REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, To His Excellency William Wright Heard, Governor of Louisiana: SIR:-I have the honor to submit, in accordance with Section 1558 of the Revised Statutes, a report of the transactions of this Department from May 1st, 1900, to December 31st, 1901, inclusive. Herein will be found tabulated statements of registered voters for year 1900. Statement of the vote cast at the Presidential and Congressional election in November, 1900. Statement of vote cast at election for Railway Commissioner in Second Railway District. Since the last session of the General Assembly, a vacancy in the Senate, caused by the resignation of the Honorable J. M. Smith, of Union, has been filled by election in November, 1900, of the Hon. W. B. Stuckey, of Mer Rouge, Morehouse Parish. Vacancies have occurred in the House of Representatives caused by death, and have been filled by election as follows: Of the Hon. W. B. Peyton, of DeSoto, by Hon. R. H. Spell; Hon. W. D. Hall, of Sabine, by Hon. J. W. Conerly; Hon. D. H. Caldwell, of Winn, by Hon. J. M. McCain; Hon. R. H. Spell, member elect from DeSoto, by the Hon. S. J. Smart; Hon. S. P. Henry, of Cameron, by the Hon. August Parvell. Hon. W. H. McClenahan, of Bossier, by the Hon. J. T. Manry. Requisitions to the number of fifty-nine have been issued upon Governors of other States for the surrender of fugitives from this State. Extradition warrants to the number of fifty-five have been issued for the arrest and surrender of fugitives from other States who have taken refuge in this State. Proclamations offering rewards for the arrest and conviction of persons who are charged with crimes and offenses and are fugitives from justice have been issued to the number of twenty-seven. 160726 Pardons and commutations of sentences have been issued to the number of sixty-six. Death warrants have been signed and issued for the execution of persons convicted of crimes and sentenced to suffer the death penalty to the number of twenty. The proposed amendment to Article 303 of the Constitution of the State Joint Resolution-Act No. 73, adopted at the Regular Session of the General Assembly in 1900, was duly promulgated, as required by law, and the table of votes "For" and "Against " the same will be found at page Act 136 of 1898. Since last report, a majority of the towns and villages in the State have adopted the "Lawrason" town charter bill (Act No. 136 of 1898), and a list will be found at page —. Election Law. The wisdom of the amendments made to the Election Law, at the session of 1900 (Act 132 of that year), has been confirmed by the results of the Congressional and other elections held since that time. There have been no contests or complaints of any character, and the integrity of the election methods have not been questioned. Charters. I renew the recommendation made in the last report as to the advisability of an act requiring the filing annually of a certificate under oath from the proper officer of each corporation doing business in this State, showing the location of its principal business office in this State, with town, street and number, and the kind of business engaged in; the names of its officers, directors or managers, their residences, etc., expiration of their respective terms of office, and providing a penalty for failure so to do. Notaries Public-Orleans. Some forty or fifty applications are on file from Orleans for appointment as Notaries Public. The limit is now one hundred and fifty Notaries for that parish. The list is full. Some of the applications have been on file a long time. No good reason can be assigned why the limit should not be repealed, and I so recommend. Registration. The present registration law should be amended: To provide for a supplemental registration of voters in parishes (Orleans excepted) during the months of August and September in each year in which general election for Congress and Presidential electors is held, to be made as directed for the registration of voters for general State elections. In Orleans, the present registration roll, together with such as may be made this year, should be extended and maintained for the years 1903 and 1904. The roll is practically a new one, and it will be a useless waste of public money and work a great hardship on the electors to compel a new registration for 1903 and 1904. State Library. The State Library is still located at the Tulane Hall in New Orleans. Its affairs have been most efficiently conducted by the Librarian and Assistant. A large number of exchanges and some purchases have been made, and your attention is specially directed to that portion of the Librarian's report which refers to that subject. Annual Reports. The old contract with the printer required that he should furnish free of cost to the State one hundred and thirty copies of the Supreme Court Annual Reports. In my last report, I called attention to the fact that on account of the additional courts and increased exchanges, the number was insufficient, and I recommended that one hundred and forty copies be provided for. Notwithstanding that recommendation, the present contract provides for only one hundred copies. The report of the State Librarian now shows that one hundred and fifty copies are actually necessary to make the legal distribution, and I therefore again recommend that the number of copies furnished to the State be increased to one hundred and fifty. Insurance. Your attention is directed to the report of Hon. Eugene J. McGivney, Assistant Secretary of State, in charge of the Insurance Department of this State, which contains a full history of the operations of that department since my last report. State Manual. The demand for a book containing the information generally embodied in a State Manual as published in many of the other States, have been so great, and being without authority to issue a special work of that kind, I have been prompted to compile and include in this report the organic law of the United States and of this State, together with such statistics, political and financial tables, historical data and other information as would in my opinion make this report useful and valuable as a record and reference book which I assume to be the purpose of a report of this department. The information herein contained is compiled from official records, and the most reliable unofficial data obtainable. The political information from authorized and recognized party officials. Trusting that it will meet with your approval, I have the honor to remain, Very respectfully, JOHN T. MICHEL, Secretary of State. |