The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1878-01-23

! ttItuI ltllaUio CHauucld TO QluereQC
Offices.
In other words, the will of the peo
pie, as expressed at the ballot box,
ought to be safe guarded by the integ
rity of several persons and at no per-
iod risked npon a single responsibility.
One set of originals s1ouid be sent to
the Secretary of State. l suggest the
forty first section be amended, so as
to substitute some one in lieu of the
District Judge mentioned therein.
The registration law elso needs revis-
ion Registration has been effected in
very few Parishes owing to a litigation
in reference to the printing of the
blanks. The Assessors claim that they
are entitled each to two hundred dol
lats for every year they are in Office,
inblnding the year 1877. They con-
tend that they were not i'll fault in ma
king no registration.
| have declined to approve their
claims; besides doubling the text of
the law as to their right, there was no
appropriation. In my opinion, there
fore, if | have mistaken the law in this
particular, the matter is open for leg
islative correction.
VACANCIES.
Legislation on this subject should be
made more definite. The channel or
medium of communication to the Gov.
error of the fact of the vacancies in an
office should be determined, and also
what constitutes official information.
have, during the recess, ordered
special elections for vacacies in the
House of Representatives, under the
Interpretation placed upon the exist
ing law by the Attorney General, to
whom l had submitted the question.
| do not limit my remarks to vacancies
in the General Assembly, but apply
them to vacancies in all Offices and
from whatever cause produced. There
is general belief in the community
that on the qualification of an
officer within limited period the
Governor is authorized to consider the
Office vacant and fill the same. THIS
is correct IN some special cases, but is
incorrect as a general proposition. I
think it would be right to have a law
enacted creating legal presumption
of the declining of the Office by the
failure of the person elected or ap-
pointed to qualify within a fixed
period.
OFFICIAL BONDS.
Authority has been asked from me
for the institution in the name of the
State of suits to test the legality Of
bonds and the suficiency of the secu-
rites thereon, where the bond had
been approved by the officers desig-
mated by law to approve them.
The ground of the application being
that these officers had acted unad.s-
eddy and incorrectly in the execution
af their duty. The question has arisen
whether the acceptance SO made was
not conclusive as to the correctness Of
all facts prior thereto, except on ale.
CATION of fraud. I think it would be
we'll to have this question settled by
Legislation authorizing such suits.
NoTARIEs IN NEW ORLEANS.
direct your attention to section
252lnf the Revised Statutes. find it
difficult to ascertain whether the limit
mentioned in that section has been
reached or not. and desire such legis.
lation as will enable me to act
advisedly.
BOARD OF HEALTH.
The report of this board will be
submitted to yon. It's affairs have
been managed to the great good of the
State and credit af it's members. The
recommendation made by it are sub
mitted to your careful consideration,
especially that having reference to To-
cal boards in the country.
CHARITY HOSPITAL.
The report of this institutian is now
in the hands OF the printer, and makes
an exhibit which entities the board 10
the thanks of the people of the
State.
DEAF AND DUMB-INsTITUl HON FOR THE
BLIND
The situation and wants of these va
rious State charitable institutions will,
| am certain, receive yaur careful
consideration.
The Insane --sylum is in great need
of cIatlling and bedding; it should be
at once supplied. The Parishes from
which person are sen0 to these insti-
tutions should be directed to provide
the necessary travelling expenses
In connection with these institutions
suggest it would be- we'll to amend as
far as practicable the laws making the
Governor ex-officio president ofh"ards
and institutions of variOns kinds. 1t
is utterly impossible for him to attend
properly to these different duties,
whilst the fact of his being nominally
president has the effect of causing
divided responsibility which l do not
pelihve is beneficial to the public.
IMMIGRATION.
The Board of Immigration report to