The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1875-12-04
Something Of Interest.

The condition of tho finances of
Natcllitochcs parish calls for some &C
ton, some investigation. For some
years past they have been managed
with shiftlessncss amounting in most
instances to II crime. The parish is
flooded with Indebtedness in the shape
of warrants, certificates, &c., and
the Courthouse is crammed with
judgments and other claims against
us. The writer Of this, was last year
upon II Committee appointed by the
People to examine and report upon
the claims filed III Judgment. After
much research and y laborious work,
investigating q mass Of claims
amounting to so or 100 thousand dol
lars, no definite plan of action could
be submitted to the consideration of
the people, for the reasons that, the
mass embraced so, much that was
known to be fraudulent, 80 much
that was believed to be 50, asd 80
much that was doubtful, embracing,
all told, fully IS per cent in the three
elias es named, that the Committee
could not tell what to do, and referred
the matter t" the people for action,
where circumstances have left them
at rest, to this moment.
They are evidently in a "crookc,l''
shape, as they stand, and will create
uneasiness and distrust, until done
away with. At some future day these
judgments in the hands of scheming
men aud with a corrupt power in Of.
flee, will certainly be used us q means
: to defrand. Tho fraud still sluml,ers,
and will be famed into life Mt the
first opportunity. The cause must
be removed, before an effect is pro-
luced how to accomplish this. re.
qnires deli(eration, candid thought,
and the action Of high! stoned, honest
and capable citizens; citizens unin-
tercsted 10 any shape or manner, with
judgments or Judgment creditors.
Our idea is this: to have an act
passed BY the legislature at its com.
ing session, naming certain parties Of
the class mentioned, to cooperate
with q certain number Of persons
named by those who hold claims
against tho parish, for the purpose
Of examining, passing upon the cor.
rectness, and Auditing such Just
claims that may be out. In this man
ner a mass of fraudulent, debt can be
wiped out, say, ut low estimate, So
per cent, or ene-half.
The duties of this "Andit Board
should be, to also cancel and destroy
those fraudulent warrants, &c., aud
to issuea new series Of paper, TO he
redeemed rs hereinafter stated, in
place of that pronounced just; said
new issue to be made for the face rol-
ne thereof only, tho accumulated in.
terest to lie lost by the holder, which
they are willing to accede to. A
large amount is due the parish, in the
way Of back taxes, much more, il
fact, than the whole elaine, frandn.
lent and Just, against the parish
amount to, and the new issue can b.
marked on its face az receivable 70,
such taxes whose levy they were -.
sued for. That is, tie issue of 1855
be made receivable for taxes due tia,
year, 1870 for the same-l57O, and Sc
on: The amount due the parish be.
ing so mich in excess, Of the issue
under this plan, the scrip will be in.
stantly swallowed up under a vigor.
QUA collection. at u .#1 a!ab7,.
70 arrive at a just and equitable
settlement Of this matter, will re-
quire the, assistance and sappsrt q
business men; no political, ignorant
Police JURY should have any thing to
do With it, nor should any man in
politics, official or seeker, DO named
for the parish VI for the creditors. .,
We are moro than anxious to see
tbie matter attended to; to see it be.
gun and finished before the political
agitation Of 1876 commences, durina
which all other matters will certainly
be swallowed up 49, l 49, y - u
Cannot something be done to give
impetus to this, or some other plan
which would be better, perhaps. lie,
those interested call a meeting, as We
believe that to be, the American way
of making beginnings in all matters
consult over the question, and arrive
at some definite conclusion. We are
assured that q frank spirit will b,
manifested on both sides, tax payin9
and creditors, and that a settlement,
can be effected easily. '.@" i..t,''''
We want to see Natchiteehes par
ish, as u body polite, in a good souni