Thibodaux minerva. [volume] (Thibodaux, La.) 18??-1858, 1855-09-29

/ lStratlOn
| The judiciary of Louisiana cost annually less
than $1,000, when under Wing administration
| Under the democratic Judiciary law of 1916, the
number of Judges and District Attorneys were i'll.
creased to more than double Say from 10 Judges
and 10 Attorneys to 81 Judges and II Attorneys.
The natural effect of which increase was to aug
ment the sum paid by the people of Louisiana, to
$1O6, 100, as follows:
For Supreme Courts $25, 900
District Courts. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. 3,5oo
attorneys.. .................-.....' lI,sou
Attorney General. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 3,50O
Reporter of the Supreme Court $500
1t may be uery naturally asked By the people
eehy an increased number of Judges and Attor-
neys mas required. The only reply to this ques-
tion that as at all pertinent as that 1t scas neces-
sary to create additional Judicial Districts, that
some 40 democrats might be appointed to Judge
ships and Ahormeyships.
No member of the Legislature of 1916, but was
aware that these small districts made in order
that democratic lawyers IN and out Of the Legis-
lature might be appointed to them.
Having obtained a victory in 1912, with Gov.
Mouton as their leader, these democratic patriots,
were determined to act up to their often advanced
principle, that "to the victor belonged the spos,
and set about making Reform Of alleged abuses
and Retrenchment of Expenses. In former
communication exhibited to your readers, some
evidences of their insincerity.
There is not branch of our State Government
that is not administered in the most reckless and
proaigate manner. Instead Of Retrenclnaent and
Reform, as promised in 1912, we haze reckless
expenditure and consumption IN State affairs
A'ad the evidences thereof are to be found IN the
reports Of the officers Of the democratic party's
appointment, and in the reports and speeches of
democratic committees and members of the Le-
gislature.
mean not to charge any thing that is not found
in the official reports. Well may the democratic
orators and candidates, avoid all alluson to State
affairs, and raise hue and cry against the Amer
leans of Louisiana, and thereby try to blind the
people to their mal-administration, and profigacy
Let us commence an aggressive war upon this
pretended party Of the people. Let us unmask
their administration of the Swamp Land Funds.
Let us pontthe people to the reports of democratic
committees, as evidences Of their profigacy. Let
us do these things to their faces and before the
people, that they may not secretly say our charges
are only Wing or Know Nothing lies. We've
nothing to fear in encounters upon the hustings.
In anticipation Of an exposition of the profgacy
Of the democratic party of Louisiana, in this can
vass, its organ at the Capital cautioned circumspec
ton on the part Of the last Legislature, for fear
that it's enemies would avail themselves of it's i'm
prudences. Thiscaution came too late The State
Treasury had already been bankrupted. Unless
the official reports much misrepresent the true
condition Of its affairs, second bankruptcy is |
likely to present itself within three years-from |
1853 to 1856.
In what respect but profigacy, does the demo-
cratic surpass the wing party. No sane man be-
ieves we have improved i'll any respect. Our taxes
Ire annually increased. Our money is squandered. |
Dur public lands are fast becoming the property of
lnprincpled spectators through the convniance of
hose appointed to administer them, and to enhance
heir value to the State and people To such an
extent has this been carried that respect for public
opinion, caused the present democratic LegisIa-
ature, to investigate the charges of mal-adminis-
ration made Ivy a gentleman of Point Coupee.
The chairmen of the Joint Committee, Messrs
Hebert and SHINES, who made as mild a report as
he circumstances would admit, yet present the
most convincing evidences of misapplication and
waste of the Swamp Land Funds generally; and
;onclusively show that in the Second District, the
ewing has been done to promote the interest Of
high functionary of Louisiana, and his associate
'r co-partner, a Swamp Land Commissioner, in
Entry of Swamp Lands.
The consequence of this report was refusal of
he Legislature to make the usual appropriation for
arrying on this branch Of the public works.
These are not Know Nothing stories. A few ex-
racts from the Report Of the Joint Committee,
will be proper to show how great has been the mis-
Of this department.. Extract passing
rom the Board to the individual Commissioners,
aking them in their numerical order. Mr.. Jen-
inns, the Commissioner of the First District, states
n his annual report that he has commenced
cries of works to levee and reclaim the Swamp
lands of Cat Island. The whole area of Cat Island
) 81, 1O3 acres, of which about Is, 4O4 acres &C.
rued to the State under the donation from Con-
ress. Of this Is, 404 acres, the greater portion
vas entered dt one dollar and twenty-five cents per
ere, aoithin short time after the design Of re-
tanning 1t by the funds Of the State became
nOaun
To reclaim this tract Of country Mr.. Jenkins
as already made contracts amounting to $78,-
80 AZ, and comtemplates an additional egpen-
sture necessary to complete the suork sufficient to
sake the aggregate sam $lO5,261 es. If we
did to this the expenses Of the department, clieh
tould be done, as this soas the only spork under
uken in his District, the cost Of retaining Cat
Stand exceeds $4,000"
The committee report that Mr. Miller, Swamp
and Commissioner of the Second District, entered
! the name Of John Siden, 1890 acres of land
| the country bordering on the Atchafalaya; and
le testimony shows that these lands in which the
wamp Land Commissioner was interested, had
cen reclaimed by works already done, and for q
hich he was about making contracts in his capacity
Swamp Land Commissioner, to have made I
he committee do not directly assert, that such !;