The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1869-10-02
Tax-Payers' Meeting.


Taxpayers Meeting.
In conformity with a resolution adopted
on the oath of July last, the taxpayers of
the Parish of st. Landry met at the Court
House, in Opelousas, on Saturday, Septem-
Der 25th, 1869 in order to receive the Final
Report of the Accountants appointed for the
purpose of investigating the financial affairs
of the Parish, Col. B. R. Rogers presiding,
and Joel H. Sandoz, Secretary.
Mr.. F. A. King, on behalf Of the Account
ants, made the following.
REPORT:
Opelousas, September 25th, 1869.
To the Hon. B. R. Rogers, Chairman of the
Meeting of Tax. Payers of the Parish of
St. Landry:
The undersigned Commission of Account
ants, appointed in pursuance of a resolution
adopted at Al meeting of taxpayers Of St.
Landry, with instructions to inquire into
and make a fiual report upon the condition
of the finances of the Parish and the ad-
ministration of the same by the Police Jury,
have the honor to report that about ten
days a 60 they applied to Mr.. Thomas G..
Anderson. Treasurer of this Parish, for
the accounts and documents, in his posses
sion, necessary to the attainment of the
object and purposes for which this Com
mission Of Accountants was appointed, and
received the assurance that they would be
ready in time. Acting on this promise, and
in compliance with a resolution adopted at
the last meeting, they gave notice in the
papers that on this 25th day of September,
1859, they would make their final report.
They regret to state that they have been
disappointed 1.-The Treasurer not having
furnished them with the accounts and
documents above referred to before yester-
day evening at a late hour. Owing to the
short time which has elapsed since then, it
has been impossible for the Accountants to
examine the same and complete their re-
port.
The Commission would beg leave to add
that they expect to finish their report
within a short time, and would suggest that
they be authorized to publish the same in
the newspapers Of this Parish as soon as it
is completed, without calling another meet
ing.
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servants,
EV. DEJEAN,,} Accountants.
On motion Of Mr.. B. r. CAN'T, the report
was adopted, with the suggestion therein
contained.
Hon. Geo. r. King presented, b%yrequest,
the following resolutions, which, after
having been read, were unanimously adop-
ted.
WHEREAS, the heavy and unceasing
drains on ous labor and industrial interests,
under the grant of the taxing power each
successive year since the late war-and
that, too, when our producing resources
had been wasted in the train ofits desolation
have assumed so FERROUS and alarming a
magnitude as to have justified the people of
this Parish in instituting an inquiry into the
administration of their own immediate
servants the Police Jury and.
WHEREAS, that investigation has now
been brought to a close, exposing a mass of
the administrative acts of that body, run
ming through a period Of four years. which,
in their present and future bearing on the
material prosperity Of the country, require
on our part serious reflection and thought.
first, in the fair and impartial compilation
of the facts set forth in the report OF the
Accountants secondly, on the justice and
truthfuIness of the judgments which this
people ought to pronounce on that testi.
mony and thirdly, on the remedies that
can be suggested for some wholesome and
effective check--so far at least as State,
Parochial and municipal authority are
concerned-on the rampant sway of the
power and
WHEREAS. the taxing power, as heretofore
exercised, ifsubmitted to, will surely bring
about (as it may perhaps lie intended BY
the powers that be-, a disguised confiscation
the remnant Of our property ; therefore
be it
Reso1red, that a committee offve citizens,
tax. payers of this Parish, be appointed by
Chair, whose duty it shall be to report,
at an adjourned meeting of this body, on
the first day of the next term of the District
Court, beng the fourth Monday in October,
1869: first, a condensed review Of the facts
embodied in the report of the Accountants,
arranged in simple a d in~telligible form;
Secondly, the conclusions arrived at by
The said committee, on a careful and i'm.
partial consideration Of those facts; .
Thirdly, such suggestions as they may
deem proper to make in the present condi-
ion of our affairs, and for our future pro.
lection against the recurrence Of the evils
complained Of;
j Resoloed, that the Accountants be re.
as soon as their Final Report is
made, to deliver 1T to the said committee
or their examination, who are required to
the same Immediately.
Resolped, that said committee be and are
empowered 10 call on the officers
If the Police Jury for any additional infor-
nation they may need.
Resoloed, that these proceedings be
published in the Courier and JOURNAL.
In conformity with the above resolutions,
he President appointed Messrs. E. D.
Is%tilette, Felix Deiean, w. B, Reed, Geo.
I, King and c. W. Foreman on the above
otnmittee.' s,'''
On motion of Hon: j. II. Overton, the
adjourned to meet on the fourth