The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1907-12-10

question OF personal privilege the OPP
portunitv for his action. Represent
tative Z. ]. Herman of East Baton
Rouge to-day presented TO the House
an exhaustive review of the work ac--
complished at the special session, In
the course of which he estimated the
saving insured to the State by reform
measures at over 1910, 600. AS the
accepted representative OF the admlu-
istration, in the lower chamber. Mr..
Herman was accorded the most close
attention. many members regarding
the statement as indirectly coming
from the Executive of the State.
RESUME OF WORK.
| Following a statement to the effect
that he had noticed. and deplored, a
tendency in some portion Of the public
press to ''belittle the work OF the Leg
islature. "Mr. Herman read the follow
ing. resume:
When Gov. Blanchard issued his
proclamation calling this extraordi-
nary session it was instantly recog-
nizedby all men, who have the interests
of Louisiana at heart, as an act o.
broad craftsmanship and wise policyf
1t is true that, at first, a feeble protest
was raised by those who had come to
regard their public trusts as vested
private interests: but these were soon
silenced by the universal approval OF
the best thought and the best citizen
ship of the State. Open opposition
ceased, but desperate men sought to
defeat the great work OF r~etrenchment
and reform by cover intrigue, I'm
like the measures dealing with the
public service corporations, which
were from the very beginning, loyalty
and heartily supported by all the most
important measures of, retrenchment
met unexpected delays, and in spite
Of the most persistent pressing on the
part of their real advocates, nothing
was accomplished in this direction for
more than a week. When the time for
action could no longer be delayed,
adroit efforts were made to convert
two of the most important of them in
to measures of mock reform. The at
tempts to leave the tax commissions of
the sheriffs practically untouched and
to make, in effect, the present tax col
lectors of New Orleans a gift of about
$50, 900 of the peoples money, though
apparently dangerous from the
strength and character of the support
behind them could not stand the blis-
tering gaze of public scrutiny and fin
ally withered beneath it. 1t is repOr-
ted that promises have been given
that these attempts will be renewed
next May, l do not believe they will
be, but there need be NO fear of their
success, even il made. Your work is
right and will endure as all right
work should.
GOOD. WORK DONE.
No bad work has been done by
you, though some good work attempt.
ed has failed. Among the measures
in this last category might be named
the bills relative to the Board O
Assessors of New Orleans, the
consolidation of the offices o
parish auditor and treasurer
the salaries of officers for ser.
vices for which fees are fixed
10y law, aud reducing the ex
~cessive compensation of the cit!
treasurer of Baton Rouge. Thes'
we're all meritorioas measure, and i
t is to be regretted that they did no
!, CARRY. But, in spite of these failures
, the objects of the session, as Outlinet
. both in the original and the supple
mental proclamation hs We been sub
stantially accomplished. AS to tn
|, measures dealing with the public ser
! vice corporations aud their irelatioI
1 to the Railroad Commission there wa
but oane opinion, and but "0ne voice
! , they were quickly and unsnimousl.
4 enacted into laws without the &lightes
, shadow of opposition. They are wei
9 understood and their discussion i
: detail .aeed not detain us.
A careful and conservative cO1npu
e tation, calculated from figures obtain
ed from the office of the Auditor G
Public Accounts and other ofiesa
5 sources, show that your work at thu
session, based upon the assessment q
1907. has saved to the people Of Louis
lana, in round numbers, the enOrmou
sum of 1910. 600 per annum. This /
more than $1,000 for every w0rkin
: day in every year for all the year
! to come. When capitalized at 1 pc
cent, the rate we pay on our bonde
debt, this annual saving represent
the enormous capital sum of 81. $50,
600, This is, indeed. a handsom
r Christmas present for us to take HON
J. with us to our people.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS BENEFIT.
The Superintendent of Public Edu
tcatiOn informs me that the publ