The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1882-09-23
LOUISIANA POLITICS
Interview Of u New York Reporter with
the State Treasurer.


New Orleans Times-Democrat and
State Treasurer of Louisiana, arrived
in this city from New Orleans late last
night. The object of his present visit
to this city, it seems, is to confer with
the New York holders of the Louisi-
ana State bonds with a view to induc-
ing them to accept the settlement of
the State debt, which was recently pro-
posed by the local bondhotders of Lou
isiana and approved of by the State
Legislature. Speaking about this mat
ter, he said:
GA proposition was presented by the
Constitutional Convention of 1879 that,
inasmuch as the State was clearly I'M
able to pay the interest upon the face
of her debt at the rate Off per cent, al
though perfectly willing to pay what
she could, 9 per cent be paid for five
years, and and 4 per cent thereafter,
with an option to holders to convert
into what were termed constitutional
bonds at Is cents on the dollar, bear
ing per cent interest from January 1,
1880. The bondholders at that time
proposed final settlement of the debt
upon the basis of recognition of the
face of the debt, with 3 per cent for
five years and 4 per cent thereafter.
Only a few have accepted the PROPOSE
ton of the Constitutional Convention.
At the late SESSION of the Louisiana
Legislature the holders of State bonds;
joined by all the banks, insurance COM
panies and lending merchants of New
Orleans, proposed a final settlem ent on
the basis of 2 per cent for five years,
from January 1, 1881, and 4 per cent
thereafter. This proposition was ac-
copied by the Legislature, and an act
| nIr fs, II N a{fnnf
am now paying the reduced interest for
1880, 1881 and the first six months of
1882. If necessary, arrangements will
be made for the payment of thi; re-
iuced interest in New York;
From this subject the conversat ton
drifted to the political condition of
Louisiana, when Major Burke took oc-
casion to criticise the Northern Re
publican press for what he considered
the unfair stand it had recently taken
in regard to the Louisiana election
laws, Said he: "There has been a
general Misrepresentation of our election
laws, owing to reports put forth by
Republicans of the South with view
to securing Federal interference. An
obnoxious bill was introduced into the
Legislature some time ago that did not
pass. A copy of the same was for
slider him a Senator-Kellogg, who
gave it to the press, and the comments
of Northern newspapers have thus been
based upon a bill that WAS rejected by
Il Democratic Legislature. AS the cleo
ton laws now stand the polling places
are located by the police juries, other
wise the county boards. For the Con-
gressional election they remain as in
tho last general election, as they can
not be changed within six months of
an election. The commissioners and
clerks of election are chosen from
opposing political parties. Ballot-boXes
are kept, and the voting is done openly
in tho presence of such citizens as
choose to attend. The ballots are count
ed ut polls without removing tho boxes,
and returns must be made within fours
to a returning officer, whose duty it is
simply to compile the precinct returns
and forward them to the Secretary of
State. The latter complies the returns
from each parish, and proclaims the
aggregate vote for each candidate.
The local commissioners are compelled
to flea copy of their returns Immediate
~ with the clerk of the parish or coun-
ty court, and they become Il part OF the
court record for the benefit Of any con-
teStant. The returns are based upon
the actual vote as cast, and all contests
are settled by the courts. The Secretary
of State has provided the plain white
paper upon which all tickets must be
printed, and has given notice that on
the 10th of October all persons may
procure tho paper needed for their
tickets. In this manner dishonesty at
the polls is next to impossible, despite
all assertions to the contrary"
Major Burke also touched upon the
river and harbor bill matter, referring
more particularly to the statements Of
Il city morning ;paper concerning Lou
isiana's part in the steal. The Major
stated that owing to the inundations in
the Mississippi valley, the measure
was one Of actual necessity. "Thc con-
sequences of the failure of the BILL"
he explained, "would have been not
alone disastrous to the plantation and
interests, but would have
proved equally so to the colorcd labor
ing classes, and would have thrown
many thousands of these people upon
tho national government for support
BARIlOS IN LONDON.
1t is interesting to learn from the
newspapers that His EXcellcncy, Gen
y l. A.