The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1878-10-30
were as follows:

LOW. .'....' -. lU0, U0(
an average for these eight years o
$4,000 showing that. under the pro.
visions of the act of 1873, the expenses
OF the General Assembly will be less
than the average from 1853 to 1860
la the Judiciary Department, by the
reduction Of the salaries of Parish
Judges, together with thes:repeal Of
the act acknowledgements Judges.com-
pensation beyond that Fixed by the
Constitution. operate an annual saving
to the State of $64, 500.
The average annual disbursement
Tor Public Printing for the seven years
from 1868 to 1874 inclusive, as taken
from official records, were S245, 1928 H..
For eight years prior to The war, from
1853 to 1860 inclusive, the average
amount paid yearly was S42,l3 In
1877 the cost was only $4,000, not
outstanding session of nearly four
months and other items of expense
more than usual; and in 1873 the
amount was $4,000, showing a reduc-
ton of about the amount paid before
the war.
The expenses in the Executive De-
partment, the Auditors and Treasu.
ref's Offices, the Department of Public
Education, the assessment and colIec.
ton OF taxes, have all beea greatly
reduced, in most instances as much as
could be done under Constitutional
limitations. Taxes for the present
year have been reduced " mills, and
for the next year a still further reduc-
ton of 3 mills, making nearly one
third less in two years, aud should the
Constitutional Amendments be adopt
ed still greater saving in the annual
expenses of the State Government will
be accomplished. The election and
registration laws have been revised
and simplified, and in the revision the
infamous Returning Board has been
abolished. The Jury system has also
been revised so as to purify and facili-
tate the administration of justice.
The legislation restricting the Par
lshes in the administration of their To-
cal affairs has been productive of much
good, limiting the rate of taxation TO
a maximum of 10 mills, forbidding the
issuance of evidences of Indebtedness
In any manner, reducing the fees of
officials, thereby largely curtailing the
expenses in criminal trials, requiring
The revenues of such year to be applied
10 the expenditures of that year, SO
that a Juror or witness, for attendance
On the court, may receive cash for ser
vices rendered, and not script, to be
disposed of at one third or one fourth
is face value.
These are only few of the most
measures alluded to by
Senator White, in his elaborate sum-
nary of reform legislation, and while
much remains to be done much has al
eady been done, and when we con-
ider all the circumstances under
which our Representatives acted, the
he inquiry might we'll be: "What
more could have been done :" The
leaning of the Augean stables was
lot the work of day. Firm patience
nd determined, continued effort was
necessary; SO it is with revising and
storming the infamous legislation of
hat corrupt party which ruled the af-
airs of cur State from 1863 to 1876 in
lusiye. In consequence of acts of
poilation, fraud and corrupt legisla- !.
ON generally, the legislators sus-
aimed by Federal authority, our peo-
lie, from long oppression, had we'll
igh concluded that we were powerless
resist longer, when, during the early
art Of the year 1877, all eyes were
lrned to and all hope was vested in )
lr Representatives, assembled at that =