The Ouachita Telegraph

THE LOUISIANA LEGISLATURE.

BATON ROUGE, June 19. -- The license bill has caused more hard feeling than any other measure before the General Assembly. The license of every branch of mercantile and other business has been raised to a considerably larger amount than formerly. The liquor men seem to think that they have been taxed the heaviest, but their license becomes insignificant when compared to that placed on the telephone business; the latter license heretofore has been $150 to the State and $150 to the city, but this year the Legislature proposes to levy a tax of $21 for state and city license on each telephone erected and in operation. The Bell Telephone company have 1,500 telephones throughout the State and will consequently have to pay $31,500 license. Superintendent Fowler is here and stated to your correspondent that the proposed license was exorbitant and if such bill was passed telephones would have to be withdrawn, as the license would comprise one-third of the annual gross receipts of the company. A petition signed by over 2,000 merchants of New Orleans, protesting against a high license bill was sent up by Mr. Dudenheffer and read in the House. Representatives of nearly every branch of business are here and propose to fight the bill to the bitter end. Great times are looked for when the bill comes up.

The House judiciary committee yesterday morning reported favorably upon Mr. Graham's bill, ranking and classifying priority and liens and rights of pledge in favor of lessor and furnisher of supplies on crops. This bill is of the utmost importance to planters and merchants and will do away with a great deal of unnecessary litigation and at the same time protect tenants.

Mr. Downing's penitentiary bill was killed yesterday in the House on engrossment and passed to third reading. It was indefinitely postponed by a vote of 48 yeas to 40 nays. T. C. Murphy and L. M. Gex were the only two from the Orleans delegation who voted against the bill. Two hours were spent in discussing measures during which strong arguments were made on both sides.

In the House, Mr. Caspari, of Natchitoches presented a bill providing penalties for breaking and entering any railroad freight or passenger car depot; also penalties for malicious injury to railroad property.

Mr. Bossier of St. Tammany, editor of Mascot, presented a concurrent resolution to decrease the expenses of the judiciary. It passed unanimously.

The general appropriation bill passed finally. The license bill was fixed for Monday. Both bodies adjourned to Monday.

The Senate judiciary committee reported favorably on the bill creating an additional justice of the peace and constable for the First ward of Caddo.

Senator Robson presented a bill to authorize the governor to let contracts for building levees without advertisements.