Pointe Coupee Democrat. [volume] (False River [i.e. New Roads], Parish of Pointe Coupee [La.]) 1858-1862, 1859-04-30
The New Levee Law.

which was passed at the last session O
our Legislature. Was this law neces
sary2 Is it just and equitable? Under
its present shape, is it adequate to fulfil
the end for which it was framed? These
two points | intend to consider IN my
present communication. The interested
imagine that because the levees protect
all the lands of the parish, every owner
of land should contribute to kceF
them UP. This seems at first to be
quite correct, but ON closer examination
such a reasoning will be found entirely
erroneous; for it is we'll known Fact,
that the lands in the vicinity of the
river, even with the burden of their
leyees, possess immense advantages
over those of the interior, and are much
more valuable Consequently, were
this law put into execution, it seems to
us that the owners of lands in the int.
rior should have an equal right to claim
a special tax to be levied ON all the in
habitants of the parish, in order to de-
fray the heavy expenses which they
must incur on account of the particular
position of their Iands-such as, for ex-
ample, the hauling of their crop and pro-
visions, &c, which they a no more
avoid than the riparian proprietors a
the building and keeping up Of their
levees. ~
Now, let US consider for a moment
the tax imposed by this Levee Bill.
Every acre of land, says the law will
be subjected to a tax which shall not
exceed thirty cents. / will take the
of inquiring whether our honor
able Representative has we'll reflected
upon what may be the consequences Of
such a measure Thirty cents per acre!
Add to this the State and Parish taxes,
and all the other charges imposed by
sections 8 and 8 Of the Bill, and it will
constitute a tax of at least forty cents
per acre-representing a.capital of five
dollars.
-. 5'- a
Now, it to the knowledge of every
one, that there are thousands of acres Of
land which r not worth half the CAPT
tai represented by this tax, and besides,
one-half Of these belong to the poorest
inhabitants of our parish. Would it be
just, then, to see those unfortunate per-
sons bereft of whatever they possess, in
order to benefit the rich? Could such
be tolerated, even in a govern
ment ruled by the iron rod Of despotism?
Still, Mr.. Editor, it is by recommending
such laws that our Representatives dis
the duties imposed upon them
laws detrimental in the extreme to the
prosperity and welfare Of our parish.
Admitting that this law is put into
execution, let us consider whether the
advantages to be derived from it would
compensate the expenses to which it
would subject US.
/ maintain that it would not; for,
consider that when all the incident ex-
penses will be paid out of those funds,
the balance will be reduced to a very
small amount-not sufficient to carry
out the purpose which the Legislature
had il, view ID passing such a law.
Examine the schedule below in proof
If what / adduce. There are in the
according to the Assessors roll,
ID, 87I acres of land, which, at thirty
tents per acre, would give the sum Of
Deduct Collectors fee, 81, 900;
5000; Surveyors, 3,ooo;
commissioners, 1000; incidental ex-
,enses, 10, 900. And if this last sum is
too large, / would call your
attention to the fact that at this moment
is a claim against the parish for
lalf that sum; and that lately $500 have
been allowed for q few feet of 1evee.
There will remain then about $54,361,
q be appropriated to the building and
'epairing Of about one hundred miles Of
evee, giving the sum of $500 for each
aile-an amount barely sufficient to pay