Louisiana capitolian., 1880-03-13
NEW ORLEANS, March IL.

fight everything fright up to the
handle" Instead Of calmly looking
into each bill on its merits, the mem
bers go for each others propositions
on the plan of "tit for tat; that is,
eff you oppose my bill III give you
the best l have in my shop, when
yours comes up" If this spirit con-
tinues, the people need expect but
little good to result from the deliber-
ations now going on.
On four different days the bill of
appropriation to:repair the Capitol at
Baton Rouge was discussed for hours,
with a bitterness that we were un-
prepared to see exhibited. Last
Tuesday, after its adoption on second
reading, section by section, upon the
motion to engross and pass to its
third reading, Mr.. Cosgrove, of Nat
chitoches, arose to oppose the motion.
Thereupon he produced a detailed
estimate, which Mr.. J. w. Brown, of
our city, had drawn up some years
ago, amounting in It's total $169,OOO
upon the idea that the entire exterior
walls and three of the towers, besides
most of the interior walls Of the Cap
itol should be used. This; estimate
was never considered by the present
committee on State House, whose re-
port recommends that these exterior
walls, in order to render the building
secure beyond doubt, should be
torn town to the height Of twenty
seven feet from their base, also that
the interior walls should come down
to the basement story, besides this,
the committee have recommended
several additions and amcliOratiOns
which did not exist before the burn
ing of the building. Therefore at a
single glance one can see that the
estimate of the committee, amountin g
to $l76,OO0, is comparatively q low
one, when it is considered that so
much work is to be done that was
not contemplated by Mr. Brown.
Mr.. Cosgrofe, however, failed to
take these facts into consideration,
and attacked the appropriation in the
most violent manner, by expatiating
upon some Of the items contained in
Mr. Browns estimate, which he read
with e gusto from beginning to end,
1t was fearful to contemplate that
costly spectators galleries would be
contructed for the benefit of the poor
constituencies. who, in their russets
and shirt sleeves, after leaving the
field and plow- handle, would come
to witness the deliberations of theil
representatives. In his larisb a large
number OF people could not afford te
live in more luxurious abodes than
rude cabins, etc, etc. According tC
his descriptions, Louisiana was in the
last stages of bankruptcy, and it was
Necessary that the committee shoulC
bring before the House minute and
detailed estimate, SO that tie appro-
priation might be cut down to the
very lowest figure. The argument
that the bill read that SO much only
of the amount appropriated us was
required need be expended by q Com,
mission presided over by the Govern,
or did not "weish ather" in his
mind.
We admit that we were taken aback
by the positions assumed by Mr.. Cos.
grove, remembering that a shott time
ago, through the columns of his "Vin
dicator," he YVES one of the champions
of the removal of the Capital. He
struck Baton Rouge with Il vim, and
delayed the passage of the bill by a
motion to recolamit, which MI. Rob,
ertson and Other friends accepted at
once, in order to show tht House that
the committee was perfectly willing
to give full information regarding the
matter.
In a day Or two the estimate asked
for will be furnished, when it is hoped
the opponents Of the bill will be sat
isfed.
The Senate has passed a bill in re-
ference to Judicial ad Eertisements
that will amounf to the d destruction OF
many newspapers throh hghout the
State. From What we have learned
the bill was passed before it had re.
ceived full consideration ht the hands
of many of the Senator'S, who voted
for it on final passage. ! is expected
though, that the House will amend
the very unjust features of the bill,
else nothing will be left but to appeal
to the Governor. that he| may veto it
We know that public sd dntiment will
unite with the entire preFs of the State
in condemning bill that will bcggar
large number Of prlntd FRS while ii
enriches others.
Our Representatives il both Houses
ore loinr rnnl ecryico flr tbo;r oop