The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1878-02-27
The POLL TAX.

We have before us the Annual Re
port on Public Education by the
Hon. R. NJ. Lusher, State Superinten
dent of Public Education, and though
we have had but few leisure hours
to glance at it, we find in it, under
the heading of Poll Tax, the follow
ing valuable and legal information
The provjso in section twenty-sever
of the School Act Of 1877, declaring
"that all the poll-tax collected in any
Parish shall, be appropriated to said
PARISH" has stimulated the tax-cOllect
ors. in many Parishes, to vigorous
collection OF the tax, as may be seen BY
reference to the State Treasurer's re-
port of the amounts paid in for 1877
Yet, it is apparent, that this tax has
| been levied chiefly on property.holders
and that other persons have been ex.
empted, Notwithstanding the impera'
tive provisions OF revenue laws, requir.
ing Its payment by every adult male
the State. This Is not only ineQuitablt
in its operations, but II is positive
violation of Article liz Of the Constitts
ton, which says that "taxation shall be
equal and uniform throughout the
| State" 1t is obviously requisite, there.
fore, to enforce the payment of this
tax, if continued to be levied at all
"by every male inhabitant Of the State, >
as contemplated by the same Article oil
the Constitution; and there seems to be
but one efectual mode Of accomplishing
this necessary end. Its payment should
be a prerequisite to the exercise of suf.
frage, and every dollar collected should
revert to the Parish in which paid. and
be devoted exclusively to the promotion
of free education in that Parish. Such
a destination of the tax will, unques.
tionably, continue to stimulate and
facilitate its collection, aud the people
of the respective Parishes will soon
realize its advantages to their poblie
schools.
After reading this extract from
the Report, our readers and the
friends of the Public Schools of Ra-
pides, will be surprised and mortified
to learn and know, that only the pit
tiful sum Of six dollars and seventy.
five cents has been paid over to B.
C. Duke, the Treasurer of the School
Board.
Now, We are not in the mood Of
finding fault, but we must here re
peat our frm conviction, that our
schools will never flourish until the
Directors make up their minds to
take a firm and decided stand fol
the rights due them by law, and take
firm stand in seeing this law en-.
forced, and that they receive the
monies due and collected for the use
of the children of the Public Schools,
Where there is will, will iron.
clad by law, there is surely way,
and they must attend to this impor'
tant matter and force the enforce
ment of the law.
| --..-~0s~
Here are the very latest tele
Crane concerning the Russian and
Turkish war:
LONDON, Feb. ga dispatch from
Constantinople says the Gear has
telegraphed threateningly to the Sui
tan, complaining of the delay in sign,
ing the peace negotiations.
The Turkish delegates hesitate t
concede to the Russians exorhitan,
demands. Hence their delay in
signing the treaty Of peace.
The Russian conditions OF peace
arc tantamount to destroying Turk.
;aa rule in Europe. The Gear also
demands the surrender of six Of the
largest Turkish iron-clads to proven,
their falling into the hands of the
English. The Sultan finally pledged
himself cot to give up the vessels te
any foreign power, and Russia tler
agreed to allow her to retain them.
| -~>--~~-~0e->~~~~-
| -IN nappeal sent to the French
papers, 81 yned by French and Other
Consuls at Constantinople, it is stat
ed that the distress in that city can.
not be exaggerated. More than 80,
900 persons from different parts Of
the Turkish empire had, during the
previous ten days, arrived in the
capital. The majority we're without
shelter, insuff1ciently clothed in al
exceptionally rigorous winter, and
almost famished. Mosques, church
es, schools and barracks have beer
given up for their accommodation
The Sultan has resigned severa
palaces for the purpose, but mean'
of feeding the hungry are every
where wanting, as local resources ar,
exhausted.
Observation-Disclosures
CONSUMPTION CUREp.-An old ply
stefan, retired from active practice
having had placed in his hands, by a,
East Indian missionary, the formuli
of simple vegetable remedy for thu
speedy and permanent cure of Con
sumption, Bronchitis, Catarrh, Asthm,
aud all Throat and Lung affections
alsO a nositiva ond rod;ool cnrn 81,