St. Landry democrat., 1884-05-24
SYNOPSIS OF THE GOVERNORS
MESSAGE.
N o. Tines-Democrat.l

Il
the Legislature, on Tuesday, was doc
ument of considerable length and force,
dwelling on all the important questions
| that will be considered by that body.
| II shows a careful study of the many
matters, financial, political and indus
trial, now affecting the State, and offers
suggestions concerning them. These
suggestions, however, are few in num-
| her and the Governor sees no reason
why thev should not be discussed and
decided or within the present session,
and without compelling an extra meet
ing of the Legislature.
! In reference to licenses, the Governor
! thinks the present law needs some re-
adjustment, so as to raise licenses, and,
| in a few classified cases, tOmore equally
arrange them.
He recommends, in reference to the
revenne law. that the tax sales be fixed
/ for February, and the settlement OF the
fax collectors made in April; that tile
| fax shall. from the moment OF the as
sessment, be lien on personal property
aud a mortgage on real estate, and that
fine nropertY so assessed can be proceed
/ ed against IN rem, without reference to
the ownership; that in case a tax col
/ lector DELAYS his settlement more than
twenty days after the time fixed for
sucb Settlement, it shall be made the
/ dnty of the Auditor to send certified
statement of his account to the Judge
/ of the District, who shall be required
/ to give il in special charge to the grand
Jury, and that the statement SO furnish
/ ed shall be sufficient evidence for the
] finding of bill, and, on the trial, shall
be read in evidence against the ac-
cused.
Reviewing the overflow of 1882, the
| Governor finds from the reports made
| S12, ,O61 ,91O, the arabic land inundated
| being 6O6,674 acres, and the amount that
can be reclaimed by levees In these par
ishes 1856, ZOO acres.
Since the report made to the Legisla-
lature in April, 1882, he finds that 800
contracts have been made for levees,
| 100 miles of levees constructed, at a
cost of $S87, ,97O, in addition TO the ex-
/ penditure of $35,000 for preventing or
| closing crevasses. The United States,
| also expended $639, 1881 in louisiana for
| levees the riparian parishes $211 1865,
! and three railroad companies $99, ,450,
4 making a total of $2,048,0g0. Ii this
work had been done during the low wa
/ ter season, much saving would have re-
suited In the beginning of March,
t18S4, the levees of LoN.siaaa were in
better condition, he says, than they had
been for twenty years, yet the system
proved inadequate for efficient pFOtec-
/ tion against overflow during extreme
| high water.
The attention of the General Assem-
bly, is respectfully called to the sugges-
ti0ns of the Board as to the legislation
required to carry on and improve the
/ leVee system, The Board of Engineers,
in concluding their report, remark:
"But, however greatly we may deplOre
the situation, we should not lose sight
| of the fact that the general condition of
the levees in this State to-day is vastly
better than at the decline of the flood
/ in 1882, and that the present overflow
has been much less in area, depth and
damaging effect than that of two years
ago, or many others that preceded it."
/ The Governor finds the financial con-
diti0n of the State encouraging. Bro
kerage in warrants has practically ceas-
ed, and warrants are at par. He recon-
mends some provisions for the payment
of the interest on the baby bonds, and
that to prevent future mbarrassments
it be advanced from the general fund.
He calls attention to the adoption of
the debt Amendment, and predicts that
it will prove great advantage to the
State, by inviting capital, lowering the
rate of interest, encouraging invest
ments, and developing the resources of
the State.
In reference to public schools, he de-
cried the habit of relying exclusively on
the State or national authorities for aid.
No community succeeds in educating
its children until it faces the hard fact
of local taxation, and trains itself to
the persistent and generous assessment
of all its property for the general good.
/ He proposes that each school precinct
be permitted to tax itself for school pur-
poses, after the manner of Texas.
The Governor finds the present elec-
! tion laws defective, and suggests their
repeal.
In reference to the jury laws, he re-
calls his views presented in his message
to the last Legislature, and shows how
appropriate the changes would be to-
day.
Other matters touched on in the mes
sage are the Penitentiary, Board of
Health, the necessity for a revision OF
the codes and statutes, the lease of the
st. Louis Hotel property, the Charity
Hospital, and tile various State institu
tions, colleges, hospitals, etc.
The Governor refers to the report Of
the Adjutant General, and indorses the
suggestions made therein as to the mili-
| tia laws.
The peroration Of the message con-
tains SO full record of the condition of
the State, and so many valuable recon-
mendations, thet it deserves to be given
in full:
"All of our public institutions, educa-
tional and charitable, are in flourish
ing condition, and promise a career of
usefulness in the future. Labor is bet