St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1886-11-13

repeating his charge. AS public SER
want, | expect criticism from the pub
lie; and when it comes from the proper
source and in a proper way, l do not
complaint simply try not to deserve
it, or at any rate as little as possible.
This seems however to be the age when
all the men in office are bad, and all the
good ones fail to get in; and their fail
ure seems to be the principle cause why
they find fault with the "ins."
From reports brought to me, Mr.
Swords was putting the thing on too
heavy, ane I concluded to go and see
him. On my return from the congress
ional convention stopped off and went
to Big Cane. told only one man my bus
mess. was told could see him any
day at Hazards store. | did not find
him there, and asked where he lived, L
was shown his place. His brother then
told me, Marion wants to see you. L
answered, | want to see him.
me very kindly, so much SO was sorry
had gone there on disagreeable bus
mess.
As soon as could introduce the sub
iect, | said to him: | have heard of
some serious charges being circulated
against me here Mr.. Swords. He re-
oiled: "Yes, but the matter was not
understood before the Auditors letter
was published and | saw yonr letter to
Mr.. Collins on the subject" | said to
him am "a public servant, if | owe the
State fifteen Thousand dollars, | have
the means to pay it, and | would soon
be forced to pay it, nor could the State
lose one cent.
But, Mr.. Swords, there are two ways
of putting this charge. When 1t is
said that out of the S51 ,236.2S charged
against me for the total of the tax rolls
of 1884 and 1885, in the State Auditors
office, and that | have collected and
paid into the State treasury for these
years the sum of $35, 608.2O, and that
there remains charged against me, from
the total of these rolls, the sum OF
$15, 62SS, this is the truth, and in one
sense | owe it; that is, owe the money,
or the reason why did not collect it.
am charged with every mans tax as
though it were my own. The entire
footing Of the roll as made up, right or
wrong, is charged to me. What l col
lect | must account for under oath
every ninety days. The parish treasu-
rer has to foot up my cash books, and
swear to their fOotings at every settle
ment quarterly. What | do collect ]
am credited for quarterly by the Au-
ditor. What l cannot collect, and Is
uncollectable under the proper showing,
| am credited for to balance my rolls.
These numbers are carried out on
the rolls, as the errors or causes occur,
and am entitled to credits for them,
and they are as good as money to me,
except do not get my COMMISSIONS on
any hnt what collect.
| said to him, this is a stab from poll
teal enemies, and at time and under
circumstances when | cannot say here
is the record, see for yourself, as L and
my clerks have often invited persons,
not friendly to me, to do. Il
Several months before the burning OF
the Courthouse, the Governor OF the
State, through the proper channel,
made inquiry into the cause OF the bad
collection of the roll of 1884, and the
cause was reported to him; and it was
from the same cause in the following
year, 1885, that the Auditor refused to
receive the roll of 1885: for the reasons
that many of the illegal assessments OF
1884 were apparent Oh the roll OF 1885.
Mr.. Steele sent his book-keeper here,
and the roll of 1885 was only accepted
because it was impossible to make
another assessment for 1885, and con
dition was mrde with the assessor that
he should refund to the State his com.
missions on the erroneous and illegal
assessments on the roll, and that in
making the roll for 1886 he should not
copy assessments from old rolls; and
further, that he should pay what the
State might lose in printing bills caused
by the publishing of the roll OF 1885,
il used for collection of taxes of that
year-sO apparent were its defects.
The burning Of the records in the
has placed this beyond my
power, and has permitted my enemies
to throw suspicion on my official life.
among an ignorant class OF
people.
But to certain extent | can, and
will protect my good name and the
honor of my children, even with my
life; and say, and | rssert here, any
man, or men, who have said. or may |
hereafter say, or peddle out what 9th
ers say, that have collected taxes or
money from the people, and that | have
not rendered a Just and honest account
of it, lies he is liar and robher-a
robber of more than my purse. Some |
Of those men who have endeavOred to
do this, have craved my indulgence,
and owe their taxes, which are IA part
Of the amounts charged to me-they |
ought to have the manhood to pay their
part Of it before endeavoring to shift
their own defalcation to my shoulders.
My memorandum Of seizures in the
hands of my deputies showed me his
OWN taxes had not been paid. He re-
piled: Yes, owe my taxes, but it is
not my fault; thought another party
mad paid them" In this he is correct.
He said further: "The letter of the
uditor of Public Accounts informed
ne better on the subject. You know
Il Ia Lid auainSt