The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-03-23
THE CONVENTION AND STATE DEBT.
Ifllalhnrne Guardian.

The delegate to the constitutional conven
ton who opposes ali investigation of the State
debt, even If he keep his lips sealed as to his
views TO this important question, may usually
be known by his pronounced and emphatic
utteranees In favor OF O reduction OF Office
and salaries. Now, the fact is, II any
one will take the trouble to examine the
question he will see that the proportion
Of the taxes taken to pay officials is ride
uloIsly small when compared with the
| amount required 10 pay interest on the
state debt Two mills upon q low assess
ment Is all that Is levied TO pay salaries and
| for general purposes, while two and one
| fourth times this amount is required for the
other Item the interest on the bonds. While
| 1t ls true that the number OF offices could, with
| safety be decreased and the salaries, with
| propristy, be lessened, the facts are that In
making no the sum total Of our burden OF
taxation these salaries constitute but small
part OF this "demntion total"
judiclous legislation by the convention
| upon other questions Is necessary, but the
| main question Is the, State debt. Abolish the
levee tax, the State-House tax and other
| divisions Of tho general rate over the State
| leaving alone the school tax and interest tax
and reducing the amount for the general
| fund, and the burden would still he more
onerots than we could possibly bear In our
| impoverished condition. Above all things
else the people demand q reduction Of taxa
ton, and we consider 1t settled that redue-
ton that will prove acceptable cannot bs &C
complishcd unless there be reduction Of the
| State debt In some way.
Delegates may hope to avoid the question
may take high moral grounds against repu-
diation-may preach about the saoredness OF
the obligations Of the com monwealth and
honor and integrity, but this olap-trap talk
| will not save their regulations In that woful
hereafter that will open to receive all those
who fall to serve the people well In this crisis.
| The State debt must be scaled. The present
constitution Is not satisfactory, but the peo-
pie will prefer 1t with all Its defects rather
than new one which fastens upon all the
property In Louisiana the load OF taxation
which, in g. short time, will prove to be virtual
Contiscatlon.
The people have been taught TO believe that
all their distresses eInanate from the constitn-
ton Of 1863. under which we now live. They
are Of the opinion from the uttsrances OF
public speakers, from fiery leaders In news
papers, that new constitution is the panacea
for all our woes Believing this to be true,
unless the organic law furnishes Immediate
relief they are likely to heap unmeasured
condemnation upon those who frame this law.
Now the fact Is, II we understand the con
dition OF the State, that the troubles in Louis
lana result not SO much from the character Of
the constitution as from the character Of the
first eight years of Legislation under that
constitution. The reckless and dishonest ad-
ministration OF the two Republican governors
brought upon the State o load Of Indebtedness
which o more wealthy commonwealth than
ours could not possibly pay under any but
the most phenomenal circumstance.
We therefore believe that unless the new
constitution inaugurafes means for the reduc-
ton of the debt, all their other measures of
relief will avail nothing. Upon this question
all delegates must be held to n strict account
ability. As the servants Of the people they
are answerable for letters of omission or com
mission In their capacity as delegates. They
will have to abide BY the result Of their labors.
No man dare plead Ignorance. They will be
presumed capable and intelligent, and pos-
sessed OF actual knowledge as to the wants OF
their constituents.
Whether they have aspired to the place or
not, they. by their acceptance, assume all the
responsibilities Of the position, responsible
ties which cannot be shu1ed off at will
| Their position is all the more difficult from
the fact, as first stated In this article, that the
people attribute all their troubles to the con-
stltution, and look upon the new one as the
panacea for all their woes. It behooves the
delegates to walk crcumspectly