The Natchitoches enterprise., 1915-06-10
Live Notes From The Capital.

the most careful observer to write a
letter that will be absolutely accurate
three days later. In my last letter l
wrote on Tuesday exactly what were
the conditions then, and I found on its
publication on Thursday that develop
ments in certain quarters had put me
very much at sea.
The really interesting phase OF the
situation in Baton Rouge right now IS
the absolute claim that both sides lay
to the upper hand Of the present fight.
The administration leaders very con-
fidently tell you that they have held on
to the main features of their Conven-
ton bill and due to certain political
influences, will be able to get their
bill thru with all they want. On the
other hand, the Sanders-Pleasant-
Thomas crowd, who proved the strength
of their organization, way beyond my
predictions, insist that they have wiped
out the most Objectionable features OF
the bill and will be able to control the
conference committees when they try
to get together on an acceptable bill.
Certainly, the fight on Thursday and
Friday was az close as any one could
look for, one or two votes deciding
each lineup.
The rejection by the House OF the
Senate amendments to the Approprie-
ton bill on Monday night, will put that
bill back into the hopper and it will not
be possible to get 1t to the Governor
within the five days necessary be-
fore closing, to end the Session until
next week, The Senate amendment,
by the way, placed the salaries. of the
Parish Assessors way down the line in
order of payment should the funds not
hold out andithe members of the Gene
raj Assembly were flooded Immediately
with kilograms, telephone calls and
letters from almost every Assessor in
the state. The charge is made that
the Senate, by putting the Assessors
last in order of payment, were putting
it up to these officers to raise assess
ments in order that the taxes would
take acre of them without delay.
Judge Favrot in the heat and tumult
of the Convention fight slipped over by
two votes an amendment making
Baton Rouge and not New Orleans the
place tor holding it. And he has pre-
cipitated fight that is causing much
trouble in certain quarters. It seems
that the Administration had promised
the New Orleans crowd, not the poll
ticisns but the New Orleans papers,
to have the Convention held in that
City. The demand does not come from
the people in New Orleans, but from
the papers who will of course make an
enormous saving in telegraph tolls,
salaries and expenses in handling the
news of the Convention. At the same
-ssSsss-sS~ psSasasv vursSzrragsy svTCrs III rrse
departments --of Government with
which to advise and with all the ad.
Vsntages Of smaller city in which to
work, refused 10 relinquish her right,
in spite OF outright threats from New
Orleans over the capitol removal cues.
ton. And now the fight has narrowed
down with most Of the country mem.
bers preferring Baton Rouge to New
Orleans and yet with the adrninistfa-
ton trying to keep faith with the New
Orleans papers and give them the Con-
vention if possible. Probably the con-
ference committee win have settled the
matter by the time this letter 10 pub
lished but certainly right today there
is terrific fight going on. The three
Natchitoches members stood by
Baton Rouge and voted in fsvor of the
capitol.
Ex-Governor Sanders IL again on the
scene and has directed the fight against
the administration that Speaker
Thomas had pretty well mixed up.
Thomas by his arbitrary rulings
estranged several of his strong country
supporters and was ronndly denounced
on the floor by them. I am free to
admit that the effects Of the speech, or
rather of the organization that he
perfected, Of ]. VS., is much stronger
now thant allowed last week. The Ex-
Governor, after letting the liquor ques-
ton alone and making his fight against
certain featuree of the Convention bill,
was able to concentrate his forces
more effectively and he has gained in
strength very considerably.
Politically, that il, as far as any in
dividual is concerned, the week showed
no developments. The candidates are
all keeping under cover. DR.. Pieraon
remained ut Jackson, Lieutenant-G Gov
irnor Barrett has had his hands full
running the Senate and Mr.. Pleasant
altho on the scene, has remained more
in the background. The candidates
for the other Offices have kept quiet
and except for the appearance on the
scene of Mr. Lee from Winnsboro who
10 making an active campaign for
Register Of the Land Office, not much
was heard Of any aspirants for State
ofices.
This letter, again. Enterprise, 10
merely sent to you Is the personal
observations of friend and are not
meant in any way to suggest q policy
Tor the paper; mean to treat all can
iidates or factions no 9 matter Of news
md the way they appear IN Baton