The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1882-01-21

~ ~ 80 Va AN AAAO0
TH1BoDAux, January 10, 1882.
Permit me through the columns
of your valuable journal to set
the "salary- grab" so-called,
straight as far as 1 know any
thing about, It,and as far as it
affects myself received 81 for
actual travelling expenses for the
10 days extra session. welt
home aud returned during that
session. / collected the 81 aud
intend to keep it. I would sim
ply dismiss the personal part of
this letter by saying that ! hope
the mover in this scheme of "aing
lug mud" ut this Legislature will
investigate my record as a repre-
senate of Latourche siree 1872,
and declare, after a thorough re-
search, whether my hands are
tainted with blood-money, or
whether my vote in the. Legisla
ture has ever been in the market.
Ichallenge Investigation.
Now, Mr.. Editor there are high
toned and honorable men in the
Legislature, who would scoru to
do that which was wroug-men
Of the highest character, whose
names appear as having received
illegally the money OF the STATE.
These gentlemen, it they did
so receive the money, did it I'LL
Willingly and without the least
concept III. on their part Ut wrOne
doing in so receiving it. Let Us
see. The committee Oh cGntin
gent expenses Of the House, i'll
the 90 days session. sent t. the
desk Of each member a printed
blank, asking that the membe'
would certify to his actual travei
lug expenses. THIS WAS filled NJ
by each member, l suppose, au';
handed in TO the committee.
| The 10 days session was called
and no similar printed blank, rs
far as l know, was 81 t to each
member under the Inle. The
| vouchers were made ont under
the filled up certificates of the q
days session.
The public should understand
that a member Of the House ha.
nothing TO do with the makeup
of the vouchers. These ar. cart
fully made up by the contIngen'
expenses committee, and the vO,
cheers are receipted for by til,
members aud If actual t1avtlir:
expenses were added by the con
nlittee to the per diem OF the ten
days session, it was mistake 0
the committee, ard the receipt
therefor by the members, unwi
ilngly, in haste aud without II
Election, Indicate in no manne
the animus of u raid upon til
public treasury. Those member
who received the money for 81
tual travelling expenses, through
error, will, in due time, set tibet,
selveslight ; aud, i'll due time thi
attempt to bring the Legislator,
and its individual members b
, fore the condtmnatory bar o
public opinion will recoil, and tn
boomerang as a weapon in Louis
ana politics will have made i.
last appearance.
I am under many obligation
for the space which this occupie
in your columns, but while denu1
citation of tho Legislature is tn
OF der Of the day. | would simpl
remark that it is understood no,
by a few, and the coming time
will be understood by the many
by the Legislature OF 1881 work
ed great good, ami the legislativ
foot prints will be felt in par,
policy hereafter.
:. This Legislature. guided RICH
~, has nothing but the wea! c
Louisiana at heart, aud its goo
seuse and patriotism will be fel
all along the line at its reguIa
session in May, aud the day
i. coming when the journals VIII
are carping now, will write, tia
, though it is with extreme difficu
~ to Iegislate nnder the Constit
ton Of 1879, yet the first Leglsl
ture did it's level best and left
legacy OF good to LonisiaDs
I Respectfully.
j. s. BILLIU,