The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1882-08-26

5 the mind Of the stranger that the tow
S is not far removed from dead on,
e and the people an easy, iuiolent elias,
e whose ideas Of progress and develoT
: ment are in keeping with those enter
tanned By the inhabitants of the coun
try a quarter of a century ago. Blu
: to measure our business population a
Z lalwhole by suoh "a standard would b,
unjust. There are those among us VIII,
see thisgnestion inavery different light
bnt they are powerless, or believe the7
are, 10 remedy the evil. Thotruth is thert
IS something radically wrong IN our
system Of local government. The SD
surdity of the policy pursued is ap.
J parent on the very face Of 1t. We have
la mayor and Eve aldermen who arc OK,
Epected to devote their time and attsn.
ton to town affairs and who are not
expected 10 draw one fartbing for the
same, while our town constable is paid
a salary off T5a month. Experience has
Taught every one who is at all familiar
with the question, that a mayor and
town council, no matter who they are
they may be the very best men in
the eoynmunity--will mot take that in
terest and watcbfnl care of public
affairs they would were they saiaried
officials. 1t has been commended that
the town is not able to pay a salary to
the mayer and aldermen. But this is
an error, as we shall endeavor to show.
| According TO the assessors rolls for
the current year, the amount of tax
able property inside of the corporate
limits Of the town is $2ll,975 (which,
at the present rate of taxation, seven
and a half mills on the dollar, gives
the town an annual income from this
source of Sl5S9.5O. The revenue to
the town from occupation license,
though we haven't the exact figures,
amounts TO between six and eight hun
dred dollars. Say S700, which gives
a total income of $22S9.5O. Out
of this amount must come 5000 con
stables salary, and S25 year paid |
the town treasurer, leaving balance of !
|slSS9.50. To this add about $50 for !
fines during the course of a year and we
have balance in the treasury of |
S1530.50. 1t must be remembered that
this rate of taxation, seven and a half
mills on the dollar, is an exceedingly /
low one. There are few incorporated
towns whose property holders are not
called upon to pay much greater tax.
In,yiew of these facts then, we contend
that the town is abundantly able to pay
its mayor and aldermen for their ser d
vices, and pay them well. Two hun
dred dollars year is little enough for
the mayor Of Lake Charles to receive.
Our aldermen should be allowed, at
the lowest calculation, two dollars for
each meeting attended. If the town
is not able to do this, then we have no
use on earth for a municipal govern =
ment. Between three and four hun q
arad dollars a year expended on our :
streets and publie square would keep Ii
them in clearly and healthy condi- q
Lion, and instead of being an eye-sore
and reproach to our people, they would /
reflect credit upon the inhabitants of
Lake Charles and upon the town ad- .
alike. There is no deny i
ing the fact that right now our streets :
are an a deplorahle condition. Whose Ii
fault is I'll Is any one. paid to look 4
after them, to keep The bitches open,
10 cause needed repairs to be made J
L. we had 3 salaried mayor and board
Of aldermen it would be entirely DIFF ]
ferent. 1t would be somebody's duty I
then to look after these things There !
would be grounds then upon which to (
base the daily complaints that are heard
on all sides. But under the present (
mode of affairs we contend there are
none now. 4
This is a subject upon which much h
can be said and written, and one that
can scarcely be exhausted. We have r
brought it before the people that if
may be agitated and aesnvassed among
themselves until a reform, shall be in
stituted. No man will neglect his pri1
waite affairs to attend to those of the
public. when be is bound 10 he the
loser thereby.
THE Republican congressional com
yention Of this district, which assem-
hled last Tuesday at Donaldsonville,
L., ,,.,,-,I,4 IL .bo,. a. -. - -, ! |.