The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-08-03
THE BAD LEGISLATION WHICH THE
NEW CONSTITUTION WILL
PREVENT 49,

To illustrate the value and Importance of
the limitations imposed by the new constitu-
tlon on the legislative power we have taken
the trouble to review tho various acts of the
General Assembly embodied In the annual
publication Of the statutes.
| In this review we selected the year 1863 as
the initial year, and included In our research
the acts OF the Legislature for the period en-
| braced In the administrations OF Warmoth
and Kellogg. careful examination of the
titles OF these acts developed the fact
that one-half OF them would have been pro-
| hibited by the present constitution. There are
acts for the relief Of individuals, for the cree
ton OF corporations. for the Issue of bonds,
for the remission of penalties, for extra com
pensation Of officials, for amendments OF
charters and the increase OF privileges of
monopolists, the creation of jobs and rewards
for political favorites, acts diverting public
funds previously set aside for special pur-
poses, for changes of names, legitimaton and
emancipation of children, appropriations of
public funds for other purposes than the sup
port Of the State government. Thus of the
two hundred and fourteen acts passed by the
Legislature Of 1868 more than q hundred
would fall within some one Of the prohibited
classes provided In the new constitution.
In 1869 there were one hundred and thirty
nine published acts. or these the titles In
dictate over seventy of impossible acts under
the present constitution. We select as speci-
mems @ few of these:
An act authorizing the Auditor to employ
additional clerks.
An act for the relief of the sheriff and State
tax collector for the parish of De Soto.
An act appropriating extra compensation to
employees of the Legislature.
An act authorizing the Auditor to employ
six additional clerks.
An act for the relief of VIM. T. Mclean and
VIM. NJ Holland.
An act for the relief Of r. H. Chadburn di-
recting the Auditor to reaudit the claim In
favor of Chadburn for S1O7, 900.
Separate acts for the relief, chiefly public
officials, OF more than twenty persons named.
Act to approve the charter for the bridge at
Murrell's Point.
Act ratifying the lease OF the Penitentiary
and authorizing the issue of bonds to the les
sees.
Acts for the relief of the sureties of various
sheriffs and tax collectors
Act authorizing party named to dispose Of
his property to his natural children.
Act authorizing another party to disinherit
his children.
An act to ratify and confirm certain rights
and privileges granted to John Lockwood by
the City of Jefferson.
Act for the relief of b. l.. Lynch.
Act authorizing cOrporatOrs to fix the price
of labor paid for the NcoIson pavement and
confirming all contracts for laying the same
Act to Issue bonds to the Mexican Gulf Shin
Canal.
Act creating the Slaughter Fl o1se Com
pany.
Act to exempt certain benevolent life inslr-
ance companies from payment of license
taxes.
Actto Incorporate the Industrial and Com
mercial Credit Company.
Act to incorporate the Mississippi and At
lantic Ship Canal Company so as to connect
the waters Of the Mississippi river and the
GuE of Mexico.
Act relative to sale Of minors property
We have selected these from large mum
Der OF similar acts In order to illustrate the |
character OF the legislation that has proved |
the source OF SO much mischief, oppression |
and generalization in our State, and which |
will be prevented In the future under the re-
strictioRs OF our new constitution
The acts OF 1870 present a still larger array
Of special and relief bills, acts Of ncorpora-
ton and grants OF monopolies, subscriptions
TO railroad companies, extra compensation to
officials.
The regular and extra session Of that year
managed to enact 205 acts of which more than
4 half were OF the character described as pro-
hbited by our new constitution At the ses-
'ion 187D following, the total OF the acts
passed is not 50 large as at the two SESSIONS
# 1870, but out Of the number of 104 published
here Is quite as large proportionate showing
II special acts, privilege grants, grants of re-
LET, extra compensation, acts regulating sue
ession OF property In special cases, and the !
xpatration Of natural children. In 1872 t
h ,r1s,, I