St. Landry democrat., 1878-06-08
The Country Press.
DID OUR LATE LEGISLATURE GIVE Us
ANY REFORMs9
claiborne Guardian.i

The Hon. E. d. White, Democratic
Senator from New Orleans, made a
speech just before the adjournment OF
the Legislature, in which he summed
up the reform lahors of the Legisia-
ture, and seems to have proven salts
factorliy that the Democratic admins
tration and Legislature have saved the
State over three million dollars.
[Terrebonue Progress.l
In spite of the fact that the disap-
pointed howl occasionally, the Nichols
government has been a success, and mas
carried out the reforms promised in the
last campaign. 1t is useless for men
to blow and butt their heads against
facts and figures, which are irresistible.
1t shows bad taste in the "uuts" to
abuse Unfortunately a good Cover
nor, good State officers, and the Legis-
lature, which has certainly accomplish
ed some good; and especially so when
they are abus ing their own party. This
way OF abusing everybody in office is a
very effective way to put tricksters and
political rascals i'll charge of State
affairs.
The Nichols government is truly re-
form as can be seen in the article pub
lished in this issue, and taken from the
Philadelphia Times. 1t is certainly
well worth our endeavors to sustain an
administration that can save to ou1
noble old State the sum of So, I95, ATS
1t has been said that the State printing
is monopoly. The Nichols admins
tration can point with Pride to the fact
that under carpet bag government the
State printing cost 1916, 748; now it only
costs $4,000, less than one-tifth what il
did under Radical regime.
was abused and vlified, saved the State
Legislature wasted time. But take
any body of men, many of them igno-
rant of their duties as lawmakers, as
most new men certainly will be, and il
will be seen that to accomplish the
same work that our last Legislature
did, the same time will be consumed
If we take new men to make our laws
we must expect mistakes and some de-
lay until they are somewhat versed III
the art. Our last Legislature was com
posed partly of this kind of men. Al
first they did not act as a body, for they
disagreed as to what was most expe.
aient. After discussing the wants OF
the State they acted more in accord anC
became q better law making body
The next session they would be better
still.
Franklin SUM-
We have carefully perused, this week
the speech of the Hon. E. d. White
made in the Senate of this State about
the close of the last session of Oul
Legislature, in defence of that muct
and, we are sorry to say, justly abused
body. Always being willing to give
the devil his due, however, we mus
say that the present Legislature, the
one elected for the sessions OF 1877 anC
1878, has done much for the State, anC
notwithstanding all their short com
ings it's members should have credit
for all that is actually due them. Dir
White claims to show figures for ali he
claims, aud, it is said that figures wont
lie, but we think his estimates-in some
instances incorrect. He estimates the
amount already saved at So, 1874, AIS, anG
that to be saved by adoption of thu
constitutional amendments, ETC., a
$1,2S0.000, making the total amount
saved to the State by the efforts OF
these legislators, 1885, AIS. Of the
amount already saved, that put dowr
as saved to the parishes is certainly
greatly exaggerated, and we are salts
fed that others of the estimates made
as having been saved are incorrect, bu
if half the amount claimed has actual
ly been saved, the people OF the State
have been relieved Of a great burden
As to the amount to be saved by tfs
adoption of the constitutional amend
ments. ETC.. time alone can determine
its correctness. Ii the amendments
shonld be adopted, there certainly
would be some saved annually to The
State, but what the amount would BIZ
cannot we'll be determined at this time