The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1869-11-06
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The Long Agony is Over.


Monday, October the 5th 1869, was
an eve9lful day in St. Landry. "The
Taxpayers Meeting" on that day
brought its protracted labors to a close
Since last March, in its frequent meet
ings, its luminous reports, and its hal.
tings by the way-side, it has enabled
the public to enjoy "its heightened
sweetness long drawn out" Starting
out with a flourish of trurnpets, and a
promise of such frightful revelations as
would make mems hair stand on end
"likethe quilts of the fretful %porcupine,"
it made, after some months of labor, a
report in reference to our parochial
finances, which brought less obloquy
upon the conduct Of the accused, than
upon the motives of the accusers. This
however was said to be but thebeginning;
and the public looked with stihed breath
for the sequel. Another report followed,
which was but a re-hash Of a portion of
the first. Thus far the work was done
through a "commission" of accountants.
Although there was something imposing
in the name Of the agents, it failed in
its effect. Commissions" had pre-
viously been appointed to settle disputes
between great nations, and the public
had a right to expect something sensa-
tional or grand from the commission"
habilitated by the meeting" A ''com-
mittee" was next appointed, with a less
pretending name, but more enlarged
powers, who we're to report on the event
full 25th of October. Their report it
seems was made. What action was
taken Oh it we are not told. It does
not appear from anything yet recorded
or published, whether the meeting"
formally met Or adjourned. And it is
left to inference whether it adjourned
with tile usual forms, or crumbled by
disintegration, Or wasted away by afro
ply. In either event however we have
the published report, which we propose
to inspect in the light of the promised
startling revelations. Z. "#-"f
Among other singular developments,
we find the following: e.. H..
H. The actual Indebtedness of the par
ish, up to the 18th of September. 1869,
as far as can be ascertained from the
documents submitted to the committee,
is as follows, to-wit:y .fa-rz4. .4
,sa Warrants, &C., registered ga.
and not redeemed or paid
over to the Treasurer by the ~.
Collectors. $l4,637 III
i Amount special Jail tax,
and which has been applied 49,. .a.
to other purposes than the s.-.
one for which it was raised. 1850 ~
Total. 1874, 597 SO
The Jail tax here is enormously
but for u present purposes,
we assume it to be correct A tax was
levied to be. collected in greenbacks, to
build a Jail. It was however soon found,
that, in the impoverished condition of
the country, it was impossible to collect
ehe amount in government currency, and
che members Of the Police Jury, at the
request, Of their several constituencies
collected the sum in Parish Warrants,
which they cancelled and thus paid that
much OF the debt Of the parish, thus
diminishing its outstanding liabilities,
raising its credit, and enhancing the I,
value OF It's warrants, besides enabling
the parish to build q new Jail with
greater facility, at a future day. TN;
was all done IN good faith The old
Jail was repaired, and rendered secure.
The parish debt was diminished, and
parish warrants went up from 40 to 90
cents on the dollar. And yet the
are not afraid to say to an
intelligent community that this tax is
due by the parish. What the parish
owes, is its outstanding obligations in
Warranlts.-and these amount to s14. 4
G37 as reported BY thecommittee. against {
which there, are taxes still to be paid !
nto the treasury The committee will /,
rave to give lessons in their new system :