The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-01-08

appointing power In filling these original Va
canaies On Tho theory that, the time for the
election having elapsed such power should
be exercised. There should be some general
law providing remedy by ordering an cleo
tion under such circumstances.
| THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
| The report of the superintendent Of Public
Education will convey to the General ASSEM-
bly, oil the Information required as to the con-
ditlon OF the public schools. Whilst the In
crease In attendance of pupils has not been
all that could be desired, the years opera
tions, considering the difficulties TO be over
come, have been to considerable extent
successful.
THE STATE PENITENT1ARY
The arbitration committee appointed under
the act No. Of the Extra Session Of 1878 have
made their award fixing the sum due by the
lessees at S44,s83 and the pledge stipulated
by section . has been made.
STATE CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS.
The reports Of the various charitable instI-
buttons Of the State show an Improvement In
their condition. / recommend the extension
to them OF all the just mid required and COM
patibe with the financial condition of the
| State
THE PACIFIC RAILROAD BONDS.
] In accordance with the statement conveyed
by me to the last session OF the General AS
sembly In giving my approval to act No. es
Of the regular session thereof, providing for
the Issue Of bonds to the New Orleans Pacific
| Railroad Company, mandamus proceeding
i was provoked by me, upon which a decree
:, recognizing the constitutionality Of the act
was finally rendered by the Supreme Court Of
the State. Thereafter, however, / declined to
Issue the bonds granted by the act to the COM
pany, because did not consider the mort
| gage bonds Of the road, which were offered TO
me, met In several particulars, the require
ments Of the law. Thereafter second man
damus proceeding was provoked, upon which
| the Supreme Court decided adversely to the
| railroad company, and the bonds have conse-
| quently remained unissued. advise the re-
peal Of tho act, because II not repealed IL will
stand upon the statute books as perpetual
offer 30 the company Of State bonds, and
might be availed Of by IL even after the com.
pletion Of the road by aid from other sources
BOARD OF HEALTH AND QUARANTINE.
| The ravages Of the last yellow fever cpl
demic, which prevailed 80 destructively In the
city OF New Orleans and In other portions of
the State during the summer and fall months
OF the year just gone by, point to the fact that
no more important subject requires your at
tention than the consideration Of the measures
necessary TO prevent it's recurrence 1t Is
question. affecting not only the life and hap
piness Of the people OF the State, but also their
material advancement.
There exists some difference Of opinion as 10
whether the yellow fever Is always brought to
New Orleans, or whether 1t sometimes orIgi-
mates here. There exists also difference OF
opinion as to the effectiveness OF quarantine an
o measure Of safety against the Introduction
and spread OF the disease. II is argued that |
the summer trade OF New Orleans IL TO be |
ieppardized upon snere cnniectures. and IL La
commended that the occupation of many Of her |
good citizens Is to be broken up on the |
strength Of mere theories. I am satisfied |
that no injury will ever be inflicted upon any |
portion OF the community under circum- |
stances where wrong will be added to injury. |
but the very basis Of all society Is that indi- |
vidual good must yield to that of the public, |
and 1t is the part Of wisdom to throw the ben |
eft Of the doubt In favor OF the lesser evil.
We have to select between two theories. The |
first one, II 1t be correct. may secure the In |
terest Of small GLASS; but, II 1t liz wrong. may /
cause the sacrifice Of large number of lives |
as well rs large property interests The |
second theory, II 1t be true one, saves |
whole people, and, ii 1t be an erroneous one |
Injuries only q comparatively small number OF |
persons. that interest being simply moneyed |
one.
The adoption OF one theory keeps |
open the trade through the mouth |
OF the Mississippi river; but the keep |
ing open Of that trade will be ut the |
risk of losing and shutting Off the whole inland
trade. The experience OF this year In this re-
spect should not be overlooked In reaching the
conclusions. believe the only way of thor
oughly testing the efficacy OF quarantine as
q means towards preventing the introduction
from foreign ports Of yellow fever into New
Orleans and other portions OF Louisiana, is
by removing opportunity for evasions re-
sorted to for the promotion Of private inter-
ests and cupidity. When, therefore, the State
Board OF Health announces that, Ia Its opin-
ion, there exist sufficient grounds for enforc-
Ing quarantine against foreign infected
ports, no vessel, person or article should be
permitted to enter the port OF the city OF
New Orleans, or any other port of the State
open to the Gulf of Mexico, 80 long as the
necessity for quarantine continues to exist.
The Board Of Health and all officers connected
with The quarantine service should be placed
beyond the power Of either deception or {
temptation. A board composed Of thorough
ly representative men would not be likely to
exercise lightly the power Of establishing
quarantine when Its results would be SO seri- |
ous to portion of the business community
There could be no motive for it's doing so.
Between the pressure which, beyond
Ill doubt, would be brought to bear upon
t In favor of tardily exercising this pow
,r, and the responsibility which would ,
attach to the board should 1t improperly ,
yield to this pressure it would be safe to as
'ume that the board would takeits conscience {
Ind judgment as its only guide. II
There ia Ono branch of tho auhioot of ,,uar | 4