Year: 1879

Governors would. perhaps. have found himself as
much embarrassed by his party surroundings rs BY
democratic menaces. The more the democrats scoded
the more some republicans stole in preparation for
am carrier hgh and the oftener they stole fled the
louder and ai.srer the seoding. till the mob bel
lowed il on the streets. II must not be forgotten,
however. that there many honest republican
stewards old and new citizens OF Louisiana who fifty
discharged their duties and live with unchallenged
regulations to-day i'll Louisiana, whittier they came
to stay These men merit great credit for having
Gratis have not presented any higher standard than
have the republicans in the Legislative aud admins
trative trusts OF Louisiana, despite all the abuse


THE PLACE FOR HONEST MEN


CORREsPOSDENT--Have the federal officers of
Louisiana Joined the coalition of which you speak?


Mr. PITKIN-I have reason for saying that, with
perhaps two three exceptions those officers would
scarcely be welcomed by the conservative and ma
tional elements. aud certauy could not. II they were
welcome, take any forces with them into the coaii
ton. Men with clean characters and honest purpose
are welcome The conservatives and nationals ex
ton will exhibit disposition to promote their
worthy purpose SO far as il can legitimately. The
coalition is Louisiana's only hope and the state
creditors only hope; it merits prompt encourage
nent, both because of immediate issues at stake and
because of 1880. when W. may readily reclaim the
State and have pacific election, i'll which the con-
servatiye element shall nterpose between the violent
and the coored elements.


LOUISIANA CAN DEBTS.


CoaREsPosDENTS-It IL reported here that it is the
purpose OF the Louisiana democrats to repudate the
State debt and that for this object chiefly they have
called constitutional convention. What position
do the conservatives and republicans or Louisiana
occupy on this question?


Mr. PIrKIN-1hese elements entirely hostile to
such action. 1t is believed by them that the state
though poor abundantly able to pay its debts and
ought to do So. They DO not believe the people
of the State could desire Temporary advantage
from reputation. They believe that such action
would not be thought of, except means of in
creasing the fund available for the support OF party
hacks and general punder. The income of the State
is generous. TOO large part OF IL is spent in exor
bitant salaries aud the maintenance OF useless OIL
GERS better and more equal system of assessnient
and u more business-like mode of collection would
considerably increase this income. The republicans
ana conservatives agree ia demanding these
They agree that the number OF offices should
be diminished, and the emolunents or many IT is
desirable to retain should he much reduced. There
is reason why Louisiana should pay her Governor
salary OF Ssoo1 per annum. There is no excuse
for the continuance of system under which two
sherts for the single parish OF Orleans can each lay
by profits $4,000 $4,000 in single term or
two years. Taxation should be simplited. The
State, instead OF levyng its assessments upon each
individual taxpayer, should levy its quota upon each
city and parish in other States and leave to the
local authorities its collection and payment to the
State Treasurer. BY such a change the State would
very nearly 100000 per annum now paid III
commissions to collectors. Local interests would
then antagonize the axresisting schemes OF former
years and the general laxity III this respect which
has been their iruit The collection expenses of
parishes need not be substantially increased and
peculaton would become more difficult than now
Reform in this particular would dispense with the
most powerful and corruptng patronage of the State
executive--not among the least OF the accruing
benefits. The State would derive another benefit in
saving of nelrly $4,000 per year which might
then be made in the expenses OF the Treasurers and
Auditors Offices


The State and parish Judiciary should be greatly
reduced Nearly ninety judicial officers are eni-
ployed by us to discharge duties which about thirty
such perform, for instance, in Massachusetts,, with
twice population and nine times our wealth.
Many of these are excessively paid. The system IS
cumbrous, unsatisfactory and onerous charge
e
department of the government is reform more nee
essary or can economies be effected more important
The heavy fees now applied to building up private
fortunes for the Sheriff of Orleans, Harbor Board
recorders Of mortgages and conveyances &c. should
chiefly 20 into the State and city treasures Prop
erty of the state now idle and useless should
be applied to profitable use or sold. Valuable
franchises, which have been alienated without SUD
stantal consideration for corrupt or private ends
should be resumed. Very considerable reductions
should be effected i'll the Legislative expenses. From
all these sources OF economy saving OF not less
than $15U, ,OUO year can be made, sum more than
ample to meet all existing Deficiencies The coiser-
vatives and republicans intend to accomplish these
reforms, and to restore and maintain the financial
honor of the State 1 ought to add that very great
numbers OF men now remaining i'll the democratic
pudiation and will doubtless their connection
with that party rather than ratify the action OF
the coming Convention should Reputation be its re-
suit. I do not now believe that this result, how
ever desirable it may be to the ring managers OF
the demv'ratic party, can be reached. 1t is
not at present likely that these ,. men wi,i pe se





they cannot they will retire to private fe and the
finances and honor OF the State will be safe hence
forth in honorable hands. l am satisfied that our
Senators and members OF Congress the last all
members of the democratic party, VIII be found
jealously defending the honor OF the state. AID that
each and all will heartily in the reformatory
measures necessary to support her credit and good
name


DEMOCRATIC wRECKERS


CoRREspoSDENr-Your Legislature has now been
IN Sc sslon some four weeks has il not? and is it not
very largely democratic:


Mr. PiTkIS--Yes. and resolution has yet been
offered to assist the State out of the slough in which
her recent default her annual interest has left her.
The democratic and republican vote is respectively
ninety and thirty The especial object OF
the democracy to be to abolish the pres
ent State constitution which, among other
things limits the State debt to Sl5,Noooo.
and declares all appropriations i'll excess
of annual revenue to ue null and void.
But the Legislature has just passed an act providing
for a convention TO frame q new constitution ms
following right upon the recent default in interest
exc.tes grave misgivngs The election of delegates,
as you Will from this official copy of the act is to
be held on the 18th day of March next and on the
2lst day April the convention Is to assemble with
an appropriation of $4,000 to meet its expenses.
The interval s certainly very short and the conse-
quences extremely momentous.