New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-02-19
TaE STATE HOUSE.

Mr.. Weber asked further time for the
outrage committee to investigate the
troubles in the parishes of East and West
Eel;csua, st. Helena and East Baton Rouge,
and his request was granted.
Mir. Weber asked that all House bills not
referred be referred AZ once.
Mr.. Sypher introduced resolution TO
direct the Finance Committee to investigsse
certain charges sgsinst the Mayor and Ad-
mipistrators of the city of New Orleans;
also wished the committee to have power
to send for persons and papers. The charge
is that the aforesaid officials diverted puohc
funds from their proper channei. Ano
penalty for guilt is fine, imprisonment snu
dismissal from office. The particular Iuno
mentioned is the consolidated interest," TAX
fund.
Mr.. Breaux mentioned that it seemed
strange to him that member from 81. mary
parish should take such thing In hand; ne
thought the members from Orleans capable
of attending to their municipal affairs.
Mr.. White said that if the resolution
passed, every member on this foer will be
placed in q false position. He stated that
. high judicial tribunal had already passed
On the subject and had shown that there
was nothing wrong The gentleman spoke
at some length, but 80 warmly and excited
" that but email portion Of his remarks
could be unde,s ODD by the reporter.
MIR. Breaux fell unwilling to enter INTO
an investigation Of this case just now, be-
ing entirely unprepared for it, and moved
to table the subject
Mr., Stamps favored the resolution, as IN
Justice to people generally the charges
should be investigated. There have been
many iuvestig .ting committees, but the
moment that anything in New Orleans Ia
touched, opposition springs up lively. way
is il that Mr.. Breaux opposes this case
Unless an investigation be had the people
of this city will be upjustly dealt with.
The resolution was adopted.
Senate bill No. ISL, fixing the salaries OF
the Mayor AID Administrators OF the city
of New Orleans was passed. The Mayors
salary is fixed At $4,000. and the Admins
traitors az s250o per year.
lno LILO AbtO Va NsSAS va "NoS~>
was indefinitely postponed.
House bill No. 81, to authorize the city
of New Orleans to assume exclusive coz
troll of all drainage districts was finally
passed. Mr.. Twitchell gave notice that to-
day he would move reconsideration OF the
same.
The Senate then adjourned until noon
to-day,
The special order OF the day was the act
10 repeal the charter Of the Louisiana Lot
terry Company, and the whole House
seemed vifally interested on one eide or the
other.
The mai rity of the committee had re-
ported favcrably on it. Messrs. Levisee
and Matthews submitted an unfavorable
minority report. and Mr.. Young EMO her ex-
pressing doubts as to the power OF the
Legislature to rescind the contract. The
first of these was disposed of by tabling,
notwithstanding an address of Mr. Levisee
main tanning the absolute uuimpeachable ma
ture OF the contract. In general he did not
approve of lotteries, but agreed with Mr..
lana Lottery Company could not be re-
pealed.
Mr.. Sartain followed Mr.. Levisee on the
the same side, but he was still more op'
dosed to lotteries in general Sill he did
not believe it could not De stopped.
Mr.. Walker seked if Mr. SArtain did not
recognize the legal principle that contracts
could be rescinded when they were contra
bonus mores.
Mr., Sartain said if he had been able to
to obtain such legal education and had
studied as long as Mr.. Walker, he would
answer the question, but as he had not, he
would pass it by.
Dilatory motions and callings OF the roll
kept this bill up until four O'Clock, when il
went over for the special order OF to-day.
The only other bill that elected discus
sion was that giving justices of the peace
additional criminal jurisdiction in other par
ishes than Orleans.
lMr. X dd in the chair
Mr. E-ril-r.e advocated the bill as one a b.
solute necessary. 1t gives the justice the
power to examine cases, take bail or dis
charge prisoners 1t was intended also t0
reduce the expense Of criminal prosecutions
now borne by parishes.
Mr., Demas considered the bill q good
one. la the parish of St. John q man
might be committed by q justice of the
peace for even simple assault, and remain
weeks in Jail at the parish expense. The
district attorneys hold that the justices Can
not take bail. try case, or discharge pris
oner, and man on such q trivial charge
even must wait tor the parish judge
Several amendments we're offered to the
bill by Messrs. Lowell, Matthews and
others. with view to recommit, but we're
tabled as quick "a the roll could be called.
Mr.. Matthews desired to exempt his par.
ish as we'll as that of Orleans from the
operation of the BILL He had NO desire ia
have the law at the mercy of an illiterste
justice Of the pea 'e, such as many Of them
are in all parts Of the State. If the expense
as related was heavy the opportunity Of
fered for wrong doing in the discharge O1
prisoners was q greater evil. The House,
however, refused insert the words, land
Tensas."
Mr. Walker moved to eneross the bill.
Mr.. Lowell desired to call the attention Of
the House to the effect of the bill. It gave
the power to any illiterate justice to dis
charge any prisoner who had been arrested
on b;a u.orrap+ Ia w.va instanca nf a