regular in
form, were all that was necessary to
entitle him to his seat, and at the
proper time he (Saulsbury) would
state the grounds Of his dissent.
Mr.. Merrimon, member of the
com mittee, also dissented. He said
he had given his reasons in the past
at considerable length.
Mr.. Cooper, q member of the COM
mittee also dissented. He said he
believed the committee had consid-
cred and reported on questions not
pertaining to the case of Mr.. Eustis.
The report just submitted seemed to
be based upon the idea that Pinch
back was elected, and he did not
think that question was before the
committee.
Mr.. Morton gave notice that on
Wednesday of next week he would
ask the Senate to proceed to the con-
sideration of the Louisiana Senatori-
al question, and thought it should
be settled one way or the other.
The Chair stated that Wednesday
had been set aside to pay tribute to
the memory Of the late Senator from
Connecticut.
Morton then said he would call up
on the following day, Thursday.
| Howe, of Wisconsin, said he was
glad to hear his friend Morton
give the notice. 1t really seemed to
him { Howe) that this question was
one ofhighest privilege. 1t not only
affected the right of man to seat
but it affected the right of a State te
representation on this floor. The
Senate should either fill the vacancy
or refuse to do so, and let the people
of Louisiana send some one else here
"""-~~S-c-~~""-~~ ~
EVERY other man we meet now
a. days, has stump speech to make