The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1874-01-16
THE GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
State of Louisiana.
Executive Dnnarfi1nnf

my message, containing information
relative to the State, together with my
views and recommendations on certain
subjects concerning the public welfare
During the year that has passed since
yOu last convened a kind Providence has
given the people of this State compar-
atively good crops. We have been in q
great measure exempted from financial
disaster, and while contiguous States
and cities have suffered from the scOurge
OF pestllence, every community in the
State, with one exception, has been
slngularly exempt. With few cxcep-
tlOns, which ! regret to note, good order
has prevailed throughout the State.
The great, and pressing need now is re-
lief from the burden of heavy taxation
which is so depressing to all the material
interests OF the State. 1t is your great
privilege to be in position to contribute
largely towards this relief, to inaugurate
many needed reforms, and to correct
many abuses in the legislation Of the
past. Your enemies say that little or
nothing can be expected of you in this
regard. Many other persons, non-par-
tisans, would gladly find good reason to
approve your course, while your friends,
both here and elsewhere, the supporters
OF the great party you represent expect
you to do much to merit commentator,
and trust you will do nothing to deserve
censure. Shall these reasonable expec-
| tations be realized? The record of your
| acts during the present session will tell.
Finance.
THE SITUATION IN JANUARY LAST
The financial situation at the begin
ming of the year was one of extraordinary
difficulty. The treasury was empty.
The total amount of taxes collected dur
ing the previous year was less than the
amount returned delinquent. Against
the various exhausted funds mass of
unpaid warrants had accumulated, ag-
gregating nearly $2,250,O0O. This dis
graceful result of the malad ministra-
tiOn of the resources of the State dur
ing several years past, was left as an in
heritance to beadded to the other embar-
easements OF the present administration.
The interest on the heavy bonded debt
of the State had fallen in arrear to the
extent of nearly $300,O00 All receipts
from the immense delinquent lists, inr
Guiding taxes due the interest, school
and other funds were tied up by act No.
81 of 1872, and devoted exclusively to
the payment Of the old outstanding war
rants, and at the same time those war
rants were in effect lien on all current
receipts to the general fund. A system
Of espionage, which it seemed impOssi-
ble for the treasury to shake off, had
been established by the dealers in those
warrants, whereby they were informed
the instant dollar was turned into the
treasury, and, presenting their warrants,
demanded and received the same III pay
lNent thereof. 1t thus seemed likely that
nothing would be realized from current
receipts to meet the necessary and legiti-
mate expenditures of the government,
and it was even difficult to distribute
the funds received among the holders OF
the old warrants except in the manner
agreed upon by the organization which
had virtual control OF the treasury.
need not enlarge in this connection upon
the hostility at that time manifested to-
wards all the departments of the State
government. It is sufficient to say that
the resistance to the enforcement OF all
laws and the payment OF all taxes Was
EN- barrassing to the financial
officers Of the State. s.s.ss s.at-..,.,
PRESENT CONDITION..
The present situation is not without
its Encouragement, yet compared with
that of one year ago, it affords just
grounds for c0ngratulatiOn. Resistance
to the payment Of taxes and the execu-
ton of the laws has been happily ahan-
doned. The collections of revenue, ex-
cSeding $4000,00O, have been larger in
and, / may safely affirm, have !
bee,n effected with less loss and expense |
to the State than for many years past.
On an appeal to the. courts, act No. 81 |
was unhesitatingly pronounced uncon- |
which action of the judiciary, |
trust, will be supplemented in your |
BODY by the instant repeal of that cx- |
piece Of special Legislation. |
The action OF the courts restored the de- |
linQuent taxes to the funds for which |
they were levied, and being followed by |
energetic and judieious measures on the
part of the officers charged with the col |
lection of the revenues soon resulted IN |
n marked change for the better. The
large amount of overdue interest was
paid early in the year, and since then the
current interest has been paid promptly /
Aft maturity, with the exception of in+ |
crest on some $1,000, 1000 Of bonds held
n allowance subject to the action OF the
.onyts. The collections on account OF |
ia interest fund have been sufficient to. I
,ay that amount also, i'll case 1t shall /
,itimately be decided that the bonds en-
nined are a legitimate Indebtedness of
he State. A rigid inspection and super
,is;on Of the business of tax collectors
,aa hepn maintained, and they have /
,een renuired to make their settlements
n nerson with the proper officers, IN
,tead of through brokers, as ID many m
stances heretofofe.
WHAT HAS BEEN DONE. -
It is we'll known that in practice
warrants could not be paid as ISSUED, and
we're not paid to the original holders,
,ut were sold ON the street at their "maT-
Set yalueD and collected in full by mid
lie men as money came into the treas
,ry, The Auditor for the benefit of the
State, inauguratcd a system by which
he funds received were distributed in
more equitable and satisfactory manner,
md at the same time saving of over
300, 900 was realized to the State, which
would otherwise have been paid to
,peenlatOrs, without benefit to the orig
nal holders of the warrants. These
warrants were Cancelled, and are now
n the treasury, the volume of outstand-
ng warrants being OF course reduced
w precisely that amount. By this
neans 4 and l3y scrupulous care in the
ssuance of warrants, and by continlng
he issue during the latter portion OF the
ear to expenses of the State. we will
pe able to begin the new year with 1885,
90 outstanding warrants Of 1878, instead
If over $500, 1000. 1,
WHAT SHOULD BE DONE. Ii
In this connection desire to call your
,ttention to several matters which ap-
ear to me to be of most vital impor-
anee.
I, The absolute necessity of here. l]
.fter eonfining your appropriations rig
dly within the revenues. This Is the |