The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1880-08-28

mere permanently, having pfOspect VI
building up good business. Certainly
they require no better recommendation
as artisans than Is furnished by their
splendid work on DIR. McGalliard's beau
tiful residence.
EIGHTH WARD ROAD TRoUBLEs.-We
regret to learn that some trouble has
arisen concerning the enforcement Of the
new road law in the eighth Police Jury
ward Of the parish, growing out Of a diff
ference Of opinion between the Road
Overseer and several residents Of the
ward rs to the manner in which the
former official, or the deputy lie has up
pointed to act i'll his absence, CONSTITUTES
his authority and powers. The Oyerseer
or his representative contends that, un-
der the State law relative to roads and
bridges, which declares that he shall
- summon persons to work upon the
svenient," he may exact service from citi-
zens liable to road duty upon any road
in his district, at any time, and without
regard 1.-The distance Of the thorough
fare from the laborers' place Of residence;
that he may also remove his workmen
from one road to another at will, leaving
the first uncomplcted, and without re-
gard to the relative Importance Of the
highways. The dissenting citizens hold,
upon tho other hand, that the Overseer
should not consult his own convenience
entirely, but theirs as we'll, which seems
j reasonable and just reconstruction Of the
meaning Of the law that they should be
called to work the roads Of their own
svicinage and not compelled to report for
service at distances unnecessarily remote
from their homes; that the most impor
tant thoroughfarcs should be first placed
in proper condition, and that one should
I've completed before beginning work up
ON another when such change necessitates
d suspension Of operations OIL the first.
These propositions are certainly founded
OH good sense, and some Of our ablest
jurists hold that all interpretations Of
law should rest on foundation Of that
character. It could scarcely have been
the intention of the lawmakers to give q
Road Overseer power to consult only his
own convenience and ignore that of a
community i'll summoning citizens to
work upon the roads-the times and
places that "to him shall seem conycn-
lent" should he those which suit the
convenience Of the greatest number Of
the people subject to his direction.
It is reported that the Road Overseer
is prosecuting or threatening with pros
ecution several citizens of the eighth
ward, who, rcsenting his arbitrary con-
struction Of. the law, declined to stop
work upon an important road i'll their
own vicinity and go upon one of minor
importance at considerable distance
away. They did not refuse to do road
duty, but, OH the contrary, continued to
work upon the nearer and more impor-
tant highway. 1t Is la'rentable that
such controversy shonld have arisen
aud it will be still more lamentable if
the Oyerseer attempts to carry out the
threats Of prosecution against citizens
who are not seeking to shirk lawful re-
sponsibility, but only reserve to them
selves such privileges il the premises as
they believe just Interpretation Of the
law will accord them. Working roads is
not an agreeble task to any onc-no more
So than is the payment Of any other tax,
in money or labor, exacted by tho gov
erpment-and there is no good reason
why the duty should be rendered still
more unpleasant and onerous by arbitrary
aud oppressive conduct on the part OF
officials charged with its enforcement.
We hope the eighth ward difficulty
will be adjusted in quiet and friendly
way, and that no further clash will occur
in the enforcement Of the road law there.
The good people of that section will rem
der their full share Of public service when
properly called upon, and there should
be no objection to adopting q liberal
view of the character Of work required
of them under tho road law.
Re Wise and. Happy.
If you will stop all your extravasah'
and wrong notions in doctoring yourself
and family with expensive doctors OF
hnmbup cure-alls that do harm always
and use only natures simple remedies fol
all your ailments-you will be wise' vel
and happy, aud save great expense. luz