The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1881-06-25
Communicated.
On TRAIN, June II, 1881.

NY Oeat 1hatoF' |
just as / stepped to the train
a friend informed me that the
last issue of yOnr paper contained
some reflections upon me as State
Treasurer in connection with the
method of paying warrants.
[ have not seen the article but
I assume from my knowledge Of
you it was only Such a criticism
as any public Journal has a right
to make of the official acts of po
bile officer when the Jo@rnal be-
lieves that the officer is acting in
juriously to the public. l there
tore, whilst recognizing your right
to criticise think it best to pre-
sent a few suggestions touching
the matter of warrants Witch viii
enable sou to view the question
fairly.
1t was vainly hoped that the
Legislature under the the new
constitution would have limited
expenditures to the receipts. AS
a matter Of fact there vas on:syau
ding en- the LIST. OF Jnue warrants
against tie General Fund Of 1880
unpaid 10 the amount Of
1904, O00AV and there was due
the State House commission
some S5l,O0O.G 60 more making a
deficit o! $3.50, O}o.Co in tie Gene
raj Fund OF 1380-at that time.
For the year 1881 ali of :aa OK
penses fthe Government having
been going on about $500, 900 90
of warrants have been issued
agains the General Fund already
and $70OoO.OO Warrants are due
the State House commission. Not
"a dollar Of State Taxes tor 1881
have yet been collected as the as
ses>mtnts are but just completed
or il any Taxes fer 1881 have
been paid they have not reached
the Treasury.
The only money i'll hand Tor the
payment Of the Warrants OF 1880
are such amounts as come in as
;, back taxes for that year and such
sums are ii%nadeqnate TO pay the
Legislature ana Constitutional
Warrants made r~:cte1etiea claims
by DC, got 1850.
GA the iSt OF June 1881 there
was outstanding nearly 500, OOp..
90 of that class Ut Warrants.
For the payment Of 1881 War
rats the Treasurer has only the
receipt from LICENSES yssiil the
Taxes arg co!le.t1 for that year.
II must therefore 10 obvious to
YOU that the Stat" does nut col
lect ksy revenues i'll time to meet
her expenditures. Secondly that
the Legislature has net made ade
qnate prov i>ion for k:e pay;nen,
of Warrants If it waH eallectrd.
How then gan lie Treasurer
payf Not t>ing able To Fay in
full at 4ay tine rule has been es-
tabl;slle,tft thu tie funds n the
Iieas,,ry after settlements are
made Ex.Tax collectors shall be
distributed pro rata. If you know
of any mnse satisfactory plan
than | shall ieqhligr,l Tor Il sng
sest:l1. fyon kuow of any IA.
fairne>s, or abuse in carrying out
the plan / shall III s.ns4ty lndebt
Ell to you Tor rointin. it our.
In former times 1t has been
said that only those Who you'd
watch the I'rka>rH,.y ana be on the
spot when Payments yer made
into tue Treasury couid receive
lpay on General Fund Warrants
| can readily understand how un
just to creditors OF the State liv
ing long '!istaiites from the seat
of Government, s1icA a method
would he rs parties in New Or
leans secure lie lins'S share otthc
funds If not the wl9ls.
Another plan w;.s formerly
tried which operated unfairly.
1ha, of applying the Genera, Fan,
of each parish to the payment of
officers of that parish 10y prefer
encc.
The parish Of Orleans contri.
bates 3l5 Of the Taxes and { OF
the Licenses and under such a
RUE all CT tie officers Of the coult
serving in the City Of New Or
leans wonld be paid in full ana
those in the country would have
to bear the deficit except in a few
wealthy parishes,
The pro rata plan was adopted
to correct evils and to place the
creditor Of Lafourche on the same
basis as the creditor Of Orleans,
and so far I have heard no com
plant except from those who rem
der service and teel that the State
should pay promptly and in full.
TO Illustrate tie working If the
office, takethe paymentsnow being
made. The funds collected from