The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1876-02-22
DELAYS ARE DANGEROUS.

Some of our friends find the complaints of
the public, as echoed by the BULLETIN on
Sunday morning, relative to the tardy action
of the friends of reform in the General AS
sembly, rather more emphatic than agreeable
In inforcing our initial proposition that "the
people demand action" we referred to the
many days of the session that had elapsed
and to the few days which remained, and we
referred to the many measures Of reform
which require action, and to the compare
lively little that had been done. The com
paints of the people are not that nothing has
tardy, and that reform measures have chung
fire." so that at the end Of thirty nine work
ing days of the session SO little had been done
as to arouse fears that in the remaining eight
days but little more was to be expected. We
referred to the House especially, because in
that branch the friends of legislative reforms
are in majority.
We scarcely need suggest that Democratic
and Conservative Representatives will not be
held blamable or der lict in duty for the failure
of their bills in the Senate; provided, always,
that such bills were passed and transmitted
to that body without needless delays; but
when the majority Of reform measures remain
without final action by the House until five
sixths Of the session has elapsed. it is not at
all unnatural that the people who are to pay
the taxes should become anxious as to the
prospect for reforms.
What we said was in the spirit of admoni-
ton and not of attack-more as q reminder
of public expectation and complaint than as
criticism Of our own upon legislative nom
action. We want none of the reproach of
failures to rest upon the reform majority of
the House or the reform minority of the
Senate. It will become the duty of those
who reflect pubic opinion to summarize the
measures of relief accomplished by the Cen
eral Assembly. This must be done by every
conservative newspaper in Louisiana, and if
there proves to be but beggarly account of
still born bills to show for session that will
cost at least $4,000, there will be some
rather discontinued and censorious grum-
bling. Those who cause the failure by
adverse votes will have justly the chief part
Of the blame to bear; but those who increase
the chance of failure by action needlessly
slow will not entirely escape complaint.
Tardy action is in danger of having the re-
suit of failure to act. In no case is the Senate
likely to show more than q stepmother's care
for the reform measures born in the House.
Such having been the purpose and spirit of
our comments, we can only express regret
that they are construed as an "attack" upon
the friends Of reform in the General Assem-
bly,. We are gratified to be informed, how
ever, that some of the measures to which We
referred have actually passed in the House.
and have been sent to the Senate, even if they
must there undergo the process of smothering
in committees, or be tinkered to death with
or slaughtered at once by an ad-
verse vote. As to these measures, our friends
have done their part, which might, in some
instances, have been done sooner our enc
mics in that body will do as they please with
them, because they have the power.