Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1881-12-10
THE GOVERNORS MESSAGE.

~
Gentlemen Of the Senate and House OF Represen
On the seventh day OF NoveaisTr ! issued a
proclamation converting the Gene IDLY
In s.,ecial session in the city Of New orleans on
the 5th day OF December, loni, ms procia,-
station was not issued without mature consld-
Grafton In my opinion tho oxaeencies cohtsm,
mated i'm Article II Of the Consultation mad
aarlsen and could not see any way to avoid call
ing the extra session. | am itily aware OF the
,esponaibility which rests upon the Executive in
exercising the discretionary poAer vested IN him
by ssjd article, and only the .gfayest considera-
TONS Of pubc duty controlled mo In It's exercise.
There was demand for an ex}ra session In va
,inua portions of the State and 81 other portions 1t
yas opposed. All the tnattors alleged for and
against were taken under advIsement, and step
bg step tho reasons for an early session OIL the
IeoiaIature became more and more Imperative,
until could no longer hesitate u call 1t. Whether
II ahsl prove n success or not, whether the Cd.
iert for which it il called shall meet with appro-
baton or not, depends upon thb wisdom OF the
General Assembly. Tho Time for which 1t u
esiled the utmost limit fixed by the COnstitu-
tien, il no short that tho most energetic efforts
OF Senator and Representatives to enact the
necessary legislation embraced IN tho call Will DO
required. -,
subject 0i legislation liable to Cause dssensl0n or
provoke opposition. The matters embraced ~
the proclamation arc Of vital Importance 10 the
State There can be but ono object IN Zach case,
which IL to grant tho relief demanded. There
may be diversity Of opinion as TO tho OBJECT
hence ain fully convinced THAT short DISCUSS.
ions will result in correct Cnqlustons, ana Dut
little delay viii be o$perionGed IN perioc'iuS
necessary legislation.
Before alluding 10 tho particular suDIeOts
which are submitted to the General Assembly :, u
devolYes upon me to announce w you 9iugifuS
the great national calamity WHICH VIsiCeu INC
people Of the United StaioJ inIthe doath VI Inc
Chief Magistrate, James a. bdrjieiG, on inc isth
dsy of September, 1891. 10 iGtd gone INTO Once
under exceptionally Observation-Disclosures, and
much was expected from mp ADMINISTRATOR;
Political disBCnsioD hgd angqnd0rcd becllOnai
hostility but On the accession bl the late fresi
dent there vas general confidence among the
people that his misunderstanding would be con
servatiye, just ard impartial, ahd its termination
was looked forward to with anxious hopes That
with il would cease all SECTIONAL aniinoSitieS ana
that one section Of the UnionIwc no longer
bsauce the other, solely for ib0 purpose OF ac'
quiring political power and dominion. IL was
this belief which had grown and strengthened
each day ~ his administration progressed, that
caused this people Of this State III every city,
town, village and hamlet, to give expressions OF
genuine sorrow and grief ut his untiinely death
The lesson taught by this fearful tragedy has
not been uninstructive. Every four years III
our national existence witnesses revolution III
our government, an entire change III the person
mel Of the administration, preceded by hercc
contest in which all the cleUlonts OF political
strife enter in their most violent form. But as
soon az the contest il over, and the result If
ascertained, these passions suOSide and are rap
idly succeeded by the universal assent OF the
people, elevating TO power the choice oil the ma
.i0rity. 1t has been demonstrated on two occst
sious that no violence directed against the head
OF tho government can disturb the machinery OF
the government. The order OF succession re
mains undisturbed Irrespective Of party OF
section, the people accord to the successor The
same patriotic support Law and order are the
foundations OF our system, lehying no place iol
violence or revolution. Loyalty is the first aspi
ration in all times OF threatened danger.
In the State of Louisiana WI have been over
taken bya misfortune which has weighed heavily
upon our people-the death Of our young Gov
einor, Louis Alfred Witt 81 the 3sth year o
ha age, He had long been IN public life, com
Iuencipg at an early age Few men of his year.
had the same varied experiences in all the depart
nicnts Of government from the lowest TO I'M
highest, oil Of which he filled IN succession. III
promotion was from one position TO another IL
regular progression, thus showing that he ha
filed all places to the credit of himself aud to tn
proclamation announcing his death, the peopl
Of Louisiana will revere ih9 name OF him VIII
always strove to pay with honest service 10
every honor received
On the 18th day Of October, IN pursuance q
Article 62 OF the Constitution, took the oath o
office as Governor OF Louisiana.
APPROPRIATIONS.
The appropriations for special purposes ant
for sustaining the State Government Tor tn
oil n,II i. mazda ppr
sistent with the successful operation Of the varl
ons departments and for the purposes for whic
the special appropriations weio severally made
After careful review Of the appropriations TO
that year j do not find that they can be mate
rally reduced For some objects the appropra
lions should be increased as it has been embar
RAISING to several departments Of the State Gov
eminent 10 do the work required ut those est
mates.
An increase in the clerical foicesin the depart
msnts OF the Auditor of Public Accounts am
State Treasurer il essential. Both Of these i'm
portant departments have been embarrassed b,
the insufficient amount allowed for clerical eN
penses. Clerks Of experienced capacity ar
required, and there is no reason to suppose tina
their services eau be secured at less rate thai
is paid In commercial circles for the same capa
bility These offices have been temporary
occupied by clerks who retain their position
Only long enough 10 secure adequate wages else
where. l would therefore recommend tn
appropriation OF the sum OF $1,000 for the Audit
offs office and $1,000 for that Of the Treasurer
The proceeds of the one mill levee tax, Ger
eral Engineers Fund should be appropriated
as heretofore for the construction OF levees, an
30 much of the Swamp Land and Drainage Fun
az ia not required for the administration OF tn
office Of the Register of State Lands should b
appropriated 10 the same purpose.
Appropriations should be made for the admir-
istration OF the State Engineers Department
for travelling expenses, and to meet the inc
dental expenses 10 be incurred by the Boar
when the several departments are removed t
Baton Rouge. For further information you
attention in respectfully called to the specia
report made to this office by the Chief Stat
Engineer, November -, leel
recommend that the balance in the Treasur
OF the State House Funds proceeds of the Stat
House one and half mill tax, now in litigation b
appropriated to the building OF additional qua
tiers at tho State Insane Asylum at jackson
This, Of course is contingent upon the result
the pending suit
The Militia Fund, 1886, proceeds of honorar
membership in companies composing the \;
ional State Guard, should be appropriated IL
ne benefit of this efficient organization.
And the Seminary Fund, :133.15, to the Stat
University and Agricultural and Mechanical Co
lge at Baton Rouge The building now use
ia this institution has been neglected for se'
cal years and, as a consequences, it needs r.
pirs, There is no economy in postpOning III
appropriations necessary for such repairs,
tese had been made q few years ago there wou|
nc be the necessity for suchIa large appropri
tim as is now required TO keep the buildin
trm going to ruin 1t will require some SIS OF
To replace the galleries and make such 9th,