The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1883-05-16
The Act SO Grab Exposed by the
State Senate Committee.

The Act SO Grab Exposed BY the
State Senate Committee.
Elsewhere we give the report OF
the com mitsee appointed at the last
session of the Legislature to invesu
gate the funding operations under
5act 93" of 1880. The gentlemen
appointed to perform this task have
faithfully adhered to their duty anu
disagreeable though it must nave
been to them, have laid before the
people of the State document t Una
will cause profound sensation. Inc
manner in which this act was carried
out has been generally commented
on by the press, and the truth Isl
pretty we'll known to the people OF
New Orleans. The clear and direct
manner in which the facts are OH
cially stated by the committee, ana
the nature Of the charges made are
80 clearly explained that the voters
of Louisiana will have no difficulty
in reaching a thorough comprehen-
sion Of the wrongs that have been
inflicted upon the taxpayers under
this now famous law.
In the first place it will be noticed
that the board which carried out this
act and the parties charged with hav-
ing run in bogus claims were among
the principal officers of the State.
The Governor presided, the Auditor
was Vice President, the Secretary of
State was Secretary, and the Attor-
ney General was a participant in the
grab, and therefore a party to the
scheme to use the courts as instru
ments in carrying out the plans Of
the ring. The picture thus drawn
Of the highest officers of the Com
monwealth inaugurating an admins
tration by q raid upon the Treasury
is sad to contemplate. Not only did
they rash through on mere word of
mouth accounts against the State to
the extent Of hundreds of thousands
of dollars without any proofs what.
ever, but they invoked the aid of Il
court of justice in order to give a
shadow of sanction to the claims,
and with the same instrument closed
the doors against all others who
might have had rights. Well may
the Senate committee say the junta
shut out all except special friends
| The whole manner and method of
procedure by this board shuts out all
excavations. 1t was a straightout
wrong from beginning to end, and
nothing better can be male of it.
Even the simple though grossly neg
ligent plan of issuing certificates for
the claims, was not carried out. Even
that was abandoned in the hurry to
carry through the grab, and put the
!, grab, and put the final seal upon the
spoliation. Claims were audited in
, ten minutes, that any board of public
functionaries, having an eye to their
! own regulations, would not have
+ sanctioned, except after weeks Of
close examination by experts, ano
r when it is considered that those
e claims were not, as charged by the
e committee, supported by proofs o
| any kind, or even itemized, we do no
see what Justification can be suggest
e ed. That the Attorney Genera
: should have, after presenting ques
,ionab!e claims to tue board, permit
ted the successful execution of tn
= design to close the courts agains
any Investigation of the proceeding
, anil debar all bnt the CHOSEN few, vii
certainly destroy all confidence il
5 him as the legal guardian of the pee
$ pies rights. That he should hay
permitted any wr"ng against th
State of which he YVES cosnizant t
n be consummatea, would he ba
enough, butte join in the scheme
outrageous to The last degree.
:. And there rises in the midst {
:, this miserable picture The spectre {
= Alcee Ganthreaux, the aetaulting an
y. fugitive sheriff, and we can realiz
r. now why the officers of the Stat
: made no effort to have him arreste
q and prosecuted, though he was will
v in reach long after his shortening
l. were fully established. With@ti
;s dispair of drowning man he We
20 catching at these certificates
of bridge over his troubles, and sax
ri him from the gulf hs saw yawnir
~ ahead. And he fcaud cordial abe
! tors. His long account of $4,000
A. was ratified through without que
"a ton. The nature of that account
o intimated by the committee.
a Well may the committee on the
" showing of facts pronounce this
10 scheme brilliantly conceived ar
r. successfully executed vying wi
A those of Radical days" And in tt
W meantime what are people of Il
-. State going to do about it?