The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1869-10-02
The Taxpayers Meeting o.
1.-the Rampant sway"

The "~Tax-Payers' meeting" Of last
Saturday did not produce the sensation
which might have been expected from the
previous notes of preparation. Whether
the limited attendance was owing to the
peoples ignorance of their interests, or the
general impression that the real question
involved is a disguised assault of the
"Outs" upon the Gins" with the view to
the political control of the parish, we do
not pretend to decide: But SO it was. The
"toiling masses" and tax-ridden property
holders were Indifferent to the earnest calls
made upon them to be present, Time does
not seem to- have popularized these period.
ical meetings"
We publish elsewhere the full and au.
thentic proceedings, which embrace an
apologize report of the accountants. and a
preamble and resolutions. The result of the
meeting" was somewhat of q surprise, as
it was understood that the accountants were
up with their work, according to their
previous announcement. The excuse which
they gave, we are told by the Treasurer,
was a mere pretext, as they had gone
through with his books and vouchers, and
were ready to report. We understand fur
Their that the Treasurer was present at the
Injecting" and so stated, although zee see
no mention Of this in the "proceedimgs."
In their report the accountants suggested
that they be authorised to publish their
final report in the newspapers as soon as
completed, without calling another meet
ing" This suggestion. or motion Of Mr..
B. r. CAN'T, was adopted. But in the
Resolutions offered by Judge King "by
request" (from which, as we'll as from the
style, we infer that he was not their author,
this authority to publish was modified. A
committee Of five was appointed to revise,
digest and simplify the work Of the accoun'
tants, and report at a future meeting" tc
be holden on the first day Of the term o.
the District Court day when the largest
audience may be expected at the Court
house. Having made this arrangement, the
second Resolution provides:
"That the accountants be required, as
soon as their Final Report is made, to
delirer 1T to the said committee for THEN
examination, who are required to publish
the same Immediately"
After the glowing eneomiums in favor Of
the accountants at a former "meeting," it
is not reasonable to suppose that there was
any distrust of their capacity to report
properly to the public; but the Resolutions
would seem to imply as much. A commit
tee is appointed to present the work of the
two accountants sin simple and in
telligible FORM" to announce their own
Conclusions" from the facts; and to
make such suggestions as they may deem
proper" This is the policy of the Japan
ese government; and it is said to work
we'll. Whenever an agent is appointed,
a second is always designated to look after
the first, and sometimes. the number is
extended to four or five. The proper Con
struction of the Report and Resolutions,
taken together, may probably mean that
the accountants are to publish a statement
of their own, to be followed by a subsequent
publication Sin simple and ineligible
FORM" from the committee. ,..
The members Of the " meeting" seem to
to have been at cross purposes. There is
a manifest Inconsistency between the apoI
ogetic Report and the Resolutions and
Preamble. The burden of the former is
that the accountants have not mad time to
complete their work, in consequence of
which they ask for an extension of time.
The Preamble asserts squarely that the
L" meeting" is fully informed, and that "Me
investigation has now been brought to a
This is an unfortunate discrepancy;
for malicious persons might olausibly infer
Lat the injecting" were disposed to pre-
Judge the matter. in advance of the neces-
sary information from the accountants. T.
We judge from the Resolutions that the
" meeting" are about to enlarge the sphere
Of their investigation. Having heretofore
their researches to the affairs of the
Police Jury, they now conclude that the
made require "serious reflection
and thought" * X = * con. the remedies
hat can be suggested for some wholesome
md effective check-so far at least as State,
and municipal authority are
:cncerned-on the rampant sway Of the
axing power" This is comprehensive;
md if we correctly understand the language
lsed, all species Of taxation, except that
Ippertaining to the, National government
yill be considered. This enlarged. pro-
,ramme of duty will give additional inter-
st to the labors of the committee but its
bvious effect will be to divert something
f the public attention from the Police
favored object Of their consider
tion. ."'fiHf1t i""J2& -,' il. .''. .~.1'' .
We dissent from that part Of the prearn.
lie which assumes it to be the duty Of the
meeting" to pass upon the justice and
Of the Judgment whieh this
eopk OUGHT TO PRONOUNCE on that testi-
,ony" (of the a~ccountants.) The people
re the best judges for themselves what
hey ought or ought not to do: Give them
II the facts-the truth, the whole truth,
nd nothing but the. truth-and they will
snder better Judgments than a be die
Tod To them hu. The shreudest nnliticians