The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1876-01-21
Tho House

Speaker Estilette called the House to order
at noon, IS members present.
Mr. Meredith, on question OF privilege,
corrected the report in the Democrat that he
had supported the Dom Pedro resolution.
Mr.. Walker ia the chair.
Mr.. Aldige introduced a resolution re-
ferring to the recently delivered opinion OF
the JUDGE of the Superior Criminal Court,
to the effect that prosecutions under the
bribery act could be made only by indict-
ment and providing for a special committee
to consider the act, and report what changes,
if any, were necessary. Went over under the
rules.
Mr.. Burkhardt introduce a resolution call
ing on the Committee on Judiciary to report
what legislation was necessary to cause the
removal of the tracks of the New Orleans and
Mobile Railroad and Morgan's Road from the
levee Referred to Committee on Judiciary.
BY a resolution introduced by Mr.. Pipes,
the Committee on Charitable Institutions was
authorized to appoint subcommittee from
their committee to visit the cities of Jackson
and Baton Rouge, for the purpOse Of report
ing on the condition Of the Charitable instl-
tons in those cities.
Mr. Estilette introduced an act fixing the
compensation of the tax-collectors of the State,
except in the parish Of Orleans Il .terred to
the Committee on Judiciary.
Mr. Waltz, chairman of the committee to
Investigate the charges against certain mem
bers, submitted the following report:
The special committee appointed to inves-
tigate and inquire into charges against Chas
W. Lowell, James L. Mathews, P. Jones
York, J. II. Stewart, Z. w. Devices, Milton
Jones, j. b. Jourdain, j. L Parker and r. f.
Ray. ask leave to report respecting the Case of
the Hon. y. W. Lowell.
Nnur cnnmi.taa hos ham furnicheI IN
the Information under when the Hon. A. p.
Field, Attorney General Of the State of Lou
isiana, has commenced the prosecution of
Charles Clinton, Auditor of Public Accounts,
Antoine Uubuclet, Treasurer, P. G5orge Des-
lonie, Secretary of Sta'e, and Charles w.
Lowell, Speaker Of the House Of Representa-
tives, for misdemeanor in Office while acting
as members of the Board of Liquidation,
constituted by Act No. of the General As
sembly, approved January "a, 1874, entitled
an act to provide for funding obligations Of
the State OF Louisiana by exchange tor bonds,
etc.
They are charged with having, on the 10Th
of August, 1874, unlawfully, fraudulently and
wickedly audited and funded certain illegal
and fraudulent claims against the State, the
said claims being five warrants drawn by the
said Clinton, as Auditor of Public Acc cunts, |
on the State Treasurer, Nos. 1853, 2345, 1886, |
2ll4 and 24il, each OF the above named
officers and members Of the said Board OF
Liquidation we'll knowing at the time that the
said warrants were issued for and represented
fraudulent claims against the said State, and
that the same were not fundable under the
provisions of the said act.
The above charge of misdemeanor in Office
involves several other members of the Fund.
ing Board in addition to the Hon. Charles w,
Lowell, a member OF this House, and relates
to a transaction which occurred before be be-
came member of the present House Of Rep
resentatives.
Your committee therefore ask leave to refer
the case of the Hon. Charles W. Lowell back
to the House, with the recommendation that
it be referred, with all matters relating to the
operations of said Funding Board or Commits
slouers of Lilo uidatiOn, to special committee
of investigation and inquiry, for which pur-
pose We offer the following resolution
ResoIred, That committee OF five members
be appointed by the Speaker OF the House, to
and inquire into charges made in
an inform alton flied in the Superior Criminal
Cours of the parish OF Orleans, by the Hon.
2. Field, Attorney General, on the Oath
ilay of July, 1875, against Charles Clinton,
Antoine pubuclet, p. George Deslonde, and
Charles w. Lowell, acting as members OF the
Board of Liquidation on Funding Board.
constituted by Act No. 8, approved January
II. 1874, entitled sn act to provide Tor fund
ng the obligations OF the State by exchange
tor bonds, ETC., such charges being OF INSIDE
neanor in office by them committed.
Also to investigate and inquire into the
"a nssotions of the said Board Of Liquidation
generally. and to ascertain wherein, to what
Went and in what particulars the same have
,sen illegal, unauthorized, or fraudulent, and
hat such committee shall have full power to
q. at such times and in such places IS they