New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-01-22

LITTER FROM SENATOR WEBER.
ri. Corrects Some Erroneous Statements
Cepcerning the Financial Condition Of
tho Parish Of West FeIiciana.
EDITOR REPUBLICAN,:
Allow me space in your columns to cor
rect several mis-statements published in
Yesterdays Picayune, in an article headed
Condition of Affairs in the Felicisnae,"
and to make an explanation in regard to
the same.
The article starts by saying that Julius
Green, a colored police juror, was forced to
resign. This is true. But the Picayune
should have added that he (Greenl was
forced to resign by twelve masked men,
who waited upon him at the dead hour of
midnight, and forced him to do 30, under
penalty of death. He complied with the
request, although no charges Of incompe-
tency or corruption we're made against him.
That Sheriff Kaufman left the parish and
crossed the river to Pointe Coupee is not
true 1t was q large number Of colored
people who left the parish and crossed the
river to Pointe Coupee, fearing that their
lives were not safe at the hands of the
bands of rufians who roam about the par
ish at night, preyiDg on the lives ard iber-
ties Of innocent and defenseless citizens.
Sheriff Kaufman is brave and efficient
officer, resident for forty or fifty years in
Pointe Coupee and West Feliciana, and Of
as good standing in the community as the
very best. The objections to him have
come from the fact that he would not coun-
tenance the outrages committed upon the
rights and liberties of large class of our
citizens, and because he will do his duty
fearlesely, to the best of his ability.
An examination of the facts in the ad-
ministrstion of the parochial affairs will
show that it ie not true that the police juries
of 1874 and 1875, composed Of negroes-as
the Pieayune ssserts-allswed the parish
finances to 90 to rack and ruin. They have
instead adminiete red it's affairs more eco
nomically than their predecessors, the eau
casians, as will more fully appear by a
reference to the appropriation made to
defray the current expenses of 1872, by
Duncan Stewart, j. D. Smith, John F.
Irvine, and DR.. r. G.. Sterling, which
amounted to 5000, or twenty-five mills
on the taxable property of the parish.
TIE highest estimate of expenses made
by our Republican police juries war
$4,000, or nineteen mills on the dollar, and
$3.50 of that was appropriated to pay
Meesre. Race, Foster e. Merrick, and Mr.
w. w. Lsake, attorneys at law. for defend
ing q suit against the parish in the Supreme
Court, for different claims contracted by
some of the very men who to-day are charg
ing maladministration upon our present po
lice jury.
II is not true that the present rate o.
State and parish taxation is five and a hal
per cent, or has ever been that much. Th'
rate Of taxation for all parocbial purposes
for the year 1875, which will be collected
during the year 1876, has been fixed a
fourteen and half mills, that for 1876 a
eleven and q halt mills. Adding to this th'
Uniform rate of State taxation, fourteen ant
half mills, would make the whole rate o
taxation twenty1sine mills for 1879, ant
twenty-six mills for 1876.
Now. if there are other debts due by tn
parrish, for which an extra taxation is nee
essary, l charge that they were contracted
by Q Democratic police jury, ss is wei
known, which should alone be responsible
for them.
The above rates of taxation, believe
will compare favorsbIy with the very bes
managed parishes in the State, and ven
ture to say that nothing will be spared OF
our part to further reduce taxation.
If, as the Picayxne asserts, there were q
many az 5000 acres of land bought at nj
teen cents on the acre by the relative
of the tax collector, they must have beei
relatives of c. L. Fisher, who was tai
collector in 1873, and is now leading mem
Der OF the so-called Property Holders
Union," from whom Mrs. E. Weber, m.
mother, bought about $500 acres Of thi
land for my account, and which was KEEP
in her name until the early part OF th'
wear 1875. The price paid for this lant
averaged fully forty cents an acre, and
good deal OF it is swamp land that has N
value whatever.
The opposition to our parochial admins
tration has been raised by persons vel
known in the parish, whose names VII
soon be made public, and who did 1t TO
the purpose of promoting their own inter
eats at the risk and peril of the lives ant
property of many a peaceable and la'
abiding citizen. It is movement In
augurated by the Bourbon Democracy Il
take charge of this government by lntlm'
da,;on first, threats second, and force third
if necessary. urprp
Senate Chamber, New Orleans, Januar!
q, 1876.
Copdrma1ion0, etc.
The following appointments were con