The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-01-10
THE NEW ORLEANS DEMOCRAT, FRIDAY JANUARY 10 1878


persons, that interest being simply . monsyet
one.
Tho adoption OF one theory keep
open the trade through the mouth
OF the Mississippi river; but the keep
ing open OF that trade will be at tn,
risk OF losing and shutting of tbs whole inlant
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 opportunities for evasions re-
sorted to for the promotion OF private inter
ests and cupidity. When. therefore. the State
Board OF Health announces that, In It's opin-
ion, there exist sufficient grounds for enforc.
| ing a 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 Gull OF Mexico, SO 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-
Gus to portion Of the business community.
There could be no motive for It's doing SO.
Between the pressure which, beyond
all doubt, would be brought to bear upon
it In favor Of tardily exercising this pow
or, and the responsibility which would
yield to this pressure, 1t would be safe to as
sumo that the board would take Its conscience
and judgment as It's only guide.
There Is one branch OF the subject OF quar-
antine which must not be overlooked. 1 refer
to the police power granted by section 2453
and the sixteenth paragraph OF section 2743
OF the Revised Statutes. It would be incon-
sistent to legisate In favor OF right OF pro-
lection by quarantining against foreign ports
and deny similar right against an inland
place where the disease actually exists. The
right, therefore, must be conceded, but It's ex-
ercise should be regulated. / invite, there
fore, your attention to the ascertainment OF
some method which shall place this right un-
n
Health OF the city OF New Orleans is the pro-
per authority to control the inspection Of cat
tie intended for slaughter for It's market, and
1 desire that the power Of appointing an in
spector, now vested In me, be transferred to
the board, fixing. at the same time, a salaried
compensation, and making the fees now al
lowed part OF the revenues Of the board. This
course will add to the efficiency OF the inspee-
ton and increase the public revenues.
THE STATE PRINTING.
In December OF 1877 the Printing Board
entered into contract with George w
Dupre for the State printing, under act No.
40 Of 1877. Under the provisions Of that law
the board was convened In December, 1878,
for the purpose Of making new contract.
The lowest bid offered was that Of George w.
Dupre, and he having simultaneously with
his bid produced the written consent OF
Messrs. Fazende and Seixas to become his
securities. the board, on inquiry and satisfac-
tory reply as to their solveney, accepted the
bid. On the subsequent presentation to the
Auditor Of a bond with these persons as
securities, this officer disapproved OF the
securities, and so notified me. / then re-
quested Mr.. Dupre to inform me whether he
proposed to offer additional securities, and
received a reply which was substantially to
the effect that he joined issue with the
Auditor on the correctness of his conclusion;
In other words, contending that the contract
was complete and the rights of parties legally
fixed by 1t. The rejection Of the securities
coupled with the fact that no steps were
taken to test the action Of the State Auditor,
place matters In an embarrassing and anom-
alous situation. The old contract, which, by
law, was to continue until the new one
should take effect, was secured as to its
performance by the same securities that were
rejected for the new one, and was at much
higher rates than the new one. At the same
time that the bid Of Mr.. Dupre was received
there were two others received both Of them at
higher rates than that Of Mr.. Dupre, but both
at rates exceedingly advantageous to the
State. These bids were not acted on by reason
OF the action taken on the lowest bid. When
the complication arose resulting from the re-
lection Of the securities / convened the hoard,
with the object Of taking such action In the
premises as 1t would deem proper. An inter-
change OF views at this meeting resulted in a
resolution declaring that the board did not
feel authorized to act In the matter, this
resolution being based on the idea that the
State Printer is State officer, and that the
failure to give the bond required by law
operated vacancy In the Office, which should
be filed by the Executive under existing
laws. have the most serious doubt as to
the correctness Of this conclusion. prefer
that you should dispose OF these doubts by
express action on the subject. II the rights
of MIR. Dupre be fixed as claimed, they should
be maintained under the contract as made.
Should you adopt the views Of the board, and
80 inform me by resolution, / will proceed
at once to make contract under
reservations such as to guard the in
terests Of the State from an absolute contract
and at the same time afford an opportunity
to the party claiming the contract already
L. A. Az~A l.. .s-IA-