The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1878-12-04
COMMUNICATION.
ALEXANDRIA, L>A.,)
Dec. 2, 1878. {

Your last issue contained an ex
cellent article from Captain Jeffries..
one OF our members elect to the Leg
islature, in which hr conclusively
shows that it will be impossible for
the next Legislature to reduce taxa
ton in the State, or give any relief
to the people. He concludes that
the Legislature should sit long
enough to elect United States Sen
ator, pass an appropriation bill, and
then adjourn. 1t is very evident
that the majority against the Con
stltutionai Amendments, was due TO
one of two reasons--either the PEG
pie were in favor of a new Constitu
ton, or they did not discuss and
read the Amendments. # the
Amendments had been properly pre-
scented their fate might have been
different. But it is fair to presume
that the majority OF the people de
Sire new organic law. This seems
just now to he essential, as it will be
impossible for the Legislature to re
duce the interest on the bonded debt
of the State without abrogating the
present Constitution, for the power
to levy the interest tax is, by the
Constitution, taken from the Legis
lature, and deyolves on the Auditor
of Public Accounts. BY the show
ing that Captain Jeffries makes, with
tue exception of reducing the salary
of Constitutional officers and abol
ishing others, there can be no relief
from the burdensome taxation, ex-
cept in repudiating the interest on
the bonded debt, or at least portion
OF it. The question of reputation
Of large portion of the bonded debt
will no doubt be an absorbing politi
cal one in this State in the near flu
ture. 1t is this debt, large portion
of which was fraudulent, before the
monstroIs funding scheme of Kel.
logg was enacted into law, that the
taxpayers declared they would not
pay if ever they got into power, that
is whitening our prosperity and
bankrupiing the State. To pay the
interest on this debt, our last Legis
lature authorized the taking from
the Treasury any and all funds to
make up any deficit in the interest
tax fund. All the officers and EN-
pl"yees of the State, at least outside
of New Orleans, have been forced to
sell their warrants at from 40 cents
to IS cents on the dollar, because
the money appropriated to pay these
warrants was diverted for the Dur.
pose of paying the interest on the
public debt. Now, while the Legis-
lature may not be able, under the
Constitution, to reduce the interest,
because they have no control over 1t,
they can certainly see that those who
are giving their services to the State
are paid, in preference to the inter
est on fraudulent debt; or at least
see that the funds appropriated for
that purpose are not diverted. II
the State government, under a new
| Constitution, is not better admins
tered financially than the present
one, it would be impossible to carry
on the government under a great re-
duction of salaries, as no one could
live on the salary. Something is
wrong in some quarter, and it be-
hooves the Legislature to give tho
rough examination into the different
departments that handle the finances
Of the State, and see where the mon
ey goes. If the present State gov
eminent can afford to lose the conf
dence of its own supporters to graft.
fly the hondholders, and keep up the
credit of the State, it is now pursu-
ling the right course. Keep up the
credit Of the State? and for what?-
What interest has the oyerburdened
tax-paye in the credit of the State?
What benefit has a fraudulent debt
bestowed on him? Where are the
internal improvements? Where are
the railroads, the school houses and
churches, all evidences of a progress
sive civilization, that makes Louisi-
ana an inviting field for labor and
capital2 Millions have been squan
dered, and none Of these advantages
have been given in return. Do we
wish q credit that we may borrow
millions more to squander? or do we
wish lower taxation, that we may
live and prosper2 This is the ques-
tion that deserves serious considera
tion. If Constitutional Conven-