The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1880-04-01
EXTRA SESSION.

ances for the delays required by the eonstitu-
ton. there is no Disgusting the fact that the
condition of legislation which Ia vitality nee
essary for carrying on the State government,
and for carrying out the provisions of the
constitution, is calculated TO excite grave ap
prehensions, and the time has arrived when
the eontending factions In the General Assem-
bly, should abate their zeal In behalf of aues-
tona which are not essential, and give pref
erence to those bills without which the State
government would be crippled, If not entirely
estopped. In ita functions.
Four months of the year have passed, dur
ing which time the government has been con-
Quoted solely upon credit. Not dollar OF
revenue hae been collected for the year 1880,
because there is no law levy ing taxes.
license bill should have been one OF the
very first measures TO he put in force, be-
cause IL ia mainly from the licenses that the
government Ia conducted for the first six
mont hs of the year. The business season
has almost passed In New Orleans, where
two thirds OF the licenses are collected, and
thousands of dollars will be loet to the State.
which could have been collected If o license
bill had been adopted; and yet that bill will
not come up for consideration until Friday.
The poll Ca. bill has passed the House. but
will equire to meet with no delays or II will
fall 20 become d law, and thus reduce the
&C bool revenues about two hundred thousand
dollars below the amount estimated for.
Ii Ia true that the general appropriation
bill will come up for action In the House to-
morrow, and may be disposed of: but 1t is
l.,t.~
efficient method of collecting the revenue Ia
adopted, and the bills we have heretofora
referred to are absolutely essential as basis
for the appropriation bill.
measure vastly important In connection
with the question of revenue and appropria-
tion is the bill relating to the fees and Gala
ries Of court officers In New Orleans and the
prepare ton of system Of stamps. II may
be that due appropriation has been passed
for salaries of the officers who were to be paid
from the proceeds Of sale OF stamps and fees
TO DO paid into the treasury, but failure to
pass the bill now under consideration will
emba rrass all judicial proceedings In thia
parish, and leave the State without source
of revenue which the constitution contem-
plated.
The bill for funding the floating debt and
iesuing certificates for payment of taxes ls |
also of great Importance. No taxpayer can
secure the benefits of the ordinance for the
relief of delinquent taxpayers until some
legislation, or at least All appropriation, is |
made to carry out its provisions.
The ordinance relative TO State debt like |
wise claims the attention of the General As |
sembly, and the House bill for the stamping |
and exchange OF consolidated bonds should be
aiken up and passed. either in Its present
shape or amended.
Notwithstanding the great display OF In
crest over the affairs of the city of New
1reans short time since. Ii appears that
he question of new city charter has been
almost lost sight of. Even II the bill for new
charter should not be passed. come rellef
should be given by amending the present
,harter.
A bill of general interest to the Florida
parishes. and to the city of New Orleans, is
lnder consideration, concerning the New
Basin Canal, and we very much fear that this
measure has met 90 many delays that the
mandate of the constitution will become in
operative.
very important bill Is that for the organ
Sation Of levee districts, and the bill for the
OF the collection of taxes on
he lands now overtiowed and upon which no
,rops will be made this year.
The printing bill. the bill for commission
% superntend the repairs or construction OF
he State. House, and eight or ten other bills
VI general Importance all claim the attention
II the General Assembly.
II is possible, by taking up and dlsposing
If the most important bills by preference,
hat an extra session may be avoided. but /
here should be no unnecessary delays In dis
,osing OF them.
Reports that have been circulated that
opposed to the general lottery bill
will iillibuster against general legislatlon In
,rder to defeat such bill, IL, we are as
ured, without foundation. Any attes.npt In
hat direction should be frowled down.
On the othe hand, we indulge the same
,Gsta that the report which is current, to the
stfect that the members favoring the general
lottery bill will attempt to force that meas |
sentlal to the maintenance of the State gov
afnment, Is announced.
wide difference of opinion exists In the
General Assembly touching that question.
and the outside combinations that have la
bored so earnestly, and enlisted such enthusi-
astic advocates, naturally rebel against any
delays that may appear to put their schemes
In jeopardy; but members OF the General AS
semhly cannot afford to put the private
interests of gang of lottery schemers
ahead of the interest OF the State government
and the people, and we cannot but believe that
the contending factions will both agree to take
up the bills OF public interest, dispose of them,
and then spend any remaining days In wrang-
ling over the lottery question, II they are so
disposed.
1t Is needless for Democratic members to
attempt to thrust this question upon the
n 4n IF