The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1878-05-03
1S65-Me redemption OF
COlsPORAL TRIM. 4
set for itself In
Louisiana.
TRENTON, LA, April 30, 1878.

L1o,tisiana. e ConpoHAL TRIM. s.
TRENTON, LA, April %, 1878.
Edition. Ouachit1 Telegraph:
To criticise the action of public men
may seem very improper for a coun-
tryman farmer to undertake but when
we see men in high places, placed
there by the vote of the people, vast
ing their time in doing nothing or
worse than nothing, to the tune of SO
per day, as some of our honored repre-
sentatives have done, seems to cry
aloud for condemnation by their con-
stituents who put them there expect
ing them to do their whole duty.
1t we mistake not, during the CAM
paign of 1876 the nominees for the va
rious Offices pledged themselves to the
Democratic party, to the people
throughout the country, to make the
most strenuous efforts to bring about
reform and economy in State and par
ish government, and we believed them.
And now Mt the close of the first regu-
lar session of the legislature we ask
how does their legislative record COM
pare with the pledges given during
that eventful campaign? Their love
Of money and sympathy for a poor
tax-ridden people succulnbed to love
of self, as much as to say, cit is our
bounden duty to curtail parish ex-
penses, but we as legislators can't work
that cheap. Parish officers can stay at
home and attend to their several Offices,
out we the Lawmakers must leave
home for the capital we are expected
to clothe ourselves in purple and fare
sumptuously, and therefore must have
SO per day." Now, want to ask
somebody, and none but the guilty
need answer, is there any genuine
Democracy in such doings? Does it
take IS per day to pay the actual ex-
penses of a modern legislator in this
State, with good board at $3.50 per
day? Why cannot it be us it was in
the good old ante-war times, when
men sought Office for the honor and
from a desire to benefit their country !?
There is another thing some of us
country people can't understand. We
are told that our Legislators receive
mileage five cents per mile, and many
of them have free passes over the rail-
roads. 1t may be none of our business
as to them accepting free passes over
the railroads, yet we can't see how a
true representative can conscientiously
accept a free pass from Il railroad COM
pany and also accept five cents a mile
out of the State funds for the same
ride. We do not ask what the railroad
companies receive or expect to receive
for and in consideration of such f;,vors
granted we do not accuse any one of
buying or selling; only we just can't
see through it.
When we country people hire per-
son to labor, or hire ourselves to labor
for some one else, we endeavor to give
value received. If we acted otherwise
the employer or employee would be
loser. If we engage ourselves to some
one ut 81 or IS IL day, we would not
we could not as honest men-charge
for 20 or % days more than we had
lubOred. We do not accuse any one of
doing such n thing, only we thought
some person might try it. We think
any one who would act thus ought to
be advised to go North for his health
| or stay ut home and mind the house.
You see, MIR. Editor, there are great
| many things done at the capital that
we country people can't see int, or un-
derstand; but perhaps we need to whet
our understanding against tho pride Of
The State. Respectfully,
a FARMER.