New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-01-04

not be made available in their existing CON
dition without large outlay Of money for
which there was no authority of law, and
even with snch an outlay, would in all
probability fail to render the institution
self-sustaining for some years to come. The
State was thus confronted with the danger
of five or six h1ndred ctnyicts being thrown
upon it's hands without any provision for
their maintenance or custody. This en-
Urgency. unless provided against, may
arise. and the State be pnt to an ex-
pense which in the three years pre-
ceding the adoption Of the existing
lease of the Penitentiary, I am informed,
averaged 100000 per annum for the main.
tenance of prisoners. 1t seems to lie that
the objections which may properly be
urged against the leasing out of
convict labor to private individuals
without proper restrictions with re-
gard to discipline and treatment can
not be, urged against the employment of
convict labor upon the public works of the
State under strict discipline and under the
direct control of State officers. The con-
victs are now nearly ell working on the line
| of the New Orleans Pacific railroad, a work
| of great Importance to the State. 1
believe they are as well provided for and as
humanely treated as is practicable under
the circumstances. Unless the State should
make some arrangements otherwise to
utilize their labor and made it self-sustain-
| ing. l am convinced, all things considered,
| that it is better to permit the present lessees
to continue working the convicts under their
existing lease. Some provision should be
made, however, to meet an exigercy that
might be presented in the future by reason
of the convicts being thrown upon the
State.
APPOINTMENT OF AUDITOR.
Since your adjournment the State Auditor
has rendered his resignation, which have
accepted, and have filed the vacancy in
accordance with the provisions of article
seventy of the constitution. The practical
effect of the constitutional amendments,
restricting appropriations to current rev.
enues will, doubtless, in future, prevent
most of the complications which the State
Auditor has heretofore had to contend with.
STATE CENSUS AND APPoRTIoNMENr.
In accordance with the requirements of
the constitution of the State, careful
census has been taken by State authority
during the past year. I transmit herewith
the official report of the results obtained.
Your first duty will be to make an appor-
tionment of representation which shall be
equal and uniform on the basis of the popu-
lation of the State as ascertained BY this
census. As you will perceive by the instruc-
lions issued by the State Registrar, every
precaution was used to secure q thorough,
fair and accurate census of the State. In
the appointment of the officers to whom
was confided the duty of making the emu
meration, care was taken that both political
parties should be represented. When
ever errors or omissions we're properly
pointed out the State Registrar Immediately
took steps to rectify them. In two or three
cases the census of the ward or parishes
where Irregularities were supposed to exist
was retaken. l believe this census to be as
correct representation as it is possible to
arrive at Of the actual population of the
State.
REGISTRATION AND ELECTION LAWS.
Section 81 of act No. l55 of 1874, which
is the existing registration law, provides
that the decision of the supervisor or as
sistant supervisor on all ques tions of erasure
from or addition to the registry shall be
final, and prohibits any appeal to the courts.
This provision was included in the old regis
tration law, and it has been retained, 1
presume by inadvertence, in the amended
law. 1t is manifestly unjust, and I
recommend its repeal The new registra-
ton which has been effected throughout the
State under the provisions of this act ap-
pears to be generally satisfactory, except
in the city of New Orleans. careful re-
vision Of the registration lists throughout
the State, especially in New Orleans, should
be made before the next general election
but do not think it is necessary that the
| State should incur the large expense of a
| new registration.
! The present election law has been severe
~ criticised, especially the provision re-
garding the Returning Board. This feature
of the election law has been upon
the statute books for several years,
and was preserved and incorporated
into the election law approved November
20, 1872 1t is urged by the advocates of
this law that the power should be lodged
somewhere to set aside or challenge PAL
patly fraudulent election at any poll or pre-
t&Ninct at which it should be clearly shown
on account Of violence or fraud there
le oess been no true expression of the will of
hoeral Nipple, and that the maintenance
~ right is especially just and
LIE'h the in this State, where armed
II anu the vSq have at times by violence
sec'nu notorioN expression of the will Of
o, 'n0 hand, theShere at least one-half Of
loilow' against t6Ssn are weak, timid and
means, ganization Satant. On the othel
ui'uia 81 danger of an y objection urget
'nse ~ partisan ends, notSae political OF
'a'a 70 which, if warrantsEsd, aad tn
= ula" ferred upon any bodyx power 70
'no pa. as this board is claimed the law, o
solen will give these ehjections be co,
careful consideration. powt
49, now difficulties growing out of the W
ITO oi's' ences of opinion which are likely b
in the General Assembly regai
- .'is election law. What is necessary,
l'ion W interests of the State at largo. is
and dispassionate consideration