St. Landry democrat., 1886-07-10
A Shameful Default.

"A SnamekNa DtlHubts
Th the everlasting disgrace of the
Legislature it seems that no provision
debt of the State is to be made. For
reasons which may hereafter appear
when the delinquents will least desire
it, this important matter has been de-
layed, despite the urgings to action on
the part of the executive and the press,
as we'll as the dictates OF common hon
esty and prudent care for the good
name OF Louisiana.
There is one thing that might yet be
done and should be in the spirit OF the
most ordinary fairness. Let a bill or
joint resolution be passed making baby
bonds and valid warrants receivable Tor
the purchase of all properties forfeited
to the State for taxes: Such provls-
ion would create a demand for these
obligations to the relief of distressed
holders, while at the same time retiring
them on the best terms for the State
in some degree maintaining its credit
while restoring to the tax rolls values
now producing no revenue.
1t behooves the Governor, who can
not certainly be ignorant of the laches
of the Legislature in the matter OF the
floating debt, or of the cause thereof, to
exert himself on the side OF Justice even
at this late hour.-Clty Item.
"To the everlasting disgrace" of the
people of this State, they have allowed
themselves to be burdened with an un-
just and dishonest debt-dishOnestly
contracted by those who assumed to
misrepresent them. After the debt was
fixed and incorporated in the constitu-
ton of 1879, our State government, with
more love for the bondholders than for
the taxpayers, submitted to the popular
vote constitutional amendment pro-
viding a free gift to bondholGers of
$4,000 year for fifteen years. Not
withstanding it is believed that this
amendment was undoubtedly defeated
at the polls, it was counted in by the
hocus-pocus of politicians and it is to
pay such fraudulent debts that appeals
are so constantly made to ''the dictates
of common honesty and prudent regard
for the good name of louisiana"
And the State government, with more
regard for the political beggars that are
clamoring at the door of the
public crib, than for the oppressed tax
payers who have to keep that crib sup
piled, make appropriations in excess of
the revenues, thereby entailing each
year floating debt on the taxpayers
Now political agencies have been set
to work to make it an "everlasting dis |
grace" il this debt be not funded. The !
real disgrare was in making the debt.
lie is not just, it is not honest, that the |
taxpayers should be saddled with a
debt beyond the revenue derived from
the taxation fixed by the constitution. |
The State government takes good care
to keep taxation at the highest consti-
limit and when man has
paid his years taxes he has discharged |
his entire financial obligation to the
State. He should not be taxed in future
to pay so-called floating debtcontracted |
in past year over and above the am
cunt Of taxes collected. If such be al |
lowed, the debt will go on, ever in
until its payment will be i'm
possible, and the State be bankrupt
By such process, Louisiana will soon
become financially as bad as Egypt.
Louisiana owes this condition of affairs
to her rulers, and to the politicians and
rings who control them-after the for
mer become intrenched in power, the
welfare of the people seems to be of
small consideration.
The only remedy is change of rul-
ers not by others Of the same kind,
but by men who will follow the exam
pie of President Cleveland, and not be
the agents and tools OF the railroad
ring, the Penitentiary ring, the Lottery
ring, and every other ring that have a
corrupt job to be clothed with the forms
IF law.