The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1884-05-17


TAe Gzssermorss Message.
Gov MeEaerg, in pursuance Of AT.
ticle II Of the Consultation, requiring
! the Governor to give to the Genera
Assembly inforanation respecting the
condition Of The affairs Of the State
and to recommend 10 lbs consideration
such measures as he may deem expe-
dent. transmitted to that august body
on its assembling last Monday one Of
the ablest messages that we have ever
Ind the pleasure Of Perusing, in which
he gives attention 10 every vital inter
est Of the State and makes some most
important recommendations, which
we hope viii meet with the earliest
and most earnest attention Of our
Legislators. The following subjects
arc given special attention BY his Ex-
cSllency, viz orr commsn sehools,stbe
election law, the States finances, pub
lie roads, etc, from which we make
the following excerpts for the infornna-
tion of our readers and the public
generally, as they are questions which
our people are more directly interest
ed in than any others at the present
time:
LICENSES AND REVENUES.
The present revenue law is an ad :
nirable one, and its general features
should be preserved. / viii recon-
mend that the law be so arranged as
to require tax sales TO be made ia
February, and tax collectors to settle
in April, and quarterly. That in the
assessment of personal property the
assessment alone shall be sufficient no.
tice Of the tax due, and that the col
lector be authorized TO collect the
same as soon thereafter rs practicable,
and that the tax shall, from the mo-
ment of the assessment, be lien on
personal property and mortgage on
real estate, and that the property so
assessed can be proceeded against IN
rem. without reference to the owner
ship.
FINANCES.
The financial condition OF the State
is encouraging. The brokerage in
warrants has practically ceased. There
are no outstanding warrants for pre-
vious years, and current warrants are
practically at par. With aeedfnl leg
islatioA we may expect continuance
in the improvement in State sureties
which have steadily advanced in value
There are IN the Treasury cash bal
ances from 1879 TO 1888 amounting
to $183, 900; current school fund,
same period, Sl74,00O. The free
school fund has TO its account SIS, 900,
and the levee and drainage SI9l, 500.
The first amendment TO the Consti-
tuition as proposed by the General As
sembly has been adopted BY the peo-
pie. The debt is now permanently
fixed, and the uncertainty, litigation,
doubt and distrust which embarrassed |
the Stale in her financial operations,
will cease, and it is hopefully antiei. |
pated in financial circles that this final |
adjustment will result in great advan-
tsge to the State, inviting capital,
lowering the rate Of interest, encouT-
aging investments and developing the 1
resources of the State.
COMMON SCHOOLS.
1t is encouraging 10 notice The
great interest manifested in the public
school system and popular education
throughout the State. AT no period
in the history of the State has there
been such outspoken sentiment in ia
yor of the education of the people.
The people of this State are prepared
TO approve any Legislation that will
secure an effective system of free ele-
mentary instruction. We have a vast
number Of children whose parents are
not only unable to send them 10
school, but it is 10 be regretted that
VIC notice an nnWillingness TO do so,
and many are keeping their children
ont of school for the small sum they
get for their labor. Compulsory at
tendance at school should be reqnired
and Legislation enacted to enforce It.
The attendance of children at school
must first be occurred and then the
term of instruction should be extend
ed. There should be resolute and
determined effeft made 10 increase the
Of money appropriated for
school purposes. Every cent of money
not needed for current expenses should
be devoted to the maintenance of our
public schools. The State can only
give general superintendent and
part support 10 the public education.
That it is the duty Of the State to Il
educate citizens into an intelligent
of the duty Of citizen
ship is undeniable.
The system organized will fail 10
accomplish the object desired unless /.
actively sustained by the community,
individuals and local authorities.
There is danger TO popular eduea-
ion IN relying exclusively upon ths
State or national authority for aid. !
No community succeeds 10 educating 1
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