The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1878-03-27
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NEEDED REFORM.

Some time last year, through your
kind indulgence, had occasion in
several issues of the DEMOCRAT, to
give my views concerning the then
loose management of the. affairs of
The Corporation by the present Board
of Councilmen, and by way of pre-
face to this communication, let me
assert cordially that the Board met
the suggestions of large majority
of the taxpayers here in the proper
spirit, and practically mended the
then growing evil of their loose ways,
and have placed the affairs of the
Corporation in q real, tangible and
substantial fix. Permit me here to
compliment them one and all on this
good municipal legislation, and ask
their present attention to a serious
reform matter, one needed and need
ed at once, and expected and deman.
ded by every property holder and tax
payer of the Town, without regard to
politics, trace, color or previous con
dition," and without further excuse
or matter of form I now come to it.
My reform measures, Mr.. Editor,
urged and demanded by all the tax
payers of the Town are few and cas-
lily counted up in figures of real, solid
and needed economy, and in the
name of this people / ask for them
that they be adopted at the next
meeting of tie Council, and 60
into operation from and after the LIST
day of April next. Reduce the
monthly salary of the Town Consta-
BILE to fifty dollars month, which
with fees accruiDg from the two 9th
err offices which be holds will make
his salary liberal one, and one much
TO be coveted these distressing, dull
aud hard times. Reduce the salary
of the Mayor to thirty-five dollars a
month, which is liberal enough on
the same reason advanced in the Con-
stable case. Reduce the salaries of
the Secretary and the two Custodians
Of the Fire engines to five dollars a
month for each, and here again fair
and equitable retrenchment is arrived
at. This just reduction of salaries
saves six hundred dollars a year to
the Corporation, or fifty dollars a
month, and does injustice or wrong
to no one, but on the contrary helps
the heavily taxed people of the
Town.
I write by the card. Mr.. Editor,
have all the tax payers at my back
and urging me on, and for them and
in their name, I now close by giving
the valid reasons for this needed re.
form. We are right now battling
with times, which commercially and
moniedly, have never before dawned
upon and darkened and saddened the
near future prospects of any people
situated as we are, and one and all
are "hauling in their horns," cutting
tdown expenses, Saving pennies, y
and preparing to make every edge
cut, every cent count, and this peo
ipie demand the same saving move
from the Board of Councilmen and
will be satisfied with nothing short
of these just and proper and rightfu
demands. Over twenty store build
ings are closed, to rent, in the Cor.
poration, and know from this fact
that the license revenues of the Towr
Tor the year 1878 will be fully fou1
hundred dollars less than those o.
1877, and further that the renta
revenues of the Corporation will fal
short nearly three hundred dollars
for the current year.
THIRD WARD TAXPAYER.
.s
IANE DOLLAR PER WEEK WILL
~ buy SINGER NEW FAMILY SEW
ING MACHINE from FERGUSON ant
SCFlNACK, agents for the SINGER MAN
UFACTURlNG co.
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