The New Orleans daily Democrat., 1879-05-08
THE CONVENTION.
AN uNyEsTIGATION FTHE CITY DEBT
ORDERED TO BE PROSECUTED.

STANDARDIZATION or THE CITY DEBT
oaDERED 70 BE PROSECUTED.
Animated Debate of the Subject-In.
trcduction of More Resolutions and Or
ainances-The Proceedings In Detail.
WEDNESDAY, May z.
Tho f,onyantion wae called to order at /
<,clock. President Witt In the chair and 1O9
members present.
PRAYER was offered by Rev. Mr. Guthelm.
The journal of yesterday was corrected
md approved
RESOLUTIONS OFFERED.
py Delepate Knoblock- That the Commit
fer on Legislative Department be authorized
to a1nnloy clerk at salary of 81 5Oper day
Laid over
Nv Delegate Howell-That the Committee
,n Federal Relations be instructed to corre-
spond with the Secretary Of the Navy rela-
tive to the establishment OF q marine school
Mt the port Of New Orleans. Laid over.
By Delegate Poche-That the adoption OF
any ordinance remitting taxes would be un-
wise and injudicious. Laid over.
By Delegate White-That no amendments
to ordinances reported by committees shall
hereafter be printed III the journal. Laid
over.
"A communication was read from the Louisi-
ana Representatives in Congress setting
forth that the Associated Press dispatches
reported that the Convention would to-day
consider a resolution censuring them for Of
ficio,ls interference In Its duties. The Repre-
sentatives disclaimed any such interference,
or any Intention to interfere In future with
the deliberations of the Convention. They re-
served to themselves the private right to
comment upon any action the Convention
might please to take, but such comment
would be made as individuals and not in any
official capacity.
Delegate Luckett withdrew his resolution
censurtng the Representatives, those gentle
men having disclaim ed any intention to In
terfere with or influence the Convention.
BY Delegate Kelly-That the Mayor be re-
quested to stop the passage of vehicles on
Royal street, in front Of the State House, dur
Ing the session Of the Convention. Adopted.
The petition from the Socialist Labor party,
asking for relief from evils suffered by the
Iaboring classes, and suggesting reform In the
government, was referred to the Com mittee on
General Provisions.
A memorial, requesting q repeal of the
Slaughter House law, was referred to the
COMMITTEES on Corporations.
Mr.. McGloin introduced a memorial to the
same effect, signed by different parties which
was similarly referred.
RESOLUTIONS LYING OVER.
By Delegate Smon-That the Committee
on the State Debt be authorized to inquire
into the question as to what part OF the
bonded debt Is held by, third parties, and II.
make arrangements for returning sum Of
money to such parties equivalent to the
amount they paid for the bonds. Referred
70 the Committee on the State Debt.
BY Delegate Kelly-That the Committee on
City Affairs be authorized to give public no
tice to the creditors OF the city OF New Or
leans that the committee is now prepared to
receive propositions relative to the adjust
ment Of the bonded and floating debt Of the
city. ,., ~, .,. =. 49,.
resolution to ILLS committee.
Delegate Kelly favored his resolution and
urged It's adoption.
Delegate Mcconnell favored the resolution
He favored the investigation Of both the city
and State debt. II there was fraud he belieY-
ity to eliminate that fraud. The question of
the city debt was paramount In Importance
to that OF the State debt. For one, he was
opposed to any action upon either until there
had been full Investigation. He should not
favor any action until su IN investigation was
had.
Delegate McGloin favored the resolution.
The Convention had full power to Enquire into
the city debt. and q urge majority of the
them some relief from the heavy burden Of
debt which oppressed them. They looked for
this relief and he hoped that the Convention
would give 1t to them. He moved to amend
the resolution by substituting the word 'di-
reeted" In place OF "authOrized."
Delegate Kelly accepted the amendment
Delegate Pardee denied the right Of the
Convention to investigate or compromise the
city debt, whatever right 1t might have to
Inquire into or arrange the State debt.
Delegate Mcconnell said he had thought,
when he favored It, that the resolution called
for an investigation into the debt of the city,
His attention had been called TO the fact that
II only looked to q compromise. Therefore,
he should oppose It,
Delegate Pardee moved to lay the whole
subject matter on the table,
On this motion the yeas and nays were
called and resulted: Yeas AZ nays IS, and the
motion to table was lost
Delegate Cunningham moved to further
amend the resolution by inserting the words
ito investigate the debt OF the city OF New
Orleans; to ascertain It's legal status, and to
determine the considerations upon which it
was based, after the word directed"
Delegate Cunningham explained that his
amendment to the resolution would give tie
Committee on the City Debt the same power
over that debt as the Committee on the State
Debt had over that OF the State.
The amendment was accepted by Delegate
Kelly.
Delegate Lagan had opposed the motion to
table, but he did not like the subject matter
of the resolution. 1t contained q reflection
upon the Committee on the City Debt, Of
which he was member 1t intimated that
that committee had not done its duty. This
was not the case. The committee had not
been able to secure the presence of a majority
until yesterday. He thought he could detect
a desire on the part Of certain city members
to grind some personal axes by favoring this
resolution. .-...5.5
Delegate McGloin insisted that the resolu-
ton tn no manner reflected upon the COM
mittee. 1t merely contained instructions for
Its guidance. Ii anv reflection had been
made upon the committee it would have been
justified by the statement OF the gentleman
who had Just preceded him, that the com nit
tee had only met once since its appointment
At this point, the morning hour having ex-