The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1906-07-18

| priatiOn bills passed had to be reduc-
ed in aggregate. This was done. The
sum of 1914. 2S2 was thus sa we'd to the
treasury, independent of the second
800, 900 appropriated in the General
Appropriation Bill for the New Or
leans Courthouse. This latter NAV or
may not become a charge against the
treasury. 1t depends upon what will
be the condition of the treasury al the
time it becomes exigible. My belief.
however. is there will be no trouble
when the time comes about the pay
ment of this item of the General APP
preparation Bill.
"As big in aggregate amount as
the appropriation bills are. I appre-
bend no danger in keeping the treas
ury on a cash basis, for outside of
the margin of over apprO-
priations | insisted on allowing the
treasury. the last section of the Gen
eral Appropriation Bill directs that
zone of the money appropriated to the
various State institutions for building
or repair purposes shall be paid by
the Treasurer until the warrants there
for shall have been approved by the
Governor.
''This means that the Auditor will
not issue warrants for building pur-
poses. and the Governor will not APP
prove such warrants, until satisfied
the treasury can safely meet the same
and still have money for all current
expenses. warrants for which do not
have to be approved by the Governor.
''But l do not look for the necessity
to arise impelling the Governor to
withhold approval of building war
rants.
IAN important bill that came very
near being lost a that known as the
West End Bill. In it the State prac-
tically makes a
DONATION TO THE CITY
of New Orleans of property that. when
rescued from Lake POntchartrain and
filled in, will be very valuable. 1t is
to be used for park purposes. 1t is a
measure that everybody should APP
prove. The trouble, however, was
the constitutional power of the Legis-
lature to do what the bill proposes.
Several of my lawyer friends whom l
called on, including the Attorney
General. had grave doubts of the
power. So had |, and the matter had
progressed as far as the actual prep
aratiOn of a veto message. But L
hesitated to send it in. so great a
benefit to New Orleans would the cOn-
templated Improvement be. l was
holding back the veto message to the
last moment for final consideration
and to hear any who might desire an
audience on the bill, Mayor Behrman
who had come to Baton Rouge OF
other business, accompanied by
Senator Voegtle, called at the Execu-
tive Office at dark Thursday evening
the last day. Senator Carret, of
Caddo, was already there. The three
of them made an appeal for the APP
proval of the bill-all taking the
ground that the Importance of the
measure to the people of New Orleans
justified my signing it even if l be-
lieved it unconstitutional and letting
the courts in a proper case pass upon
the question of cOnstitutionality. And
the Mayor. adopting Tim Campbell's
appeal to president Cleveland, added
the further persuasive argument that
a small thing like the Constitution
should not stand between friends.
Later. from the Senate chamber, SEN
ators Barrel and Voegtle wrote a
final appeal, and the bill was signed
and sent in.
"Many strong men in both houses
stood stanchly for the tax reduction,
but l wish here, and now particularly,
to put on record my testimonial of the
splendid services rendered by Tom
Herman in the House in behalf of the
bill to reduce parOchial and municipal
taxation. BY some mistake this bill
had come out of the Ways and Means
Committee with an unfavorable re-
port. l say mistake, for / feel sure
a majority of the Committee did not
intend to go on record as opposing
tax reduction. Anyhow, the bill was
before the House with an unfavorable
report. Herman, when it was reached
on the calendar. took the situation in