The New Orleans daily Democrat., 1877-12-08
CAPITOL GOSSIP.
THE PROBABLE sEUsTls"
VACANCY.

Penalties on Back Taxes To he Remltted.
Now that there is every Indication that Senator
Eustis will obtain his seat in the United States
Senate, the matter Of an election to fill the va
csncy caused by bis necessary resignation ss a
State Senator is attracting attention
IN STATE HOUSE CIRCLES.
Having been assured by the Governor, az pre-
viously stated by the DEMOCRAT, that writ OF
election would be issued in case of Vacancy
Registrar Landry has taken the necessary steps
to provide for the registration required by law.
His call upon the Mayor resulted In his obtaining
letter to the city engineer, who. the registrar
states, is now at work redistricting the city &C.
oJrding TO law. That done and the necessary
books and blanks furnished the registrar by the
Secretary of State. Mr.. Landry will proceed,
under section Of act No. 101, approved April 5O
1877. to make new registration of the quail.
fed electors, and no eleotor shall be per-
mitted to vote at the next or any succeeding
election who
HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED
az provided for by this act.'
While this is being done. the necessary steps
can. the registrar thinks, be taken by the voters
of the Tenth and Eleventh Wards to secure q
suitable candidate for the vacancy. either through
action by the Parish Committee, or by other so-
ton.
Once assured that he is to be sworn in, Senator
Eustis will doubtless tender bis resignation, by
telegraph, to the Lieutenant Governor and Pres
ldent of the Senate, who will notify the Governor
OF the vacsnoy, and the writ will issue as required
by section OF the election act, No. 5B, approved
April IL, 1877.
The State Auditor yesterday received the fol.
lowing letter
FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL,
ip reply TO his own Of the 4th inst, relative to
the remission Of penalties on back taxes:
ATTORNEY GENERALS OFr1CEl
bbta te Ell Louisiana,
New Orleans, December 2, 1877.
Hon. Allen Jumel, State Auditor:
Dear ST-Your letter OF the 4th instant has
been received, and in reply have to say that
after careful examination Of the whole subject
am Of the opinion that the penalties ought not
to be exacted. By aot No. % Of the regular ses-
sion these penalties were remitted provided the
taxes were paid on or before the frst fay OF De-
cember, 1877. But By act No. gs (the revenue
ao) OF the extra session, section 3D., il is provided
That the tax collector shall, on the first Monday
OF November, file in the Office Of the parish re-
corder de allied lst giving the names Of all per-
suHo Whbso sAA6b Etmhlu uupAEus Ab Wbu
AS THE AMOUNT
Of said taxes. and the filing thereof shall operate
q legal SEIZURE OF the property upon which said
taxes are levied; and from the date of said fling
said taxes rhali bear eight per cent per anuum
Interest, and no other penalty shall be egigibe,
1ny previous lab 10 The contrary notpithsidnd-
ing"
J In my judgment this provision is broad enough
10 cover all taxes-those of former years as we'll
ss those Of the year just closed. can sss no
'esson why the Legislature should have TO place |
he deliDquents under the de facto organization |
which controlled the State Tor four years in q
worse position than those who have filled TO |
,ay taxes to the government
OF THEIR OWN CHOICE.
There is every reason to conclude that it was |
he purpose OF the Legislature to relieve our peo-
,le from all Of these excessive penalties laid upon
hem Tor the purpose OF compelling their acqui-
soence in government not elected by them
elves and ssernly resisted by them at every
,ufnt.
think the situation OF affairs in Louisiana
10Th past and present, presents q case in which
liberal construction, and one looking to the
ublc welfare, is the true rule Of Interpretation
. applied to these statutes.
Very respectfully.
Il. N. OGDEN, Attorney General.
This, as will be seen, settles the question as
" Is the Auditor Ia concerned, and he will oon-
oAuohuy tusAMob tuo sh& GUn5ctUIb nDt I'd DoWs |
oil the payment Of penalties on back taxes.
The very liberal construction of the law given
y the Attorney General will OF course be hailed
ith delight by hundreds OF taxpayers in ths
tate, and the position taken by the Attorney
enera and Auditor will, in the estimation OF
lany, be entirely indorsed by the Legislature.
The Attorney General has addressed q letter to
10 Judges Of the district courts, requesting that
icy see that the jury commissioners fill the jury
heel Of
THE SUPERIOR CRIMINAL COURT
it'll an entire new list OF Names
The Attorney General has been advised that the
heel contains names which have been kept
aere for three years, and in order to secure
A NEW DEPARTURE