The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1882-09-23
Proceedings of the Police Jury.
Parish Of Ascension.

DoNAIDsoNvILLE, Sept Is, 1882.
Pursuant to notice. the Police Jury met this
day in extra session.
The roll was called and every member found
present.
The minutes of last meeting, with the correc-
rection thereto annexed, were read and ap-
proved.
The President briefly stated the object ct the
meeting. He said, in substance, that 1t was Tor
the purpose of deyising means to provide better
roads and to keep them in better condition.
The first ordinance passed by this jury had for
object this very subject matter. Taking Act
No. 112 of $780, as the last expression OF legisia-
tive will it adopted the labor y system, which
requires able bodied men to make and to repair
the public roads. The parish of st. Martin
| passed similar ordinance, based on the same
law and adopted the same system. It was re-
| sisted but the Supreme Court sustained the
| parish and condemned defendant and appellee
to pay the fine claimed and all costs incurred in
| both courts. go L. A. 1892, st. Martin Us. De-
| iahmpaye).
In its road ordinance the parish of Terrebonne
| adopted the proprietors" system, which re-
| quires the proprietors of land contiguous to
| public roads to make and to repair said roads
at their own expense. This was also resisted;
but again the Supreme Court sustained the
parish and affirmed the Judgment appealed
from. which had condemned the plaintiff and
defendant to pay fine of S4j and all costs.
(34 Z, A. 1858, r. II. Barrow US. e. &. Hepler ct
aD.
In both these cases the constitutionality OF
IT, ,,,r~,oI,;,l lo,p VINO WAC ayarre]
in one, that labor in the other, that . fne >
virtually operated tao, and that said tai
exceeded the limited power. In both cases the
Supreme Court affirmed that neither labor ,
nor fine' was tag within tie meaning OF the
constitution, and that the ordinances adopting
either the Labor or the 'proprietors - system
were constitutional.
1t may afford some satisfaction to know tina
the ordinance passed by this Jury is both lega
, and constitutional, and that the labor system
/ prevails in many States, whose citizens under
stand their interests as we'll any, and VIII
! are not less jealous thar any of their persona
rights and liberties. But the fact nevertheless
remains that this system has found no favo
among cur people and that the condition of on
public roads Is a reproach to our civilization.
;, 1t was then proposed to pass an oreinanc
. . based upon the proprietors system. DR.. Dufe
/ objected; he said, in Substance that the labc
system had failed because we had not the pluc
e to enforce it. and in support of his position h
y appealed to the very case above cited. VIVA
d tina road inspectors had done In st. Martin, tt
l. road inspectors could do in Ascension. AS
IT proprietor he had made and repaired the publ
/. for rta nf
le century, and he had done so without murmu
lg Now that he did not own one foot OF land,
~ was free to denonnce the system as the mo
N unjust that could be devised. 1t was imposf
BILE to imagine single person, young or ol
. rich or poor, man woman or child who was n
directly benefited by public roads. If lal
Y, owners alone are to give their labor. the
re money and their time for the benefit of t
10 public in this matter of public roads, then W
g, not require land owners alone, to give the
81 labor, their money and their time for the beI
fit of the public in every and all other matter
"; He voted No. and desired his vote to
recorded as protest against the system.
~ With this exception the motion to adopt |
IS proprietoTs' system was carried.
to The following ordinance, being, with T
exceptions and modification n the same ad9p'
| by the parish OF leff0DOHHes WAS VoUcu
on section BY section and the whole was read a
,ar adopted. iSee ordinance No. q, n. 81.
:, On motion of Mr.. Barmon, duly seconded
Ike was
yes Resolved. That the appropriation for salary
his road inspectors for the seventh and elg
10 wards unpaid to date, be set aside and app
ni7 priated to pay for lumber for making 6
repairing public bridges in said wards.
Z. The Presidents action in granting the requ
OF Mr. 2. L. Braud, road inspector for
eighth ward, recommended by Mr. Blot
y Police Juror for said ward was approved :
pit. River Bridge, between the seventh and Gig
NC, wards, which had been destroyed by the o'
flow, without other cost to the parish than
b+,, price Of the lumber, viz: S125.
A. A. A petition signed by Messra. g. =. Fergus
,ar JOS Gonzales, J. A. Gonzales. Louis Alexis
'o'' many others was read and after hearing Mes
hr harmon, Jos. Gonzales and others. Mes
Rod Hnnson Braad, Gibson, Barmon and Bic
~ were appointed a committee to visit the ioca
h;s and the people referred to, and to report $
~ | measures as they may deem proper to rel
| the wants reported. In the mean time !
ave amount donated for the purpose. was emple
Io y At the request Of Messrs. S. L. Davis,
a,t Jeffriou, Desire Braud and many others.
tsar Dlouin offered the following resolution, wi
on his motion, duly seconded, WIS carried:
Ella Resolved That it shall not be lawful to
nest or kill deer In this parish. except from the
Of September to the 1st of April.
So 80, The Police Jury adjourned.
wee fs,agaedl II. HANSON, Presi6sa
faignessI r. PROSPER LANDRY, Clerk.
It, a true cepy: r. PROSPER LANDRY