The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1873-01-25

disposition on the part of the general
government to secure closer com
mercial intercourse with Mexico. H.
creased facilities of commerce bv wav
Of New Orleans, it is clear, will gOfarto
attain this desirable result. | recon-
mend that the Senate memorabilia Con-
gress to pass the bill now before them,
or some other OF like import.
THE LEvEEs.
The State of Louisiana has a larger
alluvial territory than any other Dor
dcring upon the Mississippi, and hence
has a greater interest than any of them
III an efficient leVce system. To res
train the waters of this mighty stream
within its proper channel is an almost
herculean task. It has long been con-
coded to be appropriately a national
work. During my labors in a different
department of public service I was in q
position to ascertain the views. of the
national legislature on this important
subject, and | found them to be in con-
SOnance with this opinion. The Legis-
lature Of this State, however, by the in
corporation of the Levee Company in
1871, having adopted on a very large
scale a plan of its W for the cOnstruc-
ton and repairing of levees, the cOnsid-
Grafton Of the subject by the national
government was postponed. ! recon-
mend that the Legislature authorize the
appointment of n committee, to be
composed OF citizens, fully competent
to examine and report upon the charac-
ter and Suf1iciency of the levees con
structed and i'll process of construction
by the company, and the degree OF enc
gy with which the work is being con-
Quoted. In a matter of such magnitude
and Importance, and likely to constitute
so great a drain on the State treasury,
it is all important that the people
should know from the most reliable
sources whether this gigantic under
taking is really to be successful, and
confer upon the State the results prom
ised. The public interest imperatively
demands that no half way measures
shall be tolerated in the execution of
works for which the people so laYishly
bestOw their money.
FINANCE.
The financial condition of the State
is a subject of profound solicitudc, and
will be discussed in future cOmmunica-
tons. The funded debt ofthe State, as
reported by the Auditor, amounts to
p%1 SCols COO iii OlllI&lIOEu NCUls lIICIiI(l-
ing certificates of Indebtedness, Audi
tors warrants, and amount due the
fiscal agent, amounts to $2,291, GOT so,
and the interest on the funded debt
amounts to 81 Str, 1873 IA annually. The
revenue to be derived from the present
rate Of taxation, licenses, and other
for the current year will he
sufficient to pay all the necessary ex-
penseR Of the State government, to pay
the interest overdue, and that which
will become due on the funded debt
during the present year, to pay the leg
islativG expenses, and to provide for
the redemption of the past due bonds.
There is no good reason why the rate of
taxation, after the current year, should
not be steadily reduced. The delinquent
taxes amount to $3,02S,917 81, due on
the assessmentsOf 1870 and 1871. These
taxes should be paid, and the requisite
legislation should be had to secure their
collection. From the best evidence
Obtainable it is evident that the delin-
quent list is in a great measure com
posed OF those who are most able to pay.
The poor man pays his taxes and the
rich should not be exempted.
1t the taxes now due were paid the
future and necessary expenses of the
State would be provided for, and the
State would be put on a cash basis.
The policy of drawing warrants when
there is no money i'll the treasury to
meet them is most perniciOus. A State
warrant, III contemplation of law, is a
check, and should not be drawn unless
there is money III the treasury to meet
it.
No appropriations whatever should
be made except such as are actually ne
cessary to carry OIL the. State govern
ment, and to observe full faith with all
the holders of State obligations. There
must be rigid economy in the expendi-
lures of the General Assembly, the ex-
penses Of which ought not to exceed
100000.
TAX COLLECTION.
The laws regarding the manner of
assessing and collecting taxes, both of
the State and the city of New Orleans,
should be carefully revised, and one
system Of assessment should serve for
both city and State. The rate of assess
ment on property in the country mar
lshes and in New Orleans is unedual.
This unjust discrimination should not
continue. The compensation received
by tax collectors and assessors, es-
pecially in the city of New Orleans, is
exorb!tant, and / recommend that it
be reduced. There has been, during
the last two years, a shameful neglect
on the part of tax collectors to account
for their collections, and in many cases
the securities furnished have proved
worthless. Some effective measures
should be at once taken to remedy this
evil.
EXECUTIVE PATRONAGE .
The executive is invested with a large
amount of patronage-in nv iud9-
ment, too much. 1t would be better
for the executive and better for the
State Il a large proportion Of this patro-
mage were RENTED back othe people TO
whom it properly belongs. The disppn-
sing OF patronage is at once a most del
icate and responsible task. Party SER
vices, doubtless, when honorabiv ner-
formed, entitle an applicant to conside-
ration, but the claim should also be
founded in capacity and integrity,
Feeling myself responsible in q great
measure for the gOOdeonduet of every
public officer, IshalI hold each to strict
accountability for the faithful and
proper discharge of his official duties.
RELATION OF CAPITAL AND LABOR.
In a republican government such as
ours, where all power is lodged in the
people, and the will of the people IS ex-
pressed through the ballot box, tits alb
sOlutely essential that that will should
be freely and fairly expressed. The
right Of suffrage is the highest immnni-
tty of citizenship, and this right should
be sternly guarded. Under q system of
law according equal political Justice to
all, securing the individual rights Of
every person. it is to be regretted that
there is q disposition to prevent the
newly enfranchised citizen from freely