The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-07-13

pEOV6n6HfS OF EhIlWHv pGleost
Delegate McGloln moved to strike out the
article.
Delegate Mcconnell moved to amend by BY
inserting the word property before the
word Taxpayers" Adopted.
Delegate Olivier moved to amend IL. p 1nser ar
ing before the word Taxpayers the Wofas
real estate. Lost. .,,. a.
Delegate Wells moved to strike out the
words "in numbers and In value Adopted
yeas As, nays 40.
Delegate Ogden moved to amend by PROVO
Ing that the tax shall not exceed live mi y
per annun. nor extend for longer pnrloh
than ten years Adopted-yeas "a. nays 25
The motion to strike out the article was
then voted down-yeas 90, nays co. and the
article as amended was adopted.
A QUESTION OF PRIVILEGE
The resolution offered by Delegate Lott, on
behalf Of the Investigating committee, vas .ps
taken up as a privileged question: and the
resolution read.
Delegate Lott urged the adoption Of the
resolution. He said If 1t was rejected the
committee might as well be discharged as It's
investigation had reached that point that No
information would be given the committee
unless 1t was given compulsory process. He
desired that the Convention should settle the
question as to its powers and the powers ana
privileges Of its committees.
Delegate Stevenson Thought the whole In
vestigation, inasmueh as it was founded upon
rumOrs, was improper. He would 60 us Tar
as any one to investigate specific charges, but
objected to the consideration OF mere reports.
He therefore moved that the committee be
discharged.
Delegate Young moved to lay the motion
on the table, Adopted.
Delegate Pardee held that the questions
propounded to Mr.. Palfrey we're not SUCH as :
Justice. He did not think 1t was necessary to
60 into the question OF the powers Of the Con-
ventton In this particular case. There were
various reasons that occurred TO his MIND
why Mr. Palfrey should have refused to give
the name OF the person who applied to him TO
subscribe to fund to control votes In the
Convention without any improper motive.
Delegate Blanchard contended that the
question asked OF Mr.. Palfrey was material
to the investigation, and that the Convention
mad full power to enforce aD answer. II 1t was
decided otherwise the committee should either
be discharged or the resignation OF members
accepted. III this witness could put the atl-
thority of the committee OF defiance It's further
labors would be vain, rs no other witness
would answer questions.
Delegate Leake did not believe that the
committee or the Convention had the right
to enforce an answer or punish o witness for
refusing to answer, nor could Witness be
say. In this case it was understood Ia the
committee that the witness should have the
privilege Of applying to the person whose
name he withheld for the purpose OF getting
bis permission to give that name. This was
decided by q majority OF the committee, an,
until it was decided that Mr.. Palfrey would
not give the name he was not In contempt.
Delegate Lott said IN reply that Mr.. Pal
frey had since then refused again to give the
name 1t was not his understanding that
Mr.. Palfrey should apply to any one to deter
mine whether he should answer the question.
Delegate Uaffrey said he did not agree with
the majority of the committee III reporting
the resolution. It brought up the question 81
the Convention had the power to punish Mr.
Palfrey for contempt, 1t had the power to
hang him. II it was sovereign 1t was, as his
friend from Caddo contended, an unmitlgated
despotism: He did not believe It had such
power: Although this was his opinion he did
not think that the committee should be dis
charged. The people demanded that 1t should
continue the investigation. Mr.. Palfrey was
the only witness In forty who had refused to
answer every question asked. He believed
fustng to answer the question, but denied the
power Of the Convention to force him to do 50.
Delegate Simon insisted that the argument
that the Convention could not punish wit
was clearer to his mind than that It had such
power. IT 1t had not, 1t was powerless to give
effect to anything.
Delegate Young moved to table the resolu-
ton.
On this motion the yeas and nays we're de-
motion to table was lost.
The resolution Of Delegate Lott vas then
adopted, on call Of the yeas and nays, by a
vote of--yeas rs. nays %.
Delegate Lyons moved to reconsider the
vote just taken, with view OF giving the
committee power to examine the books Of the
brokers. He said member OF this Conven-
ton, charged with specializing In bonds, had
been permitted to escape from the city; He
thought the most thorough scrutiny should
be entered into. The motion to reconsider
was lost.
Delegate Lott moved that the Sergeant-at.
Arms be instructed to bring Mr.. Palfrey
before the bar of the Convention on Monday
next, at 10 a. m. Adopted.
THE CORPORATION ORDINANCE RESUMED.
The consideration OF the report OF the Com
mittee on Corporations was resumed.
Article II was read:
ART. H. IT shall not be lawful for any railway
company or any other company or other ASSOC
citation. organized for he purpose Of trans por-
tation OF freight or passengers. to charge for
freight or passengers great or amount for the
transportation OF the same, for a less distance
than the amount charged for, any greater dis
General Assembly toeu force this provision: but
ex"nr,,i q and communication, tickets may be
shall ptss Tvs to correct abuses and prevent
unjust discrimination and extnrtfnn in the
rats of freight aud passe niger tariffs on the
different railroads Or other transportation lines
In this State, and shall, from time n time, pass
laws estHb fishing reasonable. maximum rates
Of cha g9s for the TRANSPORTATION OF passengers
and freight on said transportation lines, and
enforce all such laws by adequate penalties.
Delegate Blanchard moved to amend by
striking out the words "or any other COM
pany or association organized for the purpose
OF transportation Of freight or passengers. 2
Lost.
Delegate Forman moved to amend by strik-
ing out all after the words Transportation
lines in this State Lost-yeas 36. nays41
Delegate Phelps moved to strike out the en-
tire article. Adopted-yeas s., nays 20.
Article ID was adopted as read:
ART. ID. Any railroad corporation or assoeia-
ton organized for The ,pnrp Sc shall have the
right TO cDnstrnc. and operate railroad boz
tween any points within this State and connect
at the State line with railroads Of other States
Every railroad company shall have the right
with Its road to iatersect. connect with or cross
any other railroad and shall receive and trans
port each the others passengers, tonnage and
etrs, loAdrd or empty. Without delay or ei5-
elimination.
Article IA was adopted as read
ART. il. Railways heretofore constructed or
that MAJ hereafter bs Constructed in thia State.