The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1873-08-02
fC0Beal H7.icuted.J J

MR.. EDITOR: = The editor of the Journal.
under the caption Town Affairs treated the
people of Opelousas to q morceau of interest
ing information in his issue of the Goth. Actu-
ated, no doubt, by a curiosity natural enough
to editors, it GEMS that about the middle of
the week he called on member of our mufi-
eipal Board OF Police, ito inquire whence re-
suited the neglect OF the town authorities to
have the streets worked and drained THIS
inquiry, considering the present condition of
the town, has been suggested, no doubt, more
than once to every taxpayer in the corpora
tion but it was reserved fer the editor of the
Journal to discover that there was no money
in the treasury; not cent, and the town i'll
debt" We must admit We were not prepared
for this. We have resided in Opelousas for
several years, and have never failed to pay
our taxes as they fell due; aud we naturally
enough supposed others were doing the same
thing, because we heard of no organized tax
resisting; and If, during that time, anything
has been done to improve or beautify the town,
we must confess our ignorance of the fact. 1t
is true, occasionally, when a street has become
in q manner iinpassable, if the proprietor OF
the adjoining lot did not repair it, the Town
Council would have it dome: but such has
been the manner of doing these Jobs that, as
general rule, it were far better they had been
left ulplone. Is to the sidewalks if the Town
Council has ever eailsed any work to be done
upon them, the writer Is not aware at what
point. We therefore inferred there haG been
great economy exercised, and were foolish
enough to imagine that the town treasury was
filed to oyerfiowing. We say inferred, be-
cause it is q fact which, no doubt, Mir. Editor,
has often struck you as passing strange, that
no exhibit is ever made Of the receipts into,
or disbursements from our town treasury; al
though it is q general principle, recognized
and felt by all legislative bodies, that the tax
payer has the right to know hsw the money
goes, and what it goes for; and therefore its
ministerial officers are expected TO make, at
least every year, such exhibits. This, how
ever, the Board of Police of Opelousits. as far
as our recollection extends, have never done.
Everything relating TO receipts or disburse-
ments is kept herinetically sealed and had it
not been for this casual visit of the editor of
the Journal to a member of the Board, who
would have ever dreamed that, in the two
years ending ia April, 1873, the snug little
sum of $5 450 30 had been expended by said
Board of Police of Opelousasa What a pity
he had not carried his inquiries little fur
ther, and ascertained for what this sum had
been expended Let us hope that, at some
future day, when he has nothing else to do, he
viii again interview this member OF the Board,
and give us the desired information. Certain
it is, if expended in Opelousas, o dozen lynx
eyed detectives, armed with search warrants,
would fail to discover any benefit resulting
from it's expenditure. But though he failed
to tell us for what these 5,450 81 were ex-
pended, he does give us this startling piece of
town is about $4,000, besides 81 400 for aapaid
salaries of officers for the present ycaa.;;' and
that g the direct tax on the total assessed val
uation of property for 1873 amounts to only
S7S8 %, which has been doubled by the levy
of a special tax which will make the aggre-
gate $l,576 IS.
Now ii strikes us that $i 400 of this amount
for pay of officers is a right nice thing; and it
must be apparent to the most casual observer,
that if the Beard of Police do neglect to work
and drain the streets. they don't neglect to
pay their employees pretty Hberally for their
services. Though the tax for 1873 has been
doubled, thus raising it TO 81 $40 Sc, it amounts
to Just enough to pay the officers and leaves
only SI76 56 for incidental expenses. This is
the key to all the troubles of the BOARD. No
wonder the treasury is empty and the town In
debt. They collect taxes enough, but they
don't expend the money In q way to benefit
the tax payer or beautify the town. Putting
the total revenue from all sources at $2, 400,
deducting from 1t 81, 400 for salaries of officers,
and it Is nc longer strange that our sidewalks
are out Of repair, cur drains and bitches filled
with stagnanG water, our town in a most dis
gfaceful state Of dilapidation and decay, with
PHI tne elements at hand for the rapid spread
OF contagious disease, should God see fit to
send such visitation upon us during the
i present year.
In conclusion, Mr.. Editor, of what earthly
benefit is Board of Police to our town. can
any one, except IFS own eiaicers and members,
/ point to o single benefit derived from it3 I'll
ought to be abolished, the charter forfeited.
and the inhabitants left to take care Of them
selves as they see fit. 1t would save at least
| 81, 400 per annum, which, judiciously expended
I for few years, would make Opelousas diff
ferent looking place. More anon.
RESIDENT.