The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-03-26
WORK OF THE LEGISLATURE.
THE REFORMS Hr ACCOMPLISHED.

! Wepublish underneath and IN ertenso, for the
| information of the Democrats and Conserya-
| tives Of Louisiana, the speech made in the
Senate by Senator White, OF Orleans, just be-
fore it's adjournment at the recent session, In
which he reviewed somewhat in detail the
reforrnatory legislation Of the General As
sembly at it's sessions OF 1877 and 1873, and
summed up the work which had been done
and the improvements In the administration
Of the government which had been effected.
Mr.. White said:
| Mr.. President-.-I ana sorry that gentlemen
1 on the other side OF the nonse seem to object
| was, doubtless, offered by the Senator from
Rapides with the object Of furnishing an oc-
| casion, in the last hours Of the session, for
making some statement In connected man
| ner OF the system OF Legislation devised by
| the majority OF this General Assembly, during
this and the former session, for the relief Of
the people Of the State. In availing myself OF
the opportunity which the resolution makes
for it is difficult to review with appreciation
the work accomplished without Seemingly
indulging in self-praise, associated rs / am
with the majority on this floor, 10 whom
at the last general election. However, a sense
| OF public duty and of public veal should
dominate and control all personal considera-
| tions, and believing that much misapprehen-
| sion exists as to what has been done by this
| General Assembly, and that statement
| thereof, somewhat in detail, will be conducive
| to public good as tending at least to remove,
| in part, this misapprehension,1 l will endeavor
to present such statement, dlsclaiming in the
outset any personal claim to, communication
other than that which may result from an
honest effort to perform my duty.
! Sir, when / turn back to the political con-
dition Of this State, prior to the last general
| election, and then look upon her condition
| tion but, | trust also, in thankfulness to an
| all-wise Providence, who has mercifully
| guided her through 50 many dangers and
difficulties to the condition OF peace, order and
| freedom which she now enjoys. Then her
| people we're enveloped in the darkness which
| followed reconstruction. Despite the awful
sacrifices which the war had entailed, de-
spite the loss of her best blood upon so many
social and material system, despite the ago
MES of reconstruction and the deprivation
Of liberty which followed, her people, with
devotion to public duty, had again and again
government only to find their victory flus-
| trated and the fruits thereof turn to ashes ia
their hands by the instrumentality of laws
| created for sitting and perverting their will.
earnestness Of purpose indicative OF the awful
| consequences to result from defeat. Sir that
struggle was successful. But when we, the
representatives OF the people, met to carry
out their desires, the same obstacles which
had previously prevented the establishment
OF q representative government confronted
| us. The State House occupied by usurping
government, and with the Federal govern
| tenancing it, rendered the hope Of is over
| throw faint indeed. know sir, that the brave
hearts OF the people OF the State were ready
to respond to any call made upon them,
t,71f fhr o5nl~
been entailed had turmoil ensued Conscious
of this, sir. and trusting to the devotion Of
our own and the patriotism Of the American
people, we organized our government and
weary weeks Of vicissitude, OF anxiety, and OF
doubt, we passed from q condition of uneer-
tainty to one Of certainty. Without one sac
rifice OF principle, without anarchy, the usur-
the people, for the people, and by the people,"
was established, never, trust, to pass away
again. When I consider the struggle which
led to this happy oonsummation, when / look
upon the faces OF my colleagues upon this
floor and recall the first anxious meeting, the
frequent after conference the difference of
opinion existing, the forbearance by which
unanimlty was attained; and above all, Mr..
President, when bring back the wise coun-
sci, the promptness in acting when action was
required, and the equal firmness in not acting
when naction was best, shown by the true
gentleman whom the people had called to the
chief direction OF their affairs, and who with
more than Roman courage and simplicity.
now discharges the duties OF his high office,I
am impressed with the conviction that not ali
chance led to this successful issue. Sir, YOU
doubtless bring back the image of this strug-
gle to your mind, for you were an actor In it's
alternations OF hope and despondency. You
lent the aid OF your experience, your quick
ness OF apprehension, and your devotion to
the public service to it's termination. How
ever, it was not my purpose to make refer
ence to the turmoil Of the past, but rather to
endeavor to render some account Of
the stewardship with which the gov
on To ocs rsItng gs1 from the Eestors
and in so doing, if speak in the maine Of the
majority on this floor, I desire to disclaim
any, intention OF wounding the feelings Of any
gentleman who may differ In political opinion
from myself and colleagues l desire to in
clude every gentleman acting with the mi
norlty who may have lent his aid to the ac-
complishment OF any good which has been
reached.
Mr.. President, when coming into power.
TINS government succeeded to deplorable
heritage. Everything was disarranged and
In confusion. Everything was to be reformed,
reform difficult to obtain, because Of consti-
tutional and other restrictions, but which
was promptly undertaken in all departments
Of the government, with results which now
propose to set forth.
IN THE EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
The expenses OF this branch of the govern
ment have been materially reduced In the
office OF the Chief Executive, In salaries alone,
over the year 1875, a saving was made OF
$3.50 annually, and the cost of this depart
in 1867, prior to reconstruction. The table
which | read. and the figures of viii, ,h are
taken from official records, makes this state
ment obvious, thus:
In 1867 the Governors salary was ss.0Oe
81 LlVaIe i secretary y.................... $500
neoSehRei .-.................... 360
HIaking 1ag a botal Oh ...:.............$ $1O, $3.50
In 1875 the Governors salary was. $1,000
q Llva.e SECRETARY .............. $500
IIel ~ slha. No $500
III neS7eensei Observation-Disclosures. 1900