St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1884-05-17
STATE LEGISLATURE.

ut Baton Rouge last Monday, ant
a permanent organization was eff
fected on Tuesday, by the election
Of the following officers:
President pro tenn. Hon. r. C
Davey, OF Orleans.
Secretary, Will a. Strong, o.
Winn.
Assistant Secretary. C. NJ. Bar.
row, of West Feliciana.
Minute Clerk, W. b. McClendon
of st. Helena.
Sergeant-at-Ar Arms, j. B. Kirk.
land, of Calcasieu.
! Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms-J
d. Young, of st. Landry.
HOUSE.
Speaker-H. w. Ogden, of Bos-
sier.
Clerk-Peter j. Trezeyant.
Sergeant-at-Arms-Thomas Nc
Intyre.
The following is
SYNOPSIS OF THE GOVERNORS MES
SAGE,
taken from the Times Democrat.
The Governors message read
before the Legislature, on Tuesday
was document of considerable
length and force, dwelling on all
the important questions that will
be considered by that body. Il
shows careful study of the many
matters, financial, political and in
dustrial, how affecting the State,
and offers suggestions concerning
them. These suggestions, however.
are few III Dumber, aud the Cover
nor sees no reason why they should
not be discussed and decided on
within the present session, and
without compelling an extra meet
ing OF the Legislature.
LII reference to licenses, the Gov
ernor thinks the present law nee Is
some readjustment, SO rs to raise
licenses, and, in a few classified
eases, to more equally arrange
them.
He recommends, in reference to
the revenue law, that the tax sales
be fixed for February, and the set
Element Of the tax collectors made
III April; that the tax shall, from
the moment of the assessment. be a
lien ON personal property and
II ortgage on real estate, and that
The property so assessed can be
proceeded against in rem, without
reference to the ownership; that in
case a tax collector delays his set
Element more than twenty DAYS af-
Ter the time fixed for such settle
nent, it shall be made the duty O.
,he Auditor to send a certified |
of his account to the
Judge Of the District, who shall be
,equired to give it in special charge
% the grand jury, and that the
SO furnished shall be
'ufficient evidence for tie finding
If a bill. aud, on the trial, shall be
cad in evidence against the ac-
used.
Reviewing the overflow of 1882.
he Governor finds from the re-
'orts made to him from sixteen
parishes loss of sI2.O6l,91O, the
rable land inundated being 6O6,-
IA acres, aud the amount that can
'e reclaimed by levees in these par
shes 1857, 700 acres.
Since the report made 10 the
legislature in April, 1882, no finds
hat 12O contracts have been made
or levees, 40 miles of levees con-
tructed. ut a COST of $sS7,97O, in
to the expenditure of
30. 500 tor preventing or closing
revasses. The United States also
expended $S39,3Sl in Louisiana f
or levses; the riparian parishes
I'll, 100. and three railroad COM
'ani' 500. $50. making a total of
2.0l8.O00. Ii this work had been
one during tine low water season.
nuch saving would have resulted.
n the beginning of March, 1881,
he levees of Louisiana were in bet
Or condition, he says. than they
ad been for twenty years, yet the
ystem proved inadequate for ell ,
lent protection against overflow
uring extreme high water.
The attention of the General As
emily is respectfully called to tue
of the Board as to the a
gislation required to carry on aud
improve the levee system. The :
oard OF Engineers, in concluding
,eir report. remark: But, how c
FER greatly We may deplore tie q
tuation. we should not lose sight
the fact that the general condi- !