The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1878-03-30
Points About the Regular Session Of
the Legislature.
Some of the Causes Which Led to an
Extra Session-Legislative Work
Yesterday.
N. o. Times.

There was considerable talk among
members Of tho legislature yesterday,
before the extra session convened, con.
corning the causes which brought about
that state of affairs which made an extra
session necessary. Of course there were
different causes assigned, but it is safe
to say that the prevailing opinion SEEM
ed to be that tho House had delayed &C.
ton upon the most important measures
until the last days of the session, and
when these measures were finally passed
and sent to tho Senate it was too late
for the Senate to give them proper con :
sideration.
During tho whole session tho Senate
has almost daily cleared its calendar, and
that too, without lengthy or evening
sessions. The revenue, appropriation,
Mottett register and opportionment bills,
which ought to have been among the
very first bills acted on by the House,
were not acted upon until the session
had almost e1piled. The time Of tho
House was taken up with talk upon mat
tiers of only minor Importance, with the
exception, perhaps, of the constitutions
amendments and the mileage and per
diem bill.
The real truth is that the dominant
party was without organization and too
many of the members wanted to talk
rather than settle down to work. APP.
parently more than half Of the Demo-
cratic members thought that they ought
to lead their party, and when they found
that they conldn't, they were unwilling
to fall into the ranks and follow the
lead of somebody else. 1t has been said,
and perhaps tr,tthfu]ly, that there was
not single agreement made in caucus
aud there we're very few caucuses-that
was strictly kept on the floor of the
House.
The dominant party did not work
tremendously and unitedly together
There was lack of sympathy between
the members growing ont Of the fact,
perhaps, that portion of them were
anxious for u constitutional convention,
and regarded it as party necessity,
while another, and by far the larger
portion, wished to remedy the evils in
the present constitution 10y amendments
and save the excitement and expense of
convention. The consequence was that
there was no disposition to take hold Of
the work Of Legislation systematically
and earnestly.
They driftel along in an aimless, IN.
certain way that indicated from the be-
ginning almost what the final result
wOnld I've.
They now see, and do not hesitate to
acknowledge it, that they ought to have
had a thorough organization, with chos-
en- leaders, upon all important questions,
aud that, before acting upon the floor
of the House, a thorough understanding
should have been arrived at in caucus.
1t cannot he said that the Republicans
retarded legislation. 1t is true they were
we'll organized and we'll led, but they
did not, as party, attempt to hinder or
retarl any bill except that providing
for the reapp"intment Of the State. This
was a party measure, and of course it
was expected they would oppose it.
Only one day, however, was consumed
upon it.
Upon all other matters Of legislation
they rather sought to hasten than i'm
petle action, and from the inst were
opposed to an extra session, not SO much
perhaps from economical motives as for
the reason that they believed that the
longer the legislature remained in Des.