The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1878-11-27
COMMUNICATION.

Itau Wltu pressure al aFtlcl
from the pen Of your learned cores
pendent 3D." in your paper Of th
Goth inst.
I look with interest to tile contin
uation of the subject there present
ed, and hope it may be handled tho
roughly and exhaustively. An i'm
poverished, overburdened and tax
ridden people are looking eagerly TO
relief Men of leisure and brain
should endeavor to make themselve
useful now If ever.
I frequently End a disposition t,
condone, or at least.to speak lightly
of past Radical rule in Louisiana
Individually, / am always ready tt
forgive past personal injuries, bu
the carpet. baggers and scallawag.
who were our masters for eigh,
years, did not intend that we SHOULD
forget them even should we be dis
posed to forgive. They left lasting
legacy in the shape of a twelve mil
lion seven per cent. debt for us and
for our children-to rest like a grea,
pail upon the enterprise and indus.
try Of this poor State for all time tc
come. 1t PARALLELS all hope of flu
ture State enterprise, .and lays like a
demon in our way when we think Of
reducing taxation. We never can
pay it, and it will starye US to pay
the interest. $4,000 is the amount
of interest demanded of US annually
81 mills on every dollar; IS cents on
every hundred; $3.50 on every thou
sand dollars worth of property in
this State for all the future. have
yet to see the man who could point
to any substantial good Louisiana
has ever received for this immense
debt. Surely this is an heirloom
which will ever remind us of Kellogg
aud his villainous crew, and their
funding scheme. es sd.
A Convention will give US reform.
1t can and should abolish and pro-
vide against the creation Of monopo-
lies: reduce the pay of all Constitu-
tional officers; cheaper litigation;
reduce criminal expenses by provi-
ling means for speedy Jail deliveries;
consolidate Offices wherever possible,
such as Recorder and Clerk; but af.
,er all this is done taxes are not down
20 what they ought to be. Look at
lie figures: @ asa
Interest Fund tax ............ 5h mills
ocHooi tax ...,..... ........1
General Fund tax, say. -
Total State tax 9R mills
Now suppose that we are in real
earnest upon the subject of retrench
nent, and limit Parish taxation to
; mills as the maximum, cutting of
he levee tax entirely, there remains
! total of 154 mills, or $l.55 on the
hundred, $3.50 gu the thousand;
md you note that when we have
cached this point (Which. seems to
ne the utmost limit IN tue way of
ak reduction, one-third Of our en-
ire taxes, State and Parish, go to
he payment of the interest on these
consolidated bonds.
write this that our fellow. citi-
;ens may see the difficulties which
nviron their Representatives. I'm
Ter the present Constitution the Leg
stature cannot, in my judgment, re-
luce the State taxes below 10 mills,
nd possibly 1o1!, or II may be need
d. The 81 mills interest tax is az
d by the Constitution.
Rapides has most excellent Po-
ice Jury, and il possible they will
educc Parish taxes. lGog3a oA3 5sl.
I think the best the Legislature
an do for the people, is to call a |
Convention, and adjourn at the ear
est possible day.. 5 aal
Any suggestions from friends will
e gladly received and considered.
if Yours, etc., ea
JAMES JEFFR1Es.
Observation-Disclosures
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