Louisiana capitolian., 1880-06-05

= AC0l cVentS, the Columns OF t0e
Democratic CAPITOLIAN will always
be open to them subject To our criti-
cisms or discussion.
\ THE SUPERINTENDENT.
KEEP IT BEFORE TIE PEOPLE.
The persistency with which the Ad-
rocatc has criticised the appointment
of Major Bird as Superintendent by
tho State House Commissioners, evil
denoes something moro than the orli-
nary motives which prompt q jour
nalist to express his opinion On. .
subject Of public interest: ..u.,
Tho continuously repaated cry that
it sss up, that . mechanic Or ~ A.
chitect from hero should have been
selected for the position referred to,
cannot be dictated BY any other mo-
tive than to excite tue jealeusios or
prejudices of that class Of our citizens,
for the reason that, no later than two
weeks ago, Mr.. Annis was urging the
appointment Of Mr.. Frcret, agentle-
man totally. unknown, at that time,
in this community. so much for his
sudden outburst Of sympathy for our
-.
The Commissioners ars gentloDen
Of tho highest character, who feel
that they will be responsible to tho
people Of the State for the use that
will bo made Of the sum of >l76, 600.
They arc not likely to place this
amount within the control of any per-
son, unless such person be one whose
character for honesty, practical knowl-
edge of business affairsand energy, is
unquestionablc.
Major Bird is a gentleman who has
been a prominent planter and has had
large experience i'll the matter of su-
pervising the construction OF extensl-
We buildings, such as sugar houses,
one of Which, his own, was burned
by the Fcderals, as his penalty for
the patriotic services he rendered
Gen. Breckenridge on the battle field
of Baton Rouge, and his devotion to
his native State, manifested to the
end of the war. In the tented field,
in the political arena, in public or
private life, Major Bird has shown
himself to be energetic, honorable,
competent, and as true to his princi-
plcs and his word as a Toledo blade !;
50 much 50, that if the Commissioners
required it, he could furnish a bond
for any amount.
The Commissioners and the people
of the State won't tolerate any job
bing or fraudulent transactions in
this matter. 1t is for this reason that
they named Major Bird as one upon
whom no shadow OF suspicion can
possibly rest
The Commissioners intend to rem
der faithful account of their stew
ardship, and will not spend a dollar
more of the States money than is
absolutely required, in their opinion,
to fulfill their trust-in evidence OF
which intention they have begun by
deciding that the walls of the Capitol
will not be unnecessarily torn down,
although a legislative subcommittee
recommended such action. They
will thereby save to the State thou,
sands of dollars, which otherwise
would have been frittcrcd away
They will not he whipped away from
the line of their duty by the clamo1
of any set ofindividuals. Their res
possibility is not alone due to Baton
Rouge, but it is also due to the State
As far rs the sacrifices which the
Adrocatc credits to our citizens in the
matter of their subscription, it should
not be overlooked that the security
is of the best, bearing as it does al
interest Of eight per- cent or double the
rate paid by the United States OH tho
National loan.
Itseems to us that our people should
be satisfied to see that the Capitol is
about to be rebuilt, especially when
the Commissioners show by their pre-.
liminary actions, that jobs or swim,
ding contracts will not be allowed
OWING to the safeguards they have