The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1875-03-20
NO. 40

NOs ~
1873, amounting to twelve thousaud
six hundred aud! forty three 25ljOO
dollars. From the first Of December,
1873, there was forty thousand ok
hundred and ninety-ninc dollars duo
by the parish to creditors with . de-
liuQuens tax list Of twenty thousand
and seventy one dollars and seventy
two cents to pay this balance.
Collected on current tax of 1879,
1872. and 1871, nine thousand four
hundred and seventy two dollars and
eleven cents; leaving parish tax
due by the parish in all, January let.
1875. of sixty-six thousand dollars,
payable in currency. To pay that
there il a delinquent list of 1873.
1872, 1871, 1870 and 1869, amounting
to sixty nine thousand seveu hundred
and thirty five dollars and sixteen
cents, for some three or four thousand
dollars over the amount required
Of the delinquent list was collected.
l have 4 statement here showing
the amount paid, and the balance due.
| suppose it is unnecessary to itemizs
each one. Both the Republicans and
Democrats agree on the figures.
The total amount Of new Judgments
is seven thousand five hundred and
eighty nine dollars and sixty seven
cents. Total S9,472 Of new judg-'
Now l will state, that in some Of
these, for instance in the town Of
Natchitoches, there is no parish tax
levied. The town is exempt from
parish tax; 50 that persons owning
no property outside Of the city, in
the parish, pay ne parish tax. There
is no gentlemen, who representa- any
largo per centago of this Judgment
debt who pays any parish tax, aud
the amount Of paper bought up aud
put in Judgments is largely over tho
amount necessary to pay their cases
with, in other words, it is a matter Of
speculation for whoever buys tho pa
per tn gut these judgments. M
That is the state Of facts, sir, tho
debtof tho parish, amounts to some
S66, 900 and against that the uncel-
lected tablean is sufficient to pay tho
debt, when collected. s.. ''.1''-
@. BY Mr.. Field. What was the.
debt Of the parish prior to 1868, be-.
fore this State was reconstructed
A. That I think is impossible to
tell.
@. Can you approximate i'll
A. No, Sir, l wOuld not like b 1t.
tempt to do that, because there wsa
large amount Of paper issued from
1863 to tho end Of tho war, by the.
parish. " : ..
9. DO you know whether It WAS .
small or large ainounti Hs.
A. ! heard 1t was 4 large amount.
For this reason, there were 4 largo
number Of persons who won't in tho
army, who left their families behind
them in the parish, and the parish is-
sued a quantity Of paper to support
these poor families. cannot tell
you the amount; l have not the least
idea what it was. I dou't think it
can be ascertained.
Q. Have you no records from tho
parish during the wars .'t
A. l doubt whether this statement
could he made accurately. ,a.. saa
Q. Do you know whether any por.
ton of the debt contracted prior. to
1863, was contracted and issued du.
ring Confederate times, for the nae
Of the Confederate ar,n;, or for the
use and support Of their women and
children t,} r. I'll
A. In 1869 the Police Jury attempt.
ed to bond and fund the debt of tho
parish, and issued bonds to take up
this paper. l know there was y
quantity Of this paper like paoper
money issued by the parish, aud also
by the town of Natchitoches.
@. What do you mean by money,
was it script issued BY tue Police
Juryi
A. 1t was issued by tho Police Jury
but it was like money like a Bank
Bill. These Bonds were issued 10
1859, to fund the debt Of the parish.
After these Bonds had been issued
and the debt had been funded, THE
money disappeared from the market.
l cannot tell you really the amount.
@. Was it large or small : ~ '''.. -. va
4 A. There was considerable OF It !;
it was all they issued during To
war. ~ I ~,
@. Was that part Of the debt due
by the Parish mp to 1867
/ A. Yes, they had no other Police
Jury. don't think they issued any
other kinds Of money. ~.
! Q. When we're those debts paid On
these bonds I t. ia, ..-,e,. I'll
4 A. They are not paid yet.
4 Q. Are they still outstand jng'
, A. There are sonk, 10 tie market
yet, Will, coupons attached. So,
Q. How many bonds did. they H.
sue1 eedl l,.....s :. g7y..
A. $4,000. I was engaged 10 the
, Printing Office when this paper mon.
ey was issued, and know that this
> paper has never been on the mar
ket aimee these bonds were issued
; The condition of the debt Of th,
' parish is as stated it; the debt il
SCI, 400. .e.a
@. How was the debt created since
: 1868 had you a courthouse in 1858
A. The Court House and Jail wsr'