The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1907-11-12
THE LEGISLATURE CONVENED
IN BATON ROUGE.
ALL LOVELY AND SERENE
Sanders Has Developed Into a Reform
er Of RefIrmcrs-The Wolves and
the Lambs in Happy Moods-The
First BusilIess Is Significant

was convened in extra session at noon
yesterday.
In calling the Sef,ate to order Lieu
tenant Governor Sanders delivered an
~ddress which was we'll received by his
friends and admirers. In the course Of
his peroration he SAID:
Let it be remembered thai no one is
able TO deprive you of the glory that II
will be yours to win by pursuing a wise
course in the interests of all the people
and that upon no shoulders but your
own will the responsibility rest for fail
IRE to meet the just demands of the pub
lie in this important crisis. You are re
sponsible to no man save to the SOW
creign people of Louisiana for the legis-
lation you may enact or for the meas
llres you may adopt or propose.
In spirit and in words Sanders speech
was more of play to the galleries than
the deliverance of statesman on mo-
mentous issues
In brief, it may be said that only great
men rise to grasp opportunities.
1t is, however, gratifying to note that
Lieutenant Governor Sanders has de-
clared his high purpose to lead in the
reforms demanded by the people.
The Governors message as we'll as
Sanders addendum were read to the
Legislature.
In Sanders addendum is embraced all
that he has said in connection with cor
porations and the increase of the power
of the Railroad Commission.
In this connection it may be stated
that legal lights of prominence and
whose opinion is priced very highly, re-
gard with distrust the validity of any
act which would follow the reforms sug-
gested and outlined in Sanders adden-
dunn to the Governors call. In fact
some fthe bolder of the lawyers have
asserted that every act passed under the
Sanders call will be illegal and void, and
therefore the corporations are not being
worried over Sanders proposed re-
forms.
: Perhaps the corporations and Sanders
understand each other AT any rate
his is serious proposition, which IN
lirectly would operate to the advantage
Of the corporations, which should be
'egulated, but whose attempt at regufa-
ion at this time may embarrass the
legislature for immediate reforms II
the curtailment of salaries and perquls
tes and in reducing the number of Of
icials, especially iii New Orleans.
The people should not lose sight o1
he fact that while Sanders was and is
leading vociferously for the reforms Of
the corporations, his prime motive, ap
parently, was to lead to the defeat Of
the reforms imperative and essential "a
outlined in the Governors call and de
. nanded by the people.
In his message Governor Blanchard
resented tabulations from official re
cords of the salaries paid to public serv
lnts in their various capacities. Few
| officials in other States, even the mos
opulous States, have derived create
emoluments than officials of LOUISIANA
He recommends that the seven ia,
collectors of the parish of Orleans b
reduced to one on a salary basis. H
suggests salaries for other officials witt
adequate compensation for clerical as
. Sistants.
# The Governors message was clear ant
e forceful in its construction. In its spe
<, cifcations. there was left no room TO
/ quibble or dispute, and in substance en-
n braced the questions submitted In hi
/ call and which are familiar to newspa
: per readers.
u In the House and the Senate severs
y bills have been introduced covering /
lie part the reforms desired, all of whic
. will be referred to appropriate comm
10 tees.
r From the temper of the General A
OF senbly it would seem that the work a
signed for consideration should be con
IN p1eted in less time than the thirty da,
w allot.t for this extra session.
IeI A reported, all is lovely and seren
J., Sancers has developed into reform
h of reformers, the wolves and the lam
rs, are in happy mood, and politically 1T
IS, goose honks high"
la Significant of the tactics to be pu
sued by the Sandersites is the first bu'
"a ness transacted in the Senate. Sena
Bill No. /, by Mr.. Favrot, regulatil
corporations, and Senate bill No. by n
ar Milsaps increasing the powers of t
Railroad Commission, is an evidence