The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-05-18

our system a esmilit'ad for the British House
Of Lords. when we nave no Lords, temporal
r spfTh a, 2 G simple tasedy q wth
separate Interests. requiring separate repre-
sentation. 1t Ia not inaccurate to state that The
feature OF tt,s Virginia PLAN when met WIN =
severest antmadversioh IN the convention o1
| l7B7. was Its recommendation Of Seaate.
It was resisted, not merely because OF
It's tendency To Introduce aristoeratte
sentiment into Our home-spnn institu-
tions but aso because II would ps q
| lseleaa fitplcnti0n of the sovereign
will. which could he as accurately aseertained
| through the authoritative declarations OF one
| body OF popular representation competent to
enact laws, and to prornulgate DEGREES. And
II is by no means certain that we sturdy nla
Senate feature into the plan Of government
would have yielded their firm set hostility
had not, IN the further deliberations Of the
Convention. the fact been disclosed, that d
two vital needs Of the new system they were
constructing, second chamber to be-
chosen by the legislatures Of the States,
In which tho States might be represented
In their corporate CAPACITY, and In which each
corporation should be guaranteed an equal
representation, was not only essential to the
smooth working OF the machine under con-
struetlon, but owing to the jealousy Of the
smaller States, 1t became evident that no union
could be formed unless in one branch OF the
Legislature perfect equality between the
smaller and larger States could be estab-
lshed. While not q single one OF the condi-
lions which made Senate 80 essential TO the
national system has even rernote appllca-
ton to the formation Of q State system, 1t
10 nevertheless the fact that the Senate fea-
t,lre has been adopted into every system Of
State government which has been framed
since 1887 and this, while not fairly attrib-
utable TO .slavish idolatry Of custom.
but may due perhaps to gsnuine. do
sire 10 initiate closely the first written
model of Republican government, perhaps
In unreIlecting aduation OF the form Of gny-
eminent which sprang out of the old Saxon
Wittenagemot But even admitting my his
torical citation to be accurate and my c0nclu-
sions to be logical, IL will doubtless be urged
that some tribunal with power to supervise
and check hasty legislation. to aid and advise
the Governor lii making wise selections vi APP
pOiDtees to cit as court to try tmpeaet-
ments Ia absolutely essential. | grant IT,
But surely these duties may be entrusted to
n council Of State. to bs composed Of one
councillor from each congressional district,
and one foater from tho State ut large.
who shall be president Of the council.
In addition to all the functions now
exercised by the senate cothe them with
power to audit the claims Of the creditors Of
clerk, whose title shall be Clerk OF the Council
and Keeper Of the Seal whose functions shall
BIO those ut present performed by the Secre-
tary Of State with n council thus formed,
endowed with the functions and official du-
ties OF Senate, Lieutenant Governor, o
Secretary Of State and an Auditor, all Of
which offices are now maintained at great
cost to the State, ] fail to see that there Is |
any percepttble loss OH the score Of efficiency,
but do discern great possible gain in the
line Of economy, simplicity and completeness. |
Should the Convention fix limit to tfs rate
OF taxation and the aggregate Of the cur
rent expenses Of the government, 1t IL |
not easy to suggest any such intri-
cate questions IN the disposal OF the
finances as would oyertax the capacity !
Of one competent accountant In the board Of
audit and q moderately methodical and in
iustrlous treasurer. The intrlcacies ot the
contingent fund account may be much sim
plified. and the fertile ingenuity or future
legislatures may be snubbed by an ordinance
that hereafter there shall be In
Louisiana but one contingent fund oil s.. to
30 at the disposal Of the Governor. In order
20 stimulate the prompt collection and pay
has been heretofore so much neglected by tho
sutfragans and the tax collectors as to rob the
Of about 100000 annually, and to
relieve the people OF q tax OF 100000. the cost
,f registration, an ordinances OF suffrage based
upon residence and q poll tax receipt would
prove happy device The disconttnuanee Of
The Senate, the Lieutenant Governor, the
3ecTetary OF State, the Auditor and his costly
staff, the contingent funds and the registrars.
would save TO the State annually. as already
The cost Of the substitute suggested
will be a matter to be fixed BY the
Convention surprising moderate
compensation for the work and re-
sponsibiIity imposed upon the Coun-
Gil. The cost Of that branch OF the
public service might be safely linn
tied to- .............s........ $4,000
=
Total Observation-Disclosures. s1OO,80O
Made up by the following salaries:
Six Councillors, each $500 per annum. $1,000
President OF Council q. ................. $500
Jerk and keeper OF seal ............ $3.50
Total Observation-Disclosures. $4,000
Earnestly hoping that the Convention will
weigh my suggestions TO stop the leaks In the
same spirit they are offered, and that you will |
'steem them worthy Of Insertion In the DEM
1RAT, remain yours. etc, HE