The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1876-02-08

Mr.. Walkers bill to create court OF
arbitration in New Orleans was reported
unfavorably by the Judiciary Commit.
tee, and was recommitted.
A bill to regulate the mileage Of mem.
bers of both houses, by computing
actual travel, passed.
A bill limiting the stationery for each
member of both houses to SO for the
session, and authorizing members to
commute the same for money, passed.
A bill to incorporate company for
burg, parish of st. Tammany, passed.
Mr.. Young, from the Judiciary Com
mittee, to whom had been referred bill
to fix the compensation of sheriffs for
feeding prisoners, in every part Of the
State, at twenty-five cents a day for
each prisoner, reported bill applying
only to the rural parishes and setting
the compensation at forty cents day
for each prisoner. An amendment hav-
ing been adopted excluding the parish
of Jefferson as well as the parish Of Or
leans from the bill. Nearly an hour
was consumed in discussing the subject.
(St. John the Baptisto He wanted the
whole matter in his parish left to the
police jury.
Mr.. Young said the principal object OF
this measure was to protect the people
from the extravaganza and recklessness
of police juries The bill restricted
them to forty cents, but they could con-
tract at any lower price, If they found
it right to do SO. Those parishes paying
scrip would find margin enough up to
forty cents, and those paying cash could
contract at cash rates.
Mr. Bowers-Why not include New
OIL in, no Oai
discretion to the council?
Mr.. Young replied that members from
the city knew little or nothing Of local
affairs in the country, and country
members reluctantly meddled in city
matters Of which they were equally ig
norant.
Mr.. Kidd moved that the maximum
price be fixed at fifty-five cents. There
were many parishes in which forty cents
would not be enough.
Mr.. Young accepted the amendment
He simply wanted some restriction upon
police juries.
Mr.. Levissee had made inquiries o.
different persons, who had been sheriffs
and deputy sheriffs, and the highest
estimate he had of them for feeding 6
prisoner in New Orleans was twenty-five
cents day, while the lowest was nine
teen cents. He was satisfied that forty
cents was abundantly sufficient for any
part Of the State.
The amendment was further discussed
by Messrs. Sartain and Kidd, who spoke
for it, and by Speaker Estilette Mr.
Bower in the chair who argued against
it and in favor OF the price nominated
in the bill.
Then, on motion of Mr.. Walker, the
amendment was laid on the table--yeas
Sc, nays 80.
Mr.. Hahn proposed to amend so that
the bill shall not go into effect until the
first of December next. He offered the
amendment to shield representatives
from the ill will Of sheriffs in their sew,
eral parishes, who would complain OF
their fees having been reduced while
they were in office. But, the weightiest
argument for the amendment was that
incumbent sheriffs would have no mo-
tive to unite in ''log rolling schemes tc
defeat the reform, for the bill would not
tive until their terms Of office had eX.
pired.
Mr.. Meredith wanted reform by the
immediate reduction Of parOchial ex
penses. He was not accountable to the
sheriff of his parish, nor was he afraid
Of the sheriff's influence nor OF any Other
mans influence. He came here to dc
his duty to the people, and as he knew
the people were suffering from taxation
he was resolved to apply the principle
of retrenchment at the earliest momen,
practicable.
The yeas and nays having been called
upon Mr.. Hahn's amendment 1t pre-
vailed-yeas 50, nays Is.
Then the bill passed finally, as
amended. and, at four O'Clock, the
House adjourned.