The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1878-01-23
MESSAGE OF THE COVER >OR.
TCoNTINUED FROM OUR FIRST PAGE.
PUBLIC LANDS.

Land Office has been handed to me.
but is still in the hands of the printer
The only suggestions that | have to
make for the present in reference to
this office, is that before a land patent
reaches the Governor tol his signature,
it shall he counter igned by at least
two officers, wIle shall serve rs checks
upon each other and vouch for the com
plance of the conditions precedent
upon which the patent is authorized to
be issued. The form of the patent Mt
present used is defective and should be
altered.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
Your attention is directed to the
question of the repairs of the State
House in New Orleans, to the insur-
ance of the same, and particularly to
the selection of some central authority
controlling that building and the dis
tributiOn of the rooms. No one knows
precisely who has authority to act or
to what extent that authority exists.
and there is divided responsibility in
regard TO the building, which should
ba put an end to.
A proposition has been made by the
Mechanics Association in regard to
the Mechanics Institute. That propo-
sition will be submitted to you or to
any committee whom YOU will charge
with the examination of the relations
of the State to that Association. The
Supreme Court building being used for
State purposes, the costs of repairs to
the same should be shared with the
city; not to an extent, however, of
over S25OO.
PRINTING BOARD.
In pursuance of the laws regulating
the public printing, two contracts have
been entered into with Mr.. George W.
Dupre for this work. | am informed
by him that the whole expense for
printing, as also for furnishing the off
ces of the Auditor and the Secretary nf
State with necessary books, blanks and
stationery, will not exceed $4,000. /
have to call your attention to the fact
that you will have to ill vacancies in
the Printing Board, caused BY the ex-
piration of the term of service of those
members of your honorable bodies
at the close of the present session.
PENITENTIARY.
The lessees of the Penitentiary being
in arrears to the State to very large
amount, suit was instituted 10 East
Baton Rouge, several years ago,
against them for dissolution of the
lease and for a judgment for the rent.
1t became an important question
whether, during last year, this suit
should be pressed for trial; as Il disso-
luton of the lease would have thrown
the cOnvicts on the State authorities
without any appropriation for their
support and guarding, and no direc,
ton as to their use, it was decided to
allow matters to stand AZ they were.
The possibility or probability of this
labor being thrown back on the hands
of the State authorities should be con
tingently provided for. The lessres
offer to give collateral security to Sc
cure the sum which they may be ad-
Judged to owe.
1t becomes a matter of legislative
discretion whether the suit to set aside
the lease be pressed or not. TIL" con.
victs are at work on the construction
of the New Orleans Pacific Railroad -
q work which has been erergetically
carried on in spite of many obstacles
and which it is exceedingly important
should be completed. As matters
stand, though the State gains nothing
in money from her couvicts, she is at
no expense for their support, and M
less the system of employing the con
vict labor or the levees be adopted,
think that the present arrangement
should continue. am not aware of a
desire on the part OF any one to lea e
the Peuitentiary should the present
lease be set aside.
MILITIA.
The report of the Adjutant General
will, as soon as complete by the prin-
ter, be submitted to you.
recommend a complete reorgaDiza-
ton of the militia of the State, and in
addition to their general enrolment
and organization that the Governor
should be authorized to organize a
small militia force in each parish. that
could be ready for service at mo-
ment's notice. | think that the discre-
tionary power of organization and al
tsraton Of organization given to the
Governor by existing law should be
continued.
By section of Act No. AZ of the ex
ira session of II, an appropriation was
made of $4,000, to be used by the
Governor for the benefit of the militia.
A balance of about $4,000 remains to
tue credit of that appropriation.
A considerable portion of the sum