The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1878-01-26

| Wouiu ot your Uuty W hVoP uV"f
appropriation to only absolutely
necessary current expenses.
The assessing and collecting law
happily devised by you at your last
session, whilst on the whole making
- great saving in expense, has been
found cumbersome in some of it,
parts and costly in Others and will
require revision and remedy in these
particulars. The provisions as ia
the control of property after for
fixture seem inadequate, and some
enactment as to power to occupy
and lease or sell the forfeited prop
erty, after the forfeiture has been
operated, appear necessary to render
it an efficient instrument of cOllec-
ton. Legislation should also be had
! to authorize the sale of property
which has already absolutely vested
i'll the State.
For the purpose of settlement by
tax collectors, they should be d.
rected to prepare sworn and dupli-
cate detailed statement, showing
how much they propose paying In
warrants. with az description thereof,
as well as how much in money. One
of these lists to be deposited with
the Auditor and the other with the
Treasurer. They should also be
compelled to settle within short
and specified time after the issue of
the order of the Auditor, under pen
atty of dismissal.
/ / deem it my duty, in connection
with the financial affairs of the State,
to call your attention TO the condi-
tion of the Consolidated Association
OF the Planters of Louisiana, aud
the report thereon. The subject is
of importance, and the course which
has to he taken in reference to it
should receive the most serious leg
islative consideration.
The situation of the affairs Of the
State and the condition of her citi
zens inyokes the most rigid economy.
No unnecessary or useless expense
or office should he allowed to re-
main. With only 3, or may be 81,
mills of the total taxation to be APP
piled to the general fund, if.the bur-
den of the people is to he alleviated,
it must be done by curtai!ment, APP
piled wherever it can be accom-
plished, without hesitancy and with
out reserve.
The expenses of the General As
sembly merit consideration, and |
earnestly call your attention to them.
The marked diininution thereof du
ring your last session, despite its
arduous prolongation, gives evidence
that your attention has been already
directed to the subject. The system
of compensation existing strikes me
as erroneous. ii for no other reason
ut least because of its inequality and
indirectness. While there may be
differences of opinion as to the guam
tuin OF compensation which should
properly be fixed. the same room for
divergence does not exist as to the
system of constructive mileage.
Burdens of government result not
only from contribution levied for its
support, but likewise from indirect
sources, and this subject should re
ceive attention.. The reduction of
fees of office, the prevention OF the
pernicious habit of overcliarging, are
all matters calling for adequate leg
is!ative action.
In the regulation of the expenses
of parishes, as well as in some com
petent provision for the ascertain
ment OF their existing Indebtedness,
you will doubtless find room for re-
quired legislation.
The various funds placed subject
to my order ut your last session all
have balances to tlIeir, Gre dit, and an
account of the disbursements thereof
will be hereafter submitted to your
consideration.
The system of public education,in-
auguratetl uuder the provisions of
the act of 1877, has been put in OPP
Grafton with all the success possible,
considering the means ut the disposal
of the Department of Education, so
crippled by the squanderiDg aud
maiyersation OF the school funds un-
der the former administration. The
State and parish boards have given
their best efforts to carrying out the
pledges made by our people of es-
tablishing as far as possible u com
mon school system in which the ad-
vantage of education should be im-
partially and equally afforded.
The Board of State engineers, Gre
ated under arg No. 40 of the extra
session of 1877, estimates that ! ,475,-
900 cubic yards will have to be built
in 1873 to maintain the levees of the
state in thorough order at present
grade. This does not contemplate
the closing of the large crevasses at
Ashton, Diamond island Bend. iias-
cocks, Aorganza, Bonnet Care an,i
other points, nor does it look a. iae
reclaiming OF new or aband ,ntd
lands, or to extending any interests;