New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-02-18

pointed, 10 propose any radical changes in
the present levee system. The answer to
the question az to whether the inadequacy
of the present system to protect our lands
from overflow arises from any defect in
the system, or from the want Of the means
to carry ont the system, can be easily an
swered. The inadequacy of the system
arises from both causes, but truth compels
us to say, principally from the last, viz the
insufficiencv of means.
The number of State employees provided
for by the existing laws is too great, IN
doubleday, ana the amount of salaries paid
by the State to its engineers, ETC.. could be
greatly reduced by diminishing the number
Of them, without any injury to the efficiency
of the service.
The price paid per cubic yard for con-
| structing the levees might also be reduced.
| IT any plan could be devised by which the
money needed for levee work could be pro-
vided and paid promptly by the State. on
the completion of each piece of work done.
of fifty cents per cubic yard, though nomin-
ally greater than the price paid by that
Company for the work, really leaves 20
margin for current office expenses, or for
engineers and clerks appointed by that
company, at their own expense, for super
vising the work aud keeping their books,
much less for profit, owing to the fact that
the company has to wait uniformly one
year. and frequently two and three years,
Tor the payment OF the amounts due to it
for work done.
We surely can not recommend the adop-
ton of board of levee commissioners sys-
tenn, substantially the same as was in Oper-
alton before the present system was inaugu-
rated. which the chairman of the commit
tee advises in his report.
Experience in the past demonstrated that
it was more Objectionable and even less ef
fcient than the present system. What
money the State can raise and apply to
levee building purposes had best be paid to
levee contractor direct, for work done,
and this the chairman advises should be
done through board of levee commission
ers; but what guarantee can be given that
the cost to the State will be any less then
than now!
Under the administration Of previous
boards of commissioners the cost was much
greater than it is now. The price per yard
paid seems to be the only question worthy
of notice. To attempt to make any radical
change in the levee system at present. with
preparation of these changes we deem I'M
advisable. The interest protected by the
levees is too great and too important to be
eopardized by hasty legislation, psrticu-
larly at the close of q session.
CHARLES w. LOWELL,
j. ROSS STEWART.
MESSAGE FROM THE SENATE.
The following message was received from
the Senate:
SENATE CHAMBER
New Orleans, February H. 1876. )
To the Honorable Speaker and Members of the
House of Representatives:
l am directed by the Senate to ask the
concurrence OF your honorable body in the
following Senate bills, viz:
Senate bill No SO, an act to amend and
re-enact section one of an act entitled an
act to incorporate the Vidalia, Red River
and Texas Railroad Company.
Senate Joint resolution No. 3, Joint resolu.
| ton appropriating $4,000 for the purpose
| of aiding and assisting the citizens of the
parish of TerrebOnne TO clean out and
make navigable Bsyous Terrebonne and
Little Gallon, etc.
Senate joint resolution No. IL. memorial
izing the national Congress to discriminate
| in the tariff against all imports being the
| products of slave labor.
Concurrent resolution authorizing the
| Joint committee appointed to investigate
| charges against United States Senator J.
r. West to employ shorthand reporter.
Also to inform your honorable body that
the Senate has concurred in the passage of
the following HOUSE OIL:
House bill No. Sc, an act to amend and
| re-enact section one of act No. SO of the
acts of 1872 entitled an act to authorize the
police jury Of of the parish of Caddo to issue
bonds.
President of the Senate, has signed the fol
lowing House enrolled bills:
| An act to legitimate Louise Celina Du-
yieneaud. Joseph Castor Duvigneaud,
| Tharo.o Ih1io nnviOnaau0 IouiIo
Duvigneaud Pierre Duvigneaud, and Marie
Julia Ode,te Duvigneaud, children OF
Joseph Duvigneaud and his wife Marie
Julia Freid.
| An act relative to the dav of demand, pay
| ment aud protest of prOmissory notes. bills
| of exchange and commercial paper, matur-
| ing on holidays. 30.
| An act to amend and re enact section thir-
teen of act No. 9, approved February q,
| 1871, STYLED an act to provide for the cup
plying the loss of public records and other
papers consumed by the burning Of the
courthouse in the parish of Morehouse. on
the sixteenth of March 1870.
he'p E. %AMSiAN1ERE, JR..
Assistant Secretary of the Senate.
EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATION.
The Speaker laid before the House the
following communication from the Gov
ernor:
| STATE OF LOUISIANA,
| Executive Department. Z
| New Orleans, February IL, 1870
To the Honorable Speaker and Members Of the
House Of representatives:
| transmit herewith to the General As
sembly: :.
Annual report of the Board of Metropoli-
tan Police tor the year 1873.
Annual report of the trustees OF the
| Louisiana Institution tor the Education OF
the Blind.
Annual report Of the Louisiana Institu.
tion for the Education of the Deaf and
Dumb
Annual reports of coroners OF Avoyelles,
East Baton Rouge, Caddo, East Feliciana,
Yves. Feliciana, Jefferson, Iberia, Iberville
| aud Lincoln transmitted to me IN accord
ance with section o. Revised Statutes.
also forward for the information Of the
General Assembly the second annual report
Of the board of control of the Louisiana
State Agricultural and Mechanical College,
which the board respectfully report may be
referred to the appropriate committee.
Also the annual report OF the board OF
administration of the Charity Hospital.
VIM. p. KELLOGG, Governor.
On motion of Mr.. Matthews of Tensas
the report on the Board of metropolitan
| Police for the wear 1875 was ordered to be
referred to the select Committee on City
} Affairs; the report of the trustees OF the
Louisiana Institution for the Education O.
the Blind, the report of the Louisiana Insti
tution for the Education of the Deaf an6
Dumb and the report of the board of the