The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-02-08
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
fThe DEMOCRAT 10 responsible for none OF
the views expressed In the communications
under this head; but no communications will
be printed except from responsible parties.]
REFORM OLA PODRIDA.

Editor Democrat There are so many fruit
ful themes for public discussion that It Is
| to end. This morning sixth OF February,
| however, you touch on two, and third
comes up in the course Of an official report on
the Insane Asylum, to the city authorities,
and beg to offer few remarks on each.
FIRsT-CHARLEY HowARD's LOTTERY.
ment 81, Dave 9. Johnston OF course we all
| are. OF course this is one OF the most shock
| ing events that ever TRANSFERRED in any civil
| lied community. Of course 1t is the enforce
ever violated the organic law Of this Or any
other State, and the fragrant invasion of the
dearest rights of civilized freemen.
But what are you going to do about it
Did not Charley Howard say, when he was
getting his monopoly from the State, Give
| In Louisiana, and I'll rule the State? And
did he not buy. legislators and get his mo-
nOpolyY And does he not rule the State
Does not the premium bond scheme, the
special offspring of men who hold spurious
| claims against New Orleans, and a law which
! itself cannot stand the crucial test Of an APP
pearnnce before tho Supreme Court does 1t
not abs )lutey owe its existence to the per-
mission of Charley Howard? And is not
every man who holds premium bond under
obligations to Charley Howard and bound to
sustain his lottery2
But what are you going to do about It? Is
hand and foot to Charley, Howard? We're
part OF those idiots called "the people" for
reform? Ana was not Charley Howa Yards
n, snv AZ nn,ve they, shown to you or me, or
in nnv man who WI -, think for himself, that
spirit of reform which was tic shiboleth under
which patriotic and indignant constituency
swept them into Office and held them there
with their strong right armsi Dare they
strike down the monster of which you this day
complain So properly and so eloquently? No
They dare not * the deadly upas tree the
lottery-had not cast It's hated exhalations
over the halls Of legislation, the vote OF q few
days ago would have been O. moral impossl-
naut Of conservatism another namee, for
fraud on freedom our rulers are the willing
steeds, and Charley Howard the memorable
driver,
Dave G. Johnston, indeed! Oceans q money
have been spent, oratory has been exhaLsted
and the bravest Of the brave have shed their
blood and given up theirlves around the iron
house to make such martyrs Impossible on
the soil Of Louisiana; but, "Conservatls s,
the se al e this Gs as msawkish @
practical sentiment, and 'the people, stand
to-day with their hands tied and their liberties
stricken down by the men waited into power
on their shouts for Reform! venai Radacal
ster in the eyes of all good men; .Conserv-
alive" legislature dares not disturb it; mo, nor
even call constitutional convention
Where is the remedy Let the answer come
from the CrinSOned stones which pave Dhe
streets around the iron house.
sEcoND-srATE BONDS FOR THE NEW Or
LEANS AND PACIFIC RAILROAD.
You Fave taken ground in favor Of the pas
sage of the proposed law for lending the bonds
Of the State for $2,0O000O for the use OF this
fai'f Know, sir. that yo9 oonseientiously be.
believe your position to be right could
bring many strong arguments against you,
but It is of no use after all that has been al
ready said. It is not you would argue
against. would rather argue to the Legisla-
| ture, but that is useless. One point, however,
The Pententiary has been leased out for a
| number Of years; believe the lease will soon
expire, and am under the impression that
| the Legislature knows that the lessee has not
| fulfilled the terms of his contract with the
State There are several hundred convicts in
the observation-disclosures speaking-and
they have been, and still are, engaged working
on this road for pay to the lessee; first, all
the cash possible; second, stock III the road
| for the balance.
Now. why should not the State turn these
| conyicts over to the railroad company free OF
charge for three or five years, simply requiring
them to be fed, clothed and guarded, as now
| 1t is not money the company requires but
work, labor. Ii they had money, all they
can do with it is to turn it into labor, which
means construction.
This plan can be adopted without adding to
the debt of the State and without taxing the
people. Will the Legislature entertain the
| idea? No. Why? Because some "Conser-
vative" lawyer will find out that somebody's
| vested rights are being interfered with,
maybe some criminals vested rights '-and
then again, there would be no Job in 1t.
TH1RD-FoRTY CENTS FoR0 CRIMINALS!
TWELVE CENTS FOR LUNATICs!
In appointing commission to examine into
the condition of the City Insane Asylum the
city authorities have inadvertently opened up
mine of material for Legislative reflection;
The report If the commission is an able and
exhaustive one, and presents several fruitful
themes for discussion, but propose to notice
only one point to-day. o.
The commission point to the fact that the
city paws forty cents per diem for the sup.
port of the criminals in the Parish Prison, and
but tueaay.three for the support OF the poor