The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-05-26
THE SUPREME COURT.
A Demand for Repairs mud Hint for n
Library.

A Demand for Repairs nnd Hint for n
Library.
Nov that our State government is soated upon
firm bssis, ana that IL really represents The PEG.
pie OF Louisisns, II behooves that IL should be
surrounded with ell the becoming paraphernalia
Of selfrespect and dignity.
To one who should visit our Supreme Court
room, . lack Of the proper surroundings, and even
Of common deoenoy in apparel, Ia patent. The
musty osiling IL giving way everywhere, threaten
ing with an svalanche Of plaster the unprotected
tno insinuation meant) heads Of tho praoticipg
lawyers. The rostrum where the high Justices
sit IL dirty and dilapldated; the drsperiss OF the
canopy sre ragged and iimeworn aud hang
Iistlessly, mutely pleading for q retirement on
haf.pay in acknowledgment OF long and faithful
service. The constituted authorities, who very
rarely visit the Supreme Courtroom, have az
yet been deaf 10 these mute entreaties, but the
Supreme Court judges. who are intimately
and dinrnally connected with the dumb
petitioners, and who themselves are suffer-
ers by the dilapidated state Of their
parsphernalisn surroundings, have taken the
matter In hand. and Chief Justice Manning has
appointed committee Of three members of the
bar In high standing -Messrs. d. Bermudez.
Sam. Blaine and 70. Fl. Farrar to see and inquire
into the possibility OF making some Improvement
In the looks and comfort Of this supreme altar OF
Louisiana justice. These gentlemen, we'll will
ing, went TO work immediately, aud after careful
personal examination Of the building and con-
sultaiion with various house builders and
engineers, report that she whole supreme
court building, clerks Office aud surround
:.... l... .1s.t ..a.f~r - ~5o
not exceeding from 1885, g TO $4,000. Tho building,
it must be remembered, IL vsry old, and has
nearly attained it's bundredth year, NJ having
been finished by its original constructors, tho
Jpaniards. in 1878. IL would be appropriate that
its centennial year, Ginning in with the liberia
ton OF LouisaDa, should be celebrated by the
presentation OF D new snit, nd that renovation
an MD be made to join hands in The old struc.
nre with reformation. The question now cornss
up, who will pay for the reptirsi The buI ding
belongs 10 the city, bnt Is nsed for Stale
purposes without any compensation gwen by
the state, whose highest judicial tribunal has its
sttiBgs there. Heretofore the city has taken
cMe Of the place. but IL cannot, for the present,
do 80 In its embarrassed financial condition
Under the circumstances, 1t would seem that the
state ought TO take upon itself that light burden.
The only difficulty in the way Of this desirable
end ID that there has been no appropriate n
made for that object by tie Legislature. This,
however, could be easily overcome II the Gov
ernor were 10 give the ASSURANCE that he would
recommend the passage of an appropriation by
the next Legislature to cover tho expense. With
such an assurance the money could be easily
raised, the city itself might advance II, and the
necessary work could 20 on 40 that our supreme
Court could be made clean and tiay for the next
session.
In this connection we beg leave 10 r3ier 10 our
review OF The dapidated condition Of the Dis |
tret Courts and the bherifrs Office, published In |
previous number Of the DEMOCRAT, and suR- |
gest that all these buildings be repaired 90 ~ TO |
be- in good order and worthy Of ths dignity OF |
liberated Louisiana. They are admirably adapted |
~ the purposes for VIII CHI they have served |
since Now Orleans was city, aud have this great |
convenience for the bar that all the Judicial busi
ness 10 shere worked together, 30 that any law |
yer who has cases different courts can, with. |
out any difficulty, go from one TO the other and |
go through his work expeditiously.
To return to the supreme Courtroom We wish |
TO add that the present library - totally made |
quate, being comp ,ssd OF only two book cases |
barely fillod with very ordinary works. mostly in |
broken ssts, We hear. that the members OF the |
bar will be appealed 10 at tho proper time for |
contributions 70 fill up the void and help making
up library, Of which the Now Orleans bar viii
not DO ashamed, and 10 which the judges may |
confidently look TO for reference. Ali this is good
work 10 contemplation, which. we think and
hope, will be soon mate rialized 10 the glory and
best interests OF our State.