Daily Gazette And Comet

Legislative Proceedings.

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 9.

Senate.—The Senate met pursuant to adjournment.

Mr. Cottrell introduced a resolution to pay a certain claim of Octave Bonin, the doorkeeper of the Senate, which was referred to the Committee on Claims.

Mr. Moore presented a memorial from J. D. Bishop, the inventor of a dredging machine. Referred to Committee on Public Works.

Mr. Laidlow presented a petition from J. Prendergast, editor of the Orleanian, asking for payment for publishing an advertisement of the Commissioner of Elections in New Orleans. Referred to Committee on Claims.

Mr. Solomon introduced a resolution calling on the Administrators of the University of Louisiana to report on the present condition of the public buildings they have charge of, and the purposes to which they have devoted them for the last four years. Passed.

Mr. Hunt, from the Committee on Elections, presented a report from his committee, on the claim, with the accompanying papers, of W. D. Brigham, of Morehouse, contesting the seat now held by Mr. Jas. H. Stevens. The report unanimously rejected the contestant's claim.

On motion of Mr. Hunt, Mr. Brigham was allowed to be heard in behalf of his case.

The claimant made a lengthy argument in vindicating his position. Upon its conclusion, Mr. Stevens rose and made a brief reply, which was followed up by Mr. Hunt, on the same side.

Mr. Laidlow moved the adoption of a substitute, to the effect that the question be referred back to the people of Union, Jackson, Morehouse and Ouachita parishes, which motion was lost by a vote of 6 to 17; and then the report of the committee was adopted—21 yeas, 8 nays.

The Senate adjourned till to-morrow.

House.—The House met to-day at 10 o'clock, A. M.

Seventy two members present.

Prayer by the Rev. Mr. Linfield.

Messrs. Tarleton, Voorhies, of St. Martin, Cage, Imboden, Lindsay, Lane, of Orleans, Harper, Kilbourne and Breithaupt presented memorials of the citizens of their several parishes, praying for a geological survey of the State. Mr. Coleman also presented a memorial to the same effect from the citizens of Ouachita. These memorials were referred to the Committee on Agriculture.

Mr. Breithaupt offered a joint resolution to carry into effect Act No. 181, of the last session of the Legislature, appropriating $10,000 to remove obstructions in the Bayou saline, parish of Catahoula. Messrs. Miller and Gantt urged its reference to the appropriate committee; and, on motion of Mr. Breithaupt, it was referred to the Committee on Lands and Levees.

The following reports were then made from standing committees, to-wit:

Mr. Herron, on behalf of the Committee on the Judiciary, returned to the House an act to emancipate B. F. Babin, of West Baton Rouge, which, by leave of the House on yesterday, was withdrawn from the committee. He also reported from said committee, unfavorably on the several acts for the emancipation of minors. He stated that the committee made this report for the reason that the general laws of the State provided the proper tribunals before which such matters could be brought, and that the Legislature was not the proper place for the settlement of these questions, which frequently gave rise to litigation at the homes of the different parties concerned. On an act to prohibit the emancipation of minors by the Legislature. He also reported unfavorably, for the reason that the same was unnecessary, since the action of this Legislature could not bind future legislatures.

On the various acts providing for the appointment of deputies by the Recorders of the several parishes, he reported that the committee had passed favorably upon a general bill for the whole State, which would obviate the necessity of special bills for each parish.

Mr. Miller, from the Committee on Lands and Levees reported favorably on an act to close Bayou Plaquemine, and unfavorably on an act to prohibit the Board of Public Works from making levees and stopping bayous on Red River.

Mr. Coleman from the Committee on Internal Improvements, reported back, by substitute, an act providing for the transfer of the property of the internal Improvement department to the Swamp Land department.

The substitute is entitled an act to provide for the payment of the indebtedness of the Internal Improvement department. This substitute provides that the Board of Public Works shall borrow temporarily, from the Swamp Land Fund the sum of $100,000, or so much of it as is necessary to pay the indebtedness of the Internal Improvement department. It provides also that the negroes, boats, etc., of this department may be used for Swamp land purposes, due credit being given for the works performed by the same.

The following acts were introduced and referred.

By Mr. Bradley—An act requiring the Board of Public Works to send the State boat Amite into the rivers Ponchatoula and Tickfaw, parish of Livingston; referred to the Committee on Internal Improvements. An act for the relief of Jesse F. Felder, Sheriff of Livingston; referred to the Committee on Claims.

Mr. Bradley, on a previous day, also gave notice of the following acts: To construct a railroad connecting Baton Rouge with the Jackson Railroad, at or near Ponchatoula station; to remove the seat of justice of Livingston parish.

By Mr. Cage—An act to appropriate $5,000 for the relief of Houma Academy; referred to the Committee on Education.

By Mr. Tompkins—An act to amend an act to provide a Homestead for widows, etc., approved March 17th, 1852; referred to the Judiciary Committee.

By Mr. Lane, of Orleans—An act to change the names of Robert Southgate Brown and others, of New Orleans.

This change was desired on account of the stigma cast upon the name of Brown by John Brown of Abolition notoriety.

Mr. Haynes was perfectly willing that these parties should change their names, but he could not consent to say, by his vote, a stigma, had been cast on the name of Brown. John Brown by his conduct in the foray in Virginia, had cast a stigma upon himself, but, not upon the name of other honorable persons, by the name of Brown.

Mr. Lane—The gentleman need not have any hard feelings on the subject, if he will only look closely at the preamble of the act. The act was proposed in all seriousness, and embodies on the complainant's objections to the name, and involve no indorsement of the House.

Mr. Herron called for the reading of the act.

Mr. Kilbourne—I am opposed to the act for another reason. It creates a bad precedent. If we pass this act, the whole time of the House will be taken up in changing the name of Brown. And if any bad man in the North, by the name of Smith should do some bad thing our statute books will be filled with acts for changing the name of the honorable Smith family. This would not pay for the paper and ink on which these acts would be written.

Mr. Herron moved to strike out the preamble of the act, this being the objectionable portion.

Mr. Lane assented and the motion being carried the act as amended was passed.

By Mr. Lane of Orleans— An act relative to juries in Orleans: referred to the Judiciary Committee.

By Mr. Waggaman—An act creating a Custodian of Archives for the city and parish of Orleans: an act imposing certain duties on Notaries Public in Orleans, in regard to the archives of their offices; both referred to the Judiciary Committee.

By Mr. Miller—Joint resolution in regard to certain works in Point Coupee; an act providing for a road in Point Coupee from False River Tate to the mouth of the Courtablean in St. Landry: referred to the Committee on Internal Improvement.

By Mr. Knox, of Carroll—An act authorizing the Governor to appoint a State Land Agent: referred to the Committee on Lands and Levees.

The House laid on the table, subject to call, the various bills authorizing parish Recorders to appoint deputies, with a view to await the action on the general bill.

An act repealing Article 350 of the Civil Code was then taken up, and under a suspension of the rules, finally passed.

Under a resolution by Mr. Allen, the special committee to examine Swamp Land Accounts was increased by three members: and the Speaker named as additional members, Messrs. O'Guin, Kilbourne and Bradley.

On motion, the House adjourned.