The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-04-14
THE LEGISLATURE.
The senate.

N
he had sgnsd the act providing for additional ..
polios infies In the country parishes, and the act
providing for the purity Of elections.
Mr.. 9oode, for the Judiciary Committee, re-
ported on concurrent resolution relative 70 tue
AFFAIRS of the Auditors office under the old re-
gime, recommending that 1t be referred to the
Finance Committee. r.
Also reported unfsvorably on several bills. The
House biii SOB, for the relief Of taxpayers Of
New Orleans. was read and temporarily post
poned for consideration.
Mr.. Boatner introduced an act to repeal the
act creating Board OF State Engineers, ap-
proved February "a, 1871. Laid over under the
rules
A message from The House announced CONCUR
renee OF that body in Senate amendments 70
House bill 237, relative to assessing property nss
positively used for charitable purposes.
On motion OF senator Steven, the Senate
joined the House TO ballot for Usitod States
senator.
senator Ellis in the chair.
After tho Joint session House bill No. 23T was
taken up on report OF the Conference Committee
above Noticed. The report Ia 81 follows:
/. Strike ont section Q, inasnuch ~ the law as
IL stands on the statute book disoriminates be-
tween retail grocers and barseepers. Or oo a
merely declHratory in that respect.
O. Change number Of section and make 1t =.
with an amendment striking out two hundred
dollars and insert three hundred dollars
%,
A. The Senate amendments, introduced as SEQ
ton . becomes section 4, and 10 adopted
Senate bill No. lao, to amend the general edu'
cation bill IT this State in come minor details, rs
am ended by the House, was passed.
House bill No. 800 was considered, being IAN
act for the relief " the taxpayers OF the CITY OF
New Orleane, to absorb the floating debt. The ut.
paid interest coupons, school warrants, anu all
evidences Of debt, and other claims ngsinst the
city, and 10 authorize and require the city Of
New Orleans TO receive such indebtedness. in pay
ment Of certain taxes Of the city Of New 0rle ans
duo prior to the first of January, 1876 The bill
was laid over jeet to call.
House bill No. 322 relative to reports from
banks, eto., reuuit cd to be made to the State
Treasurer, was passed.
Mr.. rexada, for committee, reported enrolled
Senate bill No. 14g.
The Preside mt in the chair.
II use bill No. $50. to repeal articles 1921, 1929
and 1928 of the Revised Civil Code, and sections
1888 aud 1884 of the Revised statutes Of Lousians,
Imposing q tax on foreign heirs, was called up by
senator Goode.
MIR. Goode said he did not know what was tho
law Of other countries in such matters, but he
was disposed To set good example.
The bill was finally passed.
House bin No. 3tD, to authorize parish taxes
for parish purposes not TO exceed IA 70 mills in
certain parishes, was postponed.
House bill NO. 297, to bond the parish debt OF
East Baton Rouge, was laid over.
Senator Eustis In the chair.
Mr. Grover, for committees, reported favort ably
on House bill to au horlze lberve parish TO levy
tax Of IA mills for parish purposes.
During the proceedings delegation Of gentle
men OF the Seven Wise Men were present. for =
short while under invitation to sests within the
bar of the Senate,
The President in the char.
House bill No. 301, authorizing suits for taxes
In justicss courts in New Orleans, was passed.
House bill 266, to authorize persons accused tf
crimes to testify in their own behalf, came up
with dual reports.
Senator White moved to adopt the ma jority re-
port favorsb1y on the bill, and Senator btubbe,
substitute, moved to adopt the minority re, ort.
Senator Bostner thought the till calcul .ted to
promote crime by prompting parties to perjury IN
their own in erests. and be doubted it's proprety.
senator Euslis thought this fundamental
change in our criminal laws had become neees-
say, just az it had been effected in civil mstters
The latter change when FIRST introduced In Eng-
land, had produced shock in legal minds, aud
yet an eminent jurist OF the time b ID declared
that the limited statute on the tubj 9ct hsd cre.
ated the greatest good in the fewest words that
was possible" He alluded, i, bis argument, ~
applicable TO the peculiar effects Of evidence 90
The case OF Fair, who would have been executed
In Vermont recently but for accidental knowledge
of the intended execution by II merchant who
had travelled with Fair, and hasten. d to rave
HIM from his impending fate. by establishing an
attbi IN his behalf An eminent attorney, Oakley
Hall, had dec attd at the end OF prosecution in
which his ciont who, he was confdent was limo
Cont, was convicted, In the face OF tho most posi-
tive evidence, that IL wss the last time he should
Ape in such useless proceedings. He arsu'
tnat ~ was better to give the law OF evidence full
latitude than that the innocent should BIZ con-
demned.
The matter was further ably discussed pro and
con by Messrs. Ellis, George. Allan, doode and
Garland.
senator George argued that what was good law
for the settled state Of society in snch old coun
tries - England, or even our own New England
AuAAx L.. lac F.x.S a
ana. The question was not how to acqult tho
Innocent, but TO convict the guilty.
MIR. Boatner agreed with Mr.. George, ard
doubte what Mr.. Ellis seemed t, belisve--that
Innocent persons in this state had been con-
demned. An attorney suff ring such q thing to
happen to bis client should be cruclhed.
senator Goo1e said he opposed the bill in the
interest of tho accused. Hardened criminals only
would be able to face prosecution, and escape
petJnrv. and the Innocent would be punished.
Pending discussion of the bill message frcrn
the House was eceved, announcing the passage
If Hou b II No BOT. TO repeal the city pax aot
ano II use bill No. $40, to repeal tho provisions
OF the law importing gu rantine charges on ships
and vessels.
Also that the House had passed House bills
Nos. 236, 1858 1853, 272, 285, 29i and 30G.
Another message from tho House announced
that the House refused TO concur in senate
to the Recorders Courts bill. and
had appointed committee to confer with one OF
the Senate on the subject.
The arguments OF sen .tor Garland In favor OF
the pending bill were particularly forcibe.
On moulin Of Mr.. Allan the minority rfport
was adopted-the vote being yeas IL. nays 0.
At3p, M, on motion of the same Sena Or, the
Senate went into executive session, and 80 re-
NAMED for about an hour.
MIR. Boatner, for committee. reported q substi-
tute for Senate bill No. 100. Laid over.
A M ssage from the Governor announced that
he had signed bills as follows For protection OF
game; relative to sewing machines; authorizing
Finlay X Go. to cue the State; amending act i25
OF 1877; the harbormasters fees bill, and the
bill to Hrueut the to appoint aa Assistant AZ
torney General.
The Senate adjourned until IL m. Saturday.
The House.
The House met pursuant to adjournment.
Speaker Bush in the chair and q quorum
present.