The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1879-02-22
T'hs Pyess ON The Conversation.
mo. Democrat.

HOE 10uSL DC lttt .fOUD, hAiS WAL
involve radical changes in every
department of the government.
/ Indeed, 1t is hard to say which
of tine three sco-ordinate- depart
4 ments, the executive, Legislative
or judicial, is in che sgreater need
of thoroagh reform. The power
and patronage of the executive
must he greatly tcurtailed in order
Ito destroy the present dispropor-
Itionate influence the Governor is
able to exercise in political af-
fairs
4 Yhe Governor of Lonisiana has,
under the present constitution, in
Ibis hands more capacity for evil
and corruptinn of the people, than
any magnate in the world, occupy
ing the executive chair IF q con-
stitutioasl government. He ap-
points more men TO Office, can re-
ward more friends and punish
more enemies In proportion to the
sire of the community over which
be presides than any Governor III
the United States.
I'm several States that have re-
Gently framed new constitutions,
novel and extraordinary limits-
tions upon the Legislative power,
especially in the treatment of the
public finances and the disposal
of franchises, have been adopted.
How far this principle should be
extended is a grave aud delicate
question which only the soundest
and most Learned men are at all
capable Of handling. Not to apply
the principal at all wonld only
serve to perpetuase the obnoxious
and ,corrupeng monopolies which
now fanDt In our faces the defiance
of vested rights, charter privil
eges aud eontractlimmunities. TO
carry it to an extreme might have
q tendency to weaken the llegisla-
tive power until deprived OF all
capacity for self defence, it would
no longer he able to maintain its
dignity and Influence as one of the
coordinate estates of government.
We should, therefore. have men
who are cognisant of the checks
that have been imposed in other
States, and who have noted their
good and bad results. Certainly
there is no department of our
government that is more urgently
in need of ramodehng than that
which has 10 deal with The assess
meaat OF property and the collec- .
tien and disbursement of taxes.
ln this respect the machinery of
government is sadly, mise,ahly
defective and oppressive, and we
are mot prepared to say that even
The principle of taxation il not as
greatly ut fault as tAe methods by
which 1T is supposed and collected. /
Here, theu, is scope for the very
best and most enlightened finan-
oiers and public economists. sscil
as those who originated and per-
fected our SPLENDID banking sys- /
tenn before the war.
Louisiana Sugar Bowl
LIT is of vast importance to the /
people of oar parish. that worthy
andcompstentde delegates be elected
to the Constitutional Convention,
which is to assemble in April next. /
The duties of q delegate to the
convention should not beconfound- !
ed in the publie mind, with those
of Q member of the General As
senbly. Framing o constitution
is1a very different thing from en-
acting q law. A constitution is the 4
organic law, the last resort Of the |
people for the decision of their
rights. At il the basis of our gov
'ernmeut, and the great bulwark of |
ciyiiIliberty. Oarsystan is founded
upon the principle of self govern 1
ment, and the consultation is o |
body Of general principles, o de-
claration of rights, and q system
of law by which the people Of the |
State bind themselves to be gov
arned.
1T behooves our people to be |
careful IN selecting . delagate to
the convention. He should be in
sit.tallivant .xurN ;nf~...,,l l:is..