The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1907-12-03
GOV. BLANCHARD'S
EXTRA SESSION.
Has Robbed Campaign of Issues by Fore
ing Political Reforms.
Things Promised by Candidates for Office Are Already Ac
complshed by Governors Long Rol'-and More,
To-New Pledges for improvements in Order.
From Staff Correspondent. n. q. Item.

From Staff Correspondent, N. o. Item.
Baton Rouge La, Nov, 29.-Sever-
al issues which were sprung during
the early stages of the gubernatoral
campaign have been eliminated by the
extra session of the General Assem-
bly,.
The uppermOst question in the
minds of astute politicians now is:
What planks of their platforms will
the gubernatorial and other candid
ates stand on from row until pri-
mary election day Jan. %. 1908?
Practically speaking, all three can
didates for the goyernorship were
promising to give the people what
Governor Blanchard demanded and
exacted when he sounded the riot
alarm and hastily summoned the
legislaturemen to the extra session
from their field work in the campaign.
Under the pinch of public opinion
these lawmakers, before the final ad-
| journment of the extra session next
week, will have passed nearly every
reform measure asked for in the extra
session call and Lieutenant Governor
J. Y. Sanders supplement" thereto.
The much-talked of fiscal agency
will be disposed of; the seven New
Orleans state tax collectors will be re-
duced to one:- the parish overlOrds
otherwise known as sheriffs, ex-officiO
tax collectors, will have their 1901
fees trimmed to the tune of abOut
sll2, 600; the authority of the State
Railroad Commission will be, exten.
ded; another bill eDaeted into law
promises to debsf from Louisiana
lcorporationsT which are sued and fiet
to the federal courts for relief.
There is every promise of travel.
ing auditor to audit the books Of the
!taxcollectors or sherfffs. The one New
Orleans collector will be bonded
800, 600; he must make frequent de
pOsits of his daily collections.
More Than candidates Promised.
The primary election law will be
/ "patched" SO as to guarantee a
square deal'' for all candidates.
The sale of the states quarantine
stations to the federal government
has been legalized.
A commission has been authorized
to study the port abuses in New Or.
leans.
The Office of the Secretary of State
has been placed on a $4,000 salary
basis, thus turning into the State
Treasury over $4,000 in fees which
have heretofore been. flowing unin:er
ruptedly into the pockets of Mr.. Johr
T. Mitchell. the capable official who
''built up'' the Office-made it SO pro-
fitable for himself that the Legislature
men were induced to take from him q
small fortune annually.
The parish assessors have had theil
fees reduced.
What They Called For.
These are the CHIEF reforms and still
more, which the three candidates fOl
the Governorship discussed in cam
paign speeches previous to November
IL when the extra session convened
to answer Gov. Elanchard's demand
that the long roll'' be called.
/ When the Legislature men begar
tinkering with the system" the can
didates for Governor suspended field
Operations. Mr.. Sanders was com
lpelled to preside over the delibera
tions of the Senate. Mr.. Theodore 8
Wilkinson has done very little cam
paigning since the extra session be
gan: Gen. Leon Jastremski wa.
stricken down.
Within less than week the Legis
lature men will go to their homes
Their extra session will be completed
and the gubernatorial campaign viii
resume full suing.
Honor Rests With Blanchard.
Then what will the candidates dis
cuss? Will they seek to claim credi
for the legislative attacks on tn,