The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1878-05-03

diem) were ssfHciently removed above
the pressure caused by the general
stringency of the times and which
bear so burdensomely' on their masters,
that they had cash and could regard
less of expense indulge their filibuster-
ing propensities to the utmost. 1t cam
not be otherwise than refreshing to
wholesale indorsers to learn that the
legislature would, at an expense of
81, 500 per diem, sssometimes consume
a whole day in coming to final vote
on question that should not have con-
sumed FIVE minutes"
"Filibustering," says Mr.. W., "was
the cause why the time of the legisla-
ture was extended through period of
over 70 days when it could have fin
ished all it had to do in less than 80
days." I doubt not the procrastinat-
ing influence that resulted from fill
clustering, but when the people in the
exercise of their high ,prerogative as
sovereigns count at the cost OF the
sport by deducting thirty times %, 500
from seventy times s., 500, and reflect
that the product represents that much
of their money wasted, methinks they
will incline to the belief that the pres
ent per diem was the cause OF the
cause, or in other words the cause OF
the t'filibustering.'' See to it in the
future that we have real
EXTRACTS.
"The people have just cause of com
plant against the legislature for vast
ing so much time, and spending so
much money to defray their own ex-
penses, and doing so little work. The
- Ab,S, 4: g.
in the one word 'filibustering.'
The amount of work done by the legis-
lature should have been done in less
than thirty days, under proper rules,
and am compelled by Il sense of JUS
tice to say that this waste of time was
due in nearly as great measure to
the filibustering Of Democrats as of
Republicans. The House would
frequently consume an entire day in
coming to a final vote upon a question
which should not have consumed five
minutes /; but no change OF the rules to
prevent filibustering was possible with
out q violent and total departure from
the usages of all legislative assemblies.
The better remedy seems to me to be
for the people to condemn at the ballot
box every man who engaged in these
costly exhibitions of his mulishness.
X The rules afford every facility to
delay any measure that comes up suffi-
GENTLY long for any one to inform him
self as. to its nature. Then he (the
member) should set forth as clearly as
possible the reasons that induce him
to advocate or oppose it, A call
Of the ayes and nays will put him on
record as having done his whole duty
on the premises. When Il member
T biol - <<> k>1
morally as guilty of rObbing the public
treasury as if he had stolen the money
of the people by actual theft. How
much Can be stolen in this way can be
easily seen when we consider that the
expenses of the legislature are about
So, 500 per day. II Let the people
know these men and in future protect
themselves against this species of rob-
berry; but, to our shame be it
said, nearly one-half the filibustering
of the entire session came from our
own Democratic) ranks"
rules that should govern legislative bodies.
was always of the belief that they possessed
the power to formulate such rules as in
their judgment the eXigencies of the situa-
ton demanded. 1t reads strangely that the
power rom whom emanates the laws that
govern a commonwealth cannot make rules
OF IaNS IOF Cle SoFeTIauce OF us own COLI
duct without Committing ga violent and
total departure from the usages of all legis-
lative assemblies" We submit this to the
consideration of gentlemen connected with
the profession OF law, and would be pleased
tor our own sake and that of the law makers
of our poor State if they win show that Mr..
Washburn is here in error.
OuACHITA PARISH, April II, 1873.
Editor Ouuchitu Isleyruph
Your correspondent in last weeks
paper need give himself no uneasiness