The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-02-02
LEGISLATIVE ITEMS.

The bill to repeal the lottery act was the
main feature Of yesterdays proceedings.
After on immense deal of tiIibustering, which
prolonged the session till late hour. the bill
was indefinitely postponed which Is eqtliva-
lent to u defeat and the lottery came out
again triumphant. A strenuous and open
support In debate was given, however to the
bill by Mr. Fitzpatrick, who made q power
full and denuncatory speech against the lot
terry and In favor Of the bill
'vested rights and the $40. 900 yearly con-
tribution to the Charity Hospital furnished
superseded the ".song of sixpenee," which
was the name Of the old tune by which it has
heretofore been smothered Nothing was said
during the debate about Hobtesse obtige.
Another bill to repeal the clauses In acts
Nos. 9 and 10 Of 1868, making, the unlicensed
sale OF lottery tickets q special crime against
the peaoe and dignity" Of the lottery company
and not Of the State, and reversing the whole
some rule of the law which places the burden
of proof on the prosecution, was also squeched
by handsome majority.
Sunday laws are multiplying; Mr.. Toler
handed In one yesterday.
Mr.. Cressy introduced bill requiring all
coroners to be graduates OF q chartered med
ical institute or licensed physicians.
Mr. Wise's resolution calling upon our Rep
resentatives In Congress to urge the passage
Of the bill now before Congress creating the
Eastern Judicial District OF Louisiana, and
providing for sessions of the Federal courts at
Shreveport, Monroe and Opelousas. was
passed after considerable discussion of an in
teresting character. which la fully reported in
our proceedings of the House.
The House adopted very wise amendment
TO its rules, providing that no bill or resol1-
ton should Be taken up out OF It's regular or
der except by unanimous consent of the
House. The Speaker announced that his OBJ
lection would always be made, and that the
rule would find no exception. This rule,
rigidly enforced, will greatly expedite bust
ness
Mr.. Hahn, having charged yesterday that
there were discrepancies to Che amount OF
some $50, 900 between the written and pub
lished official statements OF the Waterworks
finances. received the following explanatory
letter from the Mayor, which he read La the
House and declared satisfactory
..MAYoEALTY OF New ORLEANS
New Orleans. February1. 1878. J
Hon. M. Hahn
Dear Si.-As you seem to desire information
as to the discrepancy between the official state.
give you the explanation;
The fiscal year of the WateTworks begins on
the list October OF each year. The rents ore due
and payable at that time in Advance The bulk
OF the collections are made from that period on.
The report of the Administrator of receipts
70 the thirty HrSt Oh DeceHlUer. l5if embraces
collections from the previous year probably to
1hs extent Q, ine aepenee you n ,s th,s sb
ject. which may not be generally known, is the
fact that the holders of the Waterworks bonds
the case is now on appeal to the United States
Supreme Court.
Should they succeed they would obtain pos
session without any restriction Of charter and
both the city and the population would be en-
tfrely at their mercy.
Yours respectfully
ED. PfLsBURY. Mayor