The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1884-06-07

Esef raaS sfnte be NBeaaat wEHfat
Honestly Eansa snnasfly.
Il has been the general impression
Of orr people that many Of lalcasien,s
best State lands have been improperly
entered, and as consequence the
Estate has been unjustIy deprived Of
the actual revenue therefrom, and the
filling up Of our parish with small
thrifty farmers has been checked TO
the general fletriment Of public inter
est Now, whether there is any truth
in these impressions or not, we are in
a fair way to find ont. Mr.. Hampton
and Mr.. Shattnck, our Represents
tives, have succeeded IN carrying
through both Houses a resolution 10
appoint a joint committee of both
Houses to investigate the manner in
which these lands have been entered
Below we append Mr.. Shattucks ad-
'dress upOnithe adoption of the reso-
Tuition, which we believe will be read
with considerable interest:
Mr.. Speaker move that this
House do now concnr in the Senate
resolution; not that 4 lack confidence
in the Committee on Public Works,
Lands and Ievees on the contrary, ]
hold them in the highest estimation,
both as a body and as individuals;
but i have been informed that the
gentlemen are not opposed to the for
nation of a special committee, and
because of that and for the reason
that I believe they, with their multi
tndinous Guties, could not work as
expeditionsly and satisfactorily rs
committee with but one egg to hatch,
] make this motion.
The reason of our asking for this
committee, briefly stated is this: In
the parishes of Calcasien, Cameron
and Vermilion an immense amount of
State land has been entered by a
wealthy syndicate 4 believe that I
am in possession of unidentified proof
that a considerable portion of this
land has been entered as tidal over
flowed land at l21 cents per acre
which, had Justice been done, should
have been purchased al rs cents per
acre, thus cntailing loss to the State
Of 629c. per acre, aggregating a total
of many Thousand dollars; 10 view of
this fact i feel confident that this
House will see the justice of concur
ring in the Senate resolution and or.
deriug the commit6ee 1t is to be the
best interests of the commonwealth
that this matter be thoroughly investi-
gated, and a special committee, com
posed of members who are eognizant
of the main features of the case, can
render the State greater service than
any of the standing committees, load
ed down as they are with many other
distinct duties.
l ask for the concurrence in this |
resolution from the fact that my hon
esty of purpose cannot be impeaehed;
] come from highland parish, and
the money ! am now endeayoring TO |
place in the State treasury will every
cent go to the leyee fund. So be til |
God knows you need every dollar you
can raise And assure Won, that if
this matter is properly Investigated j |
believe that many thousands of dol
lars which are nov being fraudulently
withheld will be paid into the treasury |
TO the credit of the levee fund. Cal
easieu, with her immense expanse of
fertile prairie, is glad to see that land
purchased, bnt she desires most earn
estly that it shall be bought openly
and honestly and at the value fixed by
law; rich as we are in natural re-
sources we cannot afford to see our
wealth devoured and our lands enter
ed at one-sixth of their value. ]
In making this struggle for the
oYerfloWed districts Of our State, ]
know that ! am inenrriDg the enmity
OF the gigantic company which is en-
deaVorlng TO swallow my parish, / l
know that the bead, heart and soul of
that syndicate is now within this
building ] know that every word ]
utter to-day will be treasured up
against me.
i was informed yesterday that the
sentiment of piDeetenths of my people
was against agitating this matter; it
may be so, but if tits, my constitu-
ents have changed terribly in their
opinions in the last twelve days, andI T.
can only wonder at the occult infiu-
enee which has cast its golden spell
before their eyes.
lfthis House in its wisdom coDcnrs
in this resolution, believe the State
will be the gamer thereby, and there
fore in the name of the entire State /
renew my motion. HI