The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1886-05-15
The Governors Message.

may II.
Gov. McEnery's IS message to the Legis
lature is long, but very interesting and
filled with pregnant suggestions.
His introduction ought to be read to
avery one Of the many GROWERS Louisi-
ana possesses There is no cause for
this growing, he insists, for the mate
rial interests of the State have advanc-
ed during an era Of unprecedented and
universal depression. We have every
reason to be thankful for the last two
years. The health of the State has been
good, the leyees have been in better
condition than for . quarter of centu-
ry, and there have been in consequence
no inundations; there has been au
awakening i'll educational matters and,
an Improvement in our public school
system; equalization of assessments has
worked great benefit to the taxpayers
and the financial condition of the State
and it's credit have improved. There
has been some little depression here, as
everywhere else in the world, but with
good health, good crops, no overflow,
improved credit and immigration, Lou
isiana has less cause for complaint than
almost any State in the Union. The
assessed value of its property has in
creased from $l77 $685. ,l59 in 1880 to
$212,925, $50 in 1885, an improvement
of $35, ,629, 100, or over 90 per cent--as
great an increase as shown by any cor
responding State.
The Governor points out that slight
increase of revenue is needed to meet
all the expenses and obligations of the
State. He thinks that not enough is
collected from licenses, and declares
that better graded license system,
which will bring the receipts from this
source up to 100000 year, will be
ample for all necessary expenses.
Iu respect to assessments and the col
lection of taxes, he thinks there has
been great improvement since his last
message, and that assessments have
been much more uniform in valuation.
Two years ago public sentiment showed
itself opposed to the Board of Equaliza
ton provided for In the State Constitu-
ton, but this sentiment of opposition
has disappeared since then and the
necessity of u board of this kind is now
universally recognized.
is too much on real estate in farms and
city property, and personal property
does not have its full share Of the bur
dcils af government Real estate pays
InaI7 han three tourtts of the taxes in
Louisiana. The tendency everywhere
is to relit rs it from this excessive bur-
den and to place the taxes on corporate
wealth and occupations, and particular
ly on capital, which is the most produc-
tive form of wealth.
The Governor does not approve OF the
suggestion made in number of papers
to increase our tax rate. He thinks the
present constitutional limitation wise
and prudent one. With the revenue
law siinplified and II better collection OF
licenses aud better assessment of per-
sonal property the State will be afford
ed all the revenues needed
He recommends, also, that the laws
in regard to the sale of property for
taxes be simpiified and the costs les
sened.
Since the last meeting of the Legisla
ture, ffty-seven miles of new leyee have
been built by tho State and l6 miles OF
old ievees raised, ii total of 2,545,Sle
cubic yards, at a cost of 1904 ,405. SO.
The Act No. IS OF 1884, which was SO
severely criticised by a portion of the
press, is shown by the Governor. to have
reduced the cost OF levee building from
"a cents pei cubic yard to 20 6 cents;
and as anet result, the levees are higher,
stronger aud in better condition than
for quarter of century.
The Governor is pleased to find the
public schools in better condition and a
marked increase of interest in educa-
tional matters going on throughout the
State.
He finds ili the public institutions in
splendid condition Fhe State Uuiver-
sity was enriched by the two Exposi-
tions here in gifts from various State:
and countries, of museum worth $780,.
600. Some improvements are needed il
the Charity Hospital at Shreveport an6
the Insane Asylum at Clinton. The lat
ter contains already 600 inmates.
Gov. McEnery recommends the selec
ton of IA railroad commission, having
the same supervisory control over rail
roads as similar commissions in thu
other States. The great increase il
railroad mileage in the State and th'
Injustice of which the roads are some
times guilty req qlire this.
The message winds up with the yer,
wise advice to the Legislature not to ex
ceed the estimated annual revenue.
IF it will bnt hearken to the Cover
nor's advice in this and other matters
the people will have good cause to up
pland it, and the next two years of Lon
isiana's history will be even more pro
gressive and prosperous than the las
tive.
Saved Ills Life.