LOUISIANA. 



339 



The so-called " Lily Whites " sent out an ad- 

 dress, July 9, in which was said in part: "The 

 National Republican Convention, assembled at 

 Philadelphia, recognized this State committee as 

 the regular Republican organization of the State 

 of Louisiana. This happy event awakens the 

 liveliest enthusiasm throughout the whole State 

 and among all classes of people. In it they see 

 the great advantage of a strong and vigorous oppo- 

 sition party to the ruling dynasty in this State, 

 which has usurped all the functions of govern- 

 ment and appropriated the whole power of the 

 people. The excuse for padding the registration, 

 stuffing the ballot boxes, and forging the election 

 returns heretofore given by the Democratic leaders 

 has now disappeared, and even the instruments 

 of their conspicuous and admitted frauds will not 

 dare to perpetrate them again. 



" The State of Louisiana is as much interested 

 in Republican success at the coming election as 

 New York or Illinois. All of the important in- 

 dustries of Louisiana are dependent on Republican 

 policies. The sugar, rice, lumber, salt, cotton, 

 iron, tobacco, and other industries are directly 

 dependent on the protection accorded them by the 

 Dingley bill. The business of our people, the vol- 

 ume of business and their prosperity are dependent 

 on a sound and stable currency which the Repub- 

 lican party maintains and which the Democratic 

 party threatens to destroy. 



" Louisiana is a Republican State on a free vote 

 and a fair count. With all of the machinery of 

 the State government, the most complete and dras- 

 tic campaign which the Democratic party could 

 prosecute, with every State, parish, and local office 

 in dispute, with all of its padding of returns, the 

 Democratic party was able to poll in April but 

 6 per cent, of the registered vote of the State." 



The Central State Committee of the People's 



,rty sent out an address calling upon their party 

 to vote for the presidential and congressional can- 

 didates of the Republican party. 



I The vote for presidential electors stood: Bryan, 

 :>:Ui71; McKinley, 14,233. The members of Con- 

 gress elected were all Democrats. The amendment 

 to increase the amount available for pensions for 

 Confederate soldiers to $75,000 was carried by 

 31,320 against 1,440; the limit heretofore was 

 $50,000. W. L. Foster was elected Railroad Com- 

 missioner for the Third District. 



Legislative Session. The Legislature assem- 

 bled May 14 and adjourned July 12. Jared Y. 

 Sanders was Speaker of the House. Gov. Heard 

 and Lieut.-Gov. Estopinal were inaugurated 

 May 21. 



Two United Senators were elected May 22 

 Senator Samuel D. McEnery to succeed himself at 

 tlu> expiration of his present term (1903), and 

 ex-Gov. Murphy J. Foster to succeed Senator 

 Cattery in 1901. 



A new law for primary elections was enacted, 

 regulating the manner of calling and conducting 

 them, the appointment of officers, the taking of 

 votes and counting them, and providing penalties 

 for illegal voting, acceptance of illegal votes, 

 bribery, and intimidation. The penalties are a 

 fine of $25 to $300, or imprisonment for terms 

 from ten days to three months, or both. The 

 general election law was amended in details re- 

 yarding nominations. 



An amendment to the bank reserve act provides 

 that every bank, banking association, corporation, 

 or company organized under the laws of the State 

 shall at all times have on hand in lawful money 

 of the United States and cash due from other banks 

 an amount equal to 25 per cent., 8 per cent, of 

 which shall be kept at all times on their respective 



premises in cash, of the aggregate amount of its 

 demand deposits. The amount to be thus kept 

 on hand shall be called its lawful money reserve. 

 For the remainder of said liabilities to depositors 

 an amount equal thereto in lawful money of the 

 United States on hand or due from other banks, 

 bills of exchange or discounted paper maturing 

 within twelve months, bonds of the United States, 

 bonds of the State of Louisiana, bonds of the 

 city of New Orleans, or bonds of the several levee 

 districts of the State of Louisiana. 



A measure that met with much opposition, but 

 passed and became a law without the consent of 

 the Governor, modified the civil service law of 

 New Orleans, exempting certain offices from the 

 operation of the law requiring academic examina- 

 tion, and making other changes. 



An important law provides for the care and con- 

 trol of the State convicts. When the present lease 

 for their labor expires, March 3, 1901, they are 

 not to be leased to private contractors again. A 

 board of control is created, to be composed of 

 three citizens appointed by the Governor. The 

 first appointees are to serve two, four, and six 

 years respectively, and after appointments will be 

 for six years. This board has authority to ap- 

 point and discharge at its discretion all officers 

 and employees, designate their duties and fix their 

 salaries. It must prohibit harsh and cruel punish- 

 ments, establish a system of work and discipline 

 conducive to the reformation of the prisoners, and 

 give them the right to communicate directly with 

 the board without the interference of an officer. 

 It is authorized to purchase or lease such lands 

 as may be necessary for occupation by the con- 

 victs, who are to be employed in agriculture or 

 manufacturing and in the construction and repair 

 of public works. It is further stipulated that the 

 board shall, as soon as possible, establish a re- 

 formatory branch of the Penitentiary, in which 

 all convicts who are between the ages of seven 

 and seventeen years shall be separated from the 

 other convicts. 



A Bureau of Labor Statistics was created. 



A special license tax was imposed on the sale 

 of pistols and cartridges $125 on wholesale dealers 

 in pistols and $50 retail ; on cartridges, $50 and $25. 



A revenue act provides for increased income to 

 the State. The tax on oil corporations was re- 

 duced one half. Secret or fraternal societies not 

 exclusively benevolent must pay a license tax. 



The board of examining dentists is replaced by 

 a State Board of Dentistry 5 members, appointed 

 by the Governor for seven years. 



Acts relating to insurance companies are: To 

 prevent combinations among fire companies to fix 

 rates; to provide that the value of immovables 

 by nature shall be fixed by the insurer when 

 the policy is issued, and that he is to pay the 

 total loss or restore property damaged; and com- 

 panies taking marine and river risks on the stock 

 plan must have capital of $100,000 instead of 

 $200,000, as formerly. 



The game laws were amended. 



Other acts were: 



To encourage high schools by appropriations 

 from the general fund. 



Requiring examination of homestead and loan 

 associations. 



Requiring employers to provide seats for woman 

 employees. 



Prohibiting marriage between first cousins. 



Appropriating $300 to the fund for placing in 

 Memorial Hall, Washington, a bronze bust of 

 George Peabody. 



Making appropriation for a permanent home for 

 lepers. 



