The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1874-01-16

SGOSh vi ASSuC any mOIG OOuOb u14CSi
compelled by q court of last resort.
ASSESSORS AND TAX COLLECTORS.
The assessment and collection of til,
revenue is attended with q large unne
cessary expense, and yet it is not eff
cient, it being estimated by well in,
formed persons that there is Throughout,
the State not less than $50,0O0,OOO of tax,
able property which is not assessed a
all. Your attention is respectfully calleC
to the subject in order that yOu may, i
possible, devise means whereby some
at least, of the present cumbersome anC
costly machinery may be dispensed with
and q more general and correct assess.
ment secured. Isee no reason why the
assessment and collection may not be
made by the same officers. A reform in
this particular alone would result in q
saving to the State of more than 800,
900 annually. Or if it is thought desir-
able to continue two sets of officers fOI
assessing and collecting taxes, I would
recommend that in the parish of Or
leans, atleastthe instrumentation city and
State be made by the same officers.
The fees and emOluments of tax cOllec-
tors, especially in New Orleans, should
he greatly reduced. | earnestly hope
this matter will receive your early at
tention.
STATE HOUSE.
recommend the immediate repeal of
the act passed during the session of 1871,
I, relative to a State House, and that the
purchase OF land on which to build the
capitol be declared void.
MONOPOLIEs.
The subject of mOnOpolieS should re-
nnj gyn rTt ~ 1rs1Dcf rn,11- 49,. III
efficient action should be taken, in OF
complained of. Some of these c0rpO-
ratiOns have become very oppressive in
their eXactiOns, realizing enormous re-
venues at the expense Of the CONNER
clal welfare of the city and State.
LICENSES.
If the funding scheme proposed sue
ceeds fully it is fair to assume that in q
short time values, and by consequence,
assessments, will have appreciated, so
much that without increasing the rate
OF taxation on property we will be en-
abled to dispense with the present oner-
Gus license tax, which being a tax on
business and should be removed
as soon as it a safely be done.
THE STATE ASYLUMs.
A careful investigation is needed into
the management and condition of the
deaf and dumb, the blind, and the in
sane asylums. At the latter institu-
ton the patients are reported to be in
q pitiable condition, without sufficient
food or clothing. l trust this will at
once be remedied.
ACCOMPANYING DOCUMENTS.
l transmit herewith the official re-
ports of the various State officers re-
CURED by law to report to the Legisla-
ture through me. Matters of grave i'm
pOrtance are treated in several of these
communications. The Board of Health
make a number of recommendations on
subjects committed to their charge,
which should have your attention.
GOVERNORS CONTINGENT FUND.
Transmit a report showing the pur-
pose for which the contingent fund ap-
DrOpriated to the use of the Governor
has been expended.
REGISTRATION AND ELECTION LAWS.
The registration and elections laws
should be carefully revised, and prob
ably al entirely new registration will
be found necessary, especially in New
Orleans, where the registry books, which
~ L a. NCiy lbOluCItu COuUlGIOl4 SHOW
about $4,000 voters, when it is evident
the correct number must be many thou
sands less. Every possible safeguard
should be thrown around the ballot
box, and the manner in which elections
are to be held should be removed from
even the suspicion of possible unfair
ness. | recommend that the present
law be so changed Us to render the COM
p%ensation Of supervisors, clerks and
commissioners of election a charge up
on the parish in which the election is
held, instead of upon the general treas
ury, as at present.
THE ABSENT MEMBERS.
During your last session. owing to un-
fortunate political complications, sever
al members of the Legislature abscnted
themselves during the entire session. |
commend the action of your body in not
declaring their seats vacant or seating
contestants.
The status of the present State gov
ernmentis beyond question. It's author
ity is recognized by the highest political
power OF the nation, and by all the courts,
State and federal. All the officers of the
city and State hold commissions and ex-
ercise authority under it. There is not,
now, nor has there ever been, the slight
est chance of any other government be-
ing recognized. The laws passed by
your body, whatever may be the differ
of opinion regardingi it's legal status,
will be binding upon all the people Of
the State, whether those laws be good or
pernicious.
Conscious as they must be that any
further opposition to the existing gov
eminent is futile, it is to be hoped these
gentlemen will now see that they can
best serve their constituents and the
State by taking their seats without fur
Their delay. There are various measures
Of reform I have urged upon the con-
o the Legislature. The votes
and influence of these gentlemen will be
very important to aid in securing these
needed reforms. Should they continue
absent themselves, and it should ap-
pear that their votes would have pre-
vented bad legislation Or would have
secured the passage of measures in the
interests OF the State they will have in
CURED a grave responsibility, for which
they will be justly held to strict account
by their constituents. If they fail at
an early day to take their seats, upon
them must rest the responsibility of the
result Of their conduct.
AMNESTY AND CIVIL RIGHTS.
The President has recommended e
eral amnesty. The Legislature of this
State was one of the first to pass resolu-
in favor of this wise clemency.
Toward the close of your last session q
civil rights bill was passed, which soon
after the adjournment received nay sig
nature and became law. So far as State
legislation can protect the rights of all
citizens, irrespective Of race, color, and
previous condition, all. has been done
a De lone. 1t remains now for
the courts to enforce the law, and for
n~yanntirn donnrtnnnnA u I: