The New Orleans daily Democrat., 1880-04-04
EXTRA SESSION.

There can be little doubt In the minds of
members OF the General Assembly as to how
the news of an extra session will be received
by the peope of every section of the State.
Unless we are sadly In error, not only general
disappointment will be manifested, but
stronger sentiment will prevail
We are receiving kilograms from different
parishes making anxious inquiries concern
the passage of the license bill, and we regret
to say that our replies to these inquiries Can
not be of an assuring nature.
A license law became necessary by reason
OF a change In the constitutional provisions
requiring graduation of licenses but six
more working days remain, and yet this Inn
portant measure has not been considered by
the House, where 1t must originate. 1t Ia
true that bill was presented, several sec
tions adopted. and then a substitute was
offered for the whole subject matter, re-
auirlng fresh consideration.
II the House should take up the license bill
on Monday morning and give 1t precedence
over all other bills, 1t would probably require
two days discussion to perfect 1t there. III
promptly eDgrossed and sent to the Sen ate,
and there taken up at once, II will require
three several readings on separate days,
necessarily delaying passage until Friday
Should the Senate amend, as 1t probably will,
1t will readily be seen upon what a slender
thread the probability of an extra session
hangs.
We do not propose to discuss herein the
merits OF the substitute now before the
House, but we do call the attention of the
members Of the General Assembly to the ab-
solute necessity of passing license law, and
to the propriety of avoiding al extra session.
For the latter, we do not hesitate to say that
there is not the slightest justification. Time
enough remains, IL 1t Is properly applied, and
there 8hould be no difference of opinion as to
this measure being the most important-in
fact essential-to the maintenance Of the State
government.
We have not before us the estimates OF the
Appropriation Committee but we presume
that the cost of the Legislative. executive,
judicial and miscellaneous departments of
the State government will exceed the sum OF
5000 900 per year. all OF which must be paid
from the general fund
One mill tax upon the highest assessmen
estimated by the Ways and Means Commit
tee will not yield 100000 to the general fund.
The balance must be raised by the collection
OF licenses. A failure, therefore, to pass
license bill would be equivalent to an attempt
to carry on the State government on a credit,
unless an extra session should be called, as no
licenses whatever can be collected under
former laws, which are voided by the consti-
tuition.
Two much time has already been lost over
this subject, and too much revenue has es-
capped the State by the delay in passing bill
which would have enabled tax collectors to
have collected from license payers during the
business season, when money is plentiful,
and from the migratory class, many of whom
have already carried on profitable seasons
business without paying cent of revenue to
the State We trust that the license bill will
be taken up Monday and be disposed of, and
that members OF the General Assembly will
lay aside their personal ascerbities and pet