The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1871-12-16
WHAT WILL IT AMOUNT TOP

from q many tax payers" and calling
upon that important class of the COM
munity to assemble at the Courthouse
ON Monday next, December 18th, at
- o'clock NJ, for the purpose OF de-
vising means to tighten the burden OF
taxation, and to arrest the wasteful
and reckless expenditure OF public
funds by the Police jury"
In asking "What will it amount
to 9n we do not wish to be construed
as attempting to oppose or throw cold
water upon the contemplated meeting
or it's avowed object, for such is not
our intention. We merely wish to
know whether the spirit which has
aetuated the calling of this meeting
is a sincere desire to procure reform
in the administration of the affairs OF
| the parish, or whether it finds birth IN
partisan hate of the officials IN pow
or and morbid longing to denounce
and villify them, with or without good
cause, before the eyes and ears OF the
people. Is this movement to be a
counterpart in miniature OF the gen.
eral and non-p partisan uprising which
revealed such terrible rottenness Ill
the government of New York city, Or
is if TO resemble the movement for
like avowed purpose now agitating IN
New Orleans, which has thus far dis
played far more of political hate on
the part of the agitators than it has OF
extravagant or corrupt administration
of the municipal affairs by the city
Administrators
Are the men who stand foremost IN
advocating this meeting good citizens
who have performed their duty as such
by paying their taxes promptly, and
who simply desire to investigate calm
| ly the manner in which the public
revenue to which they have contribu-
ted has been expended? or do they
belong to the class of malcontents
who have heretofore refused or failed
to pay their taxes and stubbornly re-
sisted the collection thereof, thus en-
failing upon the parish the expense OF
prolonged and useless litigation, and
who hope in some manner to avoid
payment of their just dues by exeitin
the minds of the people against the
powers that be without regard to JUS
tice or reason?
In nut SHELLS this movement
conceived in honesty, OF in trickery
and political malieeq
A desire to know the answers tt
these several questions Is intended tt
be expressed by our inquiry, "W hal
will it amount to 2" and the answers
viii be made plain by the progress
and elimination of this new move
ment for reform, and shall be giyel
5 to the public through our columns al
,, they develop themselves.
IF it shall be proven that the "de
: plorable state of our parish finances
I has been brought about by the NAL
administration of the present Polic'
Jury, as is charged in the printed no
tice calling for the meeting of ia,
payers, then will the CHIEF join il
exposing the venal or extravagant act
of that body, and demanding an imme
date removal of its members by du
process of law.
But if, on the other hand, it shall b
demonstrated that the debt which bur
dens our people and necessitates
heavy rate of taxation, has been pro
duced by the legislation of former Ju
ries, then shall we seek out the one
members thereof and hold them up t
the public gaze. And perhaps W
: shall, in this latter contingency, fin
y some of them among the very me
who now cry out against the "deplol
. able state of our parish finances " an
charge the responsibility therefor uI
ON the present administration,
The part which the CHIEF will tax
in this opening drama will be an indie
!. pendent and non-partisan one. w
= shall be swayed neither by the bla1
dishments of friends nor the threats
opponents, but will endeavor to e,
= pose fraud and corruption wherevt
: we find them, and by our actions see
:. to merit the proud title of Friend
: the People.