The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1907-11-02
GOV. Sanders, Llttle Coup.

Gov. Sanders Little Coup.
Lieutenant Governor Jared Y. San
ders, one of the three aspirants Tor
the Democratic gubernatorial nominal
ton, has essayed to furnish Roland
for Gov. Blanchard g Oliver--a coup
de grace to the governors coup d'etat.
Taking advantage of the governors
absence from the state, the lieutenant
governor on Wednesday, the 30th nlt.,
issued proclamation supplemental to
that signed by the governor five days
before, calling an extra session OF the
general assembly for certain purposes
therein specified. The supplemental
document designates the following as
additional objects to be- considered by
the general assembly at the special
session:
l. Concerning the regulation and
control of railroads, express, tele-
phone and telegraph companies, steam
boat, sleeping car and other public
service corporations, with the view,
particularly, that orders, DEGREES,
rules and regulations concerning same
may become effective, executory and
oper alive at once and to so remain I'M
til and unless set aside by final judi
cial decree. This to include, if neces-
sary, the proposing of amendments to
| the constitution.
2. To provide that any foreign or
federal corporation doing business in
| the state of Louisiana which shall in
| stitute any suit or any action at law
or in equity against the state of Lou
isiana. Or any of its political subdivi-
| sions, or against any citizen OF this
state, in any other than court orr
ganized and constituted under the laws
OF this state; or who being sued by
the state or by any OF its political
subdivisions, or by any citizen OF this
state, shall remove or petition to re-
move such suit into federal court
SHALL be debarred and prevented from
doing or conducting any business in
this state, this TO include, il necessary,
the proposing of amendments to the
constitution.
OF course, the step taken by Acting
Governor Sanders is open to the same
| imputation of insincerity and political
sharp practice that is SO freely urged
in criticism Of the original action of
Governor Blanchard, but in one in
stance as in the other The Chief pro.
/ poses to view the proclaim alton solely
upon it's intrinsic merits. Whether
| the lieutenant governor has acted
within the scope OF his official and le-
| gal powers in seeking to amend the
original proclamation is question
| that may be RENTED to future discus
sion end decision. We agree with
/ Mr.. Sanders that public service cor.
/ porations and utilities should be better
regulated and that the powers of tie
state railroad commission ought to be
extended and more clearly defined, but
/ it seems to US that the proposition to
render the rulings of this body exempt
from the restraint of iniunctions and
mandamus proceedings is the identical
one that was discussed so long and so
| ably in congress when the rate bill
was under consideration, and was elm
! mated from that measure because the
/ greatest lawyers taking part in the de-
| bate, both Democrats and Republic
ans, were of the opinion that the prop
usition was unconstitutional.
/ The same objection applies with
1 equal If not gre alter force to the second
/ clause OF the Sanders proclaim alton.
| Any attempt TO deny foreign citizens
or corporations the right to institute
i proceedings in the federal courts or to
i have cases TO which they are parties
transferred to such courts, is, we be-
lieve, clearly in contravention of the
federal constitution, and the chances
are that the general assembly of Lou
isiana would be doing worse than
wasting It's time In enacting such re-
strictive legislation.
The Sanders parts ans seem TO be in
high feather over his counter procla-
nation. They profess TO believe that
the first gubernat edict was de-
yised with the primary and principal
intent of injaring the candidacy of
their favorite, aud that his supplement-
airy action viii counteract this delete
rious influence and send his political
stock up again. That ia q question
with which We have no concern what
soever, but we are free to think that
the lieutenant governor has added
nothing tangible or creditable to his
/ reputation as lawyer, citizen, states
man or candidate ID getting back at
Blanchard = by tacking q tail onto
the latter's extra session kite.