The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1886-07-17
The other Side.
EDITOR CoLFAx CHRONICLE:

How wondrously conclusive sounds an ex-parte
statement until the other story Is told. In your
paper of last Saturday sloth) appears re ai
Inns, setting forth his reasons why the seat OF
| justice shonld not be removed from Colfax. He
! greatly fears that the change would involve an
| ludebtedness and suggests waiting until money
matters should be easier with the parish. And
right here is it not pertinent TO inquire, VIII the
treasury of this parish eyer hold an unappropri-
ated dollar? VIII MIR. Collins. or any other gen.
| tieman opposed to the removal, contend that the
present police jury Is, IN matters of economic
administration, inferior by one iota to its prede
cessor of the years lS82-4 /? which predecessor
managed the parish affairs met its obligations,
built and paid for $3.50 court house and an
$500 Darro bridge, ard that upon income that
during no year exceeded $500! Tho at times
IN debt, yet at the beginning of this year the
parish was free from obligations had small :i
out having TO resort to the Bette MORE of the
gentleman from ward 5, extra taxation"
The ING m 81 e the parish for this snd coming
ousy received, an increase over other years of
$500. The current expenses of the parish have
land wisely, but if the parochial affairs are adj
ministered with the prudence and honesty that
any man would bestow upon his own private
concerns, is there any gentleman prepared to
state that these extraneous demands cannot be
met from the enlarged revenue, and still have
a yearly balance with which to- meet any de-
mands occasioned by the cost OF new buildings,
in case the majority of the voters should decree
a change? There may not be in the treasury
surplus IN money at the end of this year; the
new bridges, etc, may require all the funds, bnt
with the parish free from debt is it not easy and
common occurrence To order improvements
payable in two and three years! Was it not
done when the present court house was built III
1882 and the last payment made in 81? Does
any one imagine that court house and jail
would or could cost, at present rates of labor
and material 5000 or possibly 5000! Contrac-
tors with solvent bonds are plentiful who would
gladly undertake the job for much less money.
1t is commended that change would increase
the parish expenses in the matter of mileage.
Does not ward 5 know that in criminal matters
the sheriff, under no circumstances can charge
more than $500 per year, be his mileage or 1000
safe witnesses in criminal cases and for this we
propose to appropriate any monies not other
wise appropriated. Friends of removal, this l
apprehend is part of the tactical that Is CON-
tanned in this mo change cocoa nut" Is it an
mate love of Justice that will dig up, all scrip
Issued to witnesses in criminal cases during the
past fifteen years and induce a possibly com
PLEASANT police jury TO order their payment, or
Is 1t not a deliberate attempt to keep depleted
ar otherwise healthy parish treasury, and force
ments ? My dear CHRONICLE, 1 cannot but be-
leye that you, with your knowledge OF business
las she ought TO be DONE" must know that If
the people viii it, and fair deal be accorded
by the ''powers" that a court house, Jail and
other needed improvements can be made with
out exceeding our present income; and, further,
If the same saving policy that has existed here
tofore he continued in by our police jury. the
witnesses referred to can be paid from this date
a reasonable compensation for attendance and
mileage. Much, take it can be accomplished
with $500 income.
And. the center of population" cry. If such
be the case. then let parties put aside all pecu
MARY interest that may be effected by the loss of
the court house, and let the question be squarely
tested at the polls Surely ii Colfax be the CEN
| ter of population, the voters must know It, and
no people would decree to move capital al
ready located in their center. This may be, how
ever, only whistling to keep up courage, for
He either fears his fate too much,
Or his deserts are small,
Who dares not put it to the touch.
And win or lose 1T all"
| And the center of litigation Suppose, gen.
! tlemen that the Bagdad settlement were to
arouse itself, rush heatedly into court, sue, at
tach, sequester. enjOin right and left; and, sup
pose further, that Colfax should determine to
rest quiescent las she seems inclined to do IN de-
| spite of the heavy docket examined by Mr.. Col
J hns) do the friends of the present court house
stand prepared to advocate giving TO Bagdad the
court house because that point happens at that
! time to be the center of litigation
! No. gentlemen. let us have an untrammelled
expression upon this question, and. though the
| wealth may be with us in the bottoms, yet an
honest citizen. even though he be a. poor ''piney
woods" one. has rights that even our superior
| wealth must accord him. IL majority of our
| people desire the parish seat removed to a CEN
! trial point accessible alike to all, J. tho resi-
dent of the low lands and a dweller in Colfax,