St. Landry democrat., 1881-12-10
That Extra Session.
lMeridiOnal.1


Previous to the last constitutional
convention the people of the State had
found by sad experience that the State
was greatly afflicted with two evils
among others tO-wit: too many sessions
OF the leglslature-tOO much legislation
in OCher words; and too much taxation.
The convention arisely sought to remedy
both these evils by constitutional pro-
visions. The people thought this was
right then and We think they think 50
still.
Biennial Sessions were only cOntem-
plated, but Gov. McEnery proposes to
render this salutary provision Of the
constitution nugatory by the expedient
of extra sessions. We do not hesitate
to predict the complete failure of the
extra session in etiecting any good.
There is nothing in fact that they can
or need do. The Treasury is empty.
Well what Of it. 1t was always empty.
| Did anybody ever hear OF it being other
wise9 1t is destined to be always empty
so long as high salaries and extrava
gance, such as extra sessions prevail.
SO long as a ring of bummers run the
State, so long it will be empty. The
wealth of Ormus or the Ind would fail
to replenish it. Do not undertake to
fill the State Treasury. You may per-
haps carry, water In Il seize but you will
never find any, money in the State
Treasury. We have known thousands
of dollars to be paid into the treasury
and in quarter of a second it was en-
tirely empty. No funds was the word.
But an attempt is to be made to re-
plenish the treasury through new
revenue law. 1t we read the signs of
the times Alright an attempt is to be
made at this extra session to nullify the
constitutional provision against high
taxation. Treasurer Burke and the
other leaders on the treasury propose
to have State Board of Equalization is
what they call it-but it is to prove
board of COnjiscatiOn, such as Warmotll
would have given his eye teeth for but
could never get. This board is to be
COMPOSED of the rogues who plumber
the State and who will nullify the six
mill limit OF taxation by assessing prop
erty at three, five or six times its value
if need be and the tax payer will have
just as little redress as the tax ridden |
and demagogue cursed city of New
Orleans has to-day and has for years
had. The ring Organ with Burke at
its head has already sounded the key
note, it is board of equalization, who
can assess property at any value SUM-
cient that six mills tax on it, shall be
sufficient to satisfy the greed Of the
ring. Such is the programme already
Swallowed forth by the Democrat. For
this purpose and with this end in view
a convention of tax assessors and COL
lectors was called by Gov. Wilt to act
as a mouth-piece for the ring and to
give expression to the ideas of the
ring as though they came from the
people. But it is too transparent. 1t
IS very manifest where the inspiration
IF the tax-collectOrs convention came
rom. We warn all country members
IF the legislature to beware of all State
Boards of Equalization. Shun them as
'ou would pestilence if you value the
Welfare of your constituents and the
Of your State. If you love
'our homes and fresides do you be sure
hat no tool of any ring of demagogues,
Under the name of democrat or any
ther name, shall ever have power to :
* their value for the purpose of taxa
ion.
This demand for more taxes more
eveuue comes with poor grace from a
eform democratic government prac-
Using the principles of rigid economy. t
nut on such hypocrisy but of this here t
fter. Q