St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1883-09-15

these appointments at the dictation OF
politicians who themselves in the large
majority of cases, use this control OF
executive patronage for selfish personal
ends. The suggestion that the motive
was to protect property holders in radi-
cal parishes from excessive taxation by
| ignorant and corrupt police jurors, is a
mere pretext, because the constitution
al limitation and the readiness of the
courts to enforce it, is an ample guaran
tee of protection to them.
Unfortunately these measures
were hurried through the legislature as
caucus measures and the people had no
opportunity, by public discussion to be
informed and to interpose protest in
time to prevent their passage. And it
is just in such contingencies, that the
Governor should interpose his veto
power. IT he does not do so, he either
knowingly betrays his trust. or he is too
incapable to be placed a second time in
such high position.
The low water put an end to steam
boat navigation in our trade, for the
present, last week. No sooner was this
fact ascertained than the Morgan rail-
road advanced freights forty per
cent. This shows the tender mercy
in store for us, should this odions and
hated monopoly ever succeed in driving
our steamboats, out of our trade entire
ly. Left to the mercy of this road, our
country would soon be unfit to live in,
for it is a we'll known fact that it has
never on any occasion been known to
respect the rights of any one unless
compelled by necessity, or when actua-
ted by selfish motives. In view of this
attempted extortion our merchants and
planters should combine at once, refuse
tomake shipments to, or receive freights
from New Orleans, until the water rises,
and then if the present steamboat line
is withdrawn, put Il boat OF their own
into the trade, and show this Morgan
monopoly with all its autocratic no.
tons that the people of the country are
not yet reduced to state worse than
Russian serfdom. Our people should
go further. They ought to take the
matter in hand, and see that no man
goes to the Senate or Legislature from
this parish at the next election, unless
he is fairly, squarely, unequivocally and
publicly pledged to the passage of a
law establishing a railroad commission,
for the State, clothed with ample pow
ers to take the various railroad COM
panies in our State in hand, and COM |
pei the carrying of freight and passen-
gers at reasonable rates. Our Repre-
sentatives and Senators should be fur
ther pledged to use every possible ex-
ertion to have statute passed making |
it felony absolutely for any railroad
to discriminate in favor of any one
locality against another, as has been
notably the case with the Morgan rail-
road since its extension into this region |
of the State. And we now call on the
next nominating convention that meets
here irrespective of party to specifically
instruct its nominees to spare no effort to
have such laws put on the statute book
as will forever put an end to the extray
agant rates charged by these railroad
corporations. We know that during the
last session of the Legislature when an
effort was made to pass laws curbing
the high -handed pretensions of the
railroad monopolies in our State, it was
voted down almost without discussion.
But when the next Legislature meets
we hope to see it composed of far diff
ferent material. We hope to see new
men go there from all parts of the
State, who will have the interest of the
people at heart and who will not be de-
tered from taking the matter OF extor-
ton in freight and for carrying pas
sengers in hand, simply by the cry
raised last year that if such laws were
enacted railroad building would cease
in the State. Suppose it did cease,
would it not be all the better, if things
are to go on as they are now being con-
Quoted by this Morgan road. Its ex-
tension into this region of country has
been of no benefit to any one, saving
and excepting it's owners. 1t has not
the value of land along its
inc perceptibly. It has not, nor will it
aver bring in Immigration under its
present management, under which a