The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-03-24
ALEXANDRIA AND THE PARISH
TAX,
EDITOR DEMOCRAT

| IS Instructed W auNtttiSc as IOtaI
measure, that the Legislature at its
next session will he applied to to ex-
empt the Corporation of Alexandra
from the payment of Parish taxes. l
have heen asked TO indicate what my
official action as Representative of Ra-
pides in the Legislative will be and /
deem it but right and proper that |
should express my opinion on the sub
| ject openly and publicly.
This question is separate and dis
tinct from that of the five mill railroad
tax and my official action upon it shall
in no way be Influenced by my pri-
vate opinion as to the latter. / hope
and believe that I have sense and dis
cretion enough to know and discharge
the duties of my official position, where
my capacity is representative entirely,
without any other purposes or desire
than to do my duty faithfully and we'll:
| know that l have too much respect
for the expressed will of the people to
attempt to defeat the full and rightful
operations of their will by any cap
tons objection or bigoted pride of ir.-
dividual opinion.
The two questions OF the ler wing of
the one tax and the release from the
other being urged at tie same time,
have said that it might be used as an
argument agains:. the exemption fiom
Parish taxation, that the willingness
t" fmposc the other, did not show that
the present rate was so oppressive as
! 20 demand relief l have said also
that if the five mills are to he levied,
because of the release from the ten
mills, then that it might he said that
it was in effect the Parish and not the
Town, which gives the five mills to
the railroad. That snch arguments
mag he used can not be denied. l do
not admit their force nor do I propose
to he governed by them. 1t would
seem to be sufficient answer to the
first to say that the Town would still
be five mills better off and that the
change Of the destination of the other
five mills was sought in what was be
lieved to be the reciprocal interest of
both the Parish and Town. This
would still leave as an open question,
the expediencv of making a donation
of the five mills to the railroad or Of
demanding an adequate considera-
ton in return, which is practically the
only point of difference between the
advocates of the tax and myself in
my private capacity as tax payer.
However that question of local
policy may be finally determined,
shall not permit it in any way
to control or even Influence my Official
action; and as an individual tax payer,
while / have demanded and still stand
up for the right of free expression of
individual opinion without regard to
being in the majority or the minority,
when the question is finally decided l
shall willingly bow to and acquiesce
in the will of the majority whether it
be for or against my own opinions.
! hope that l have expressed myself
on this point with snch clearness that
there remains no room for misapprehen-
sion as to my position.
1t would doubtless he appropriate to
reply to the second objection mention
ed above, that even if it were admitted
that it would be the Parish and not
the Town giving the five mills to the
railroads.&c. the Parish ought to give
it or enable the Town to give it. The
Town and Parish are to large extent
mutually dependent, the one on the
other for material benefits. There is
a community of interests which cannot
he discovered. In my opinion the Pa
IRISH ought to be willing to the release
of the property of the Town from Pa
IRISH taxation, without regard to the
other question. ! can do no more now
than indicate, and cannot stop to elab-
crate, the arguments upon which my
opinion is based. / may possibly do
so hefeafter.
| must say here, however, that while
I live in the Town and while my pri-
vate interest IS all with the Town side
Of the question, as one of tue Repre-
sentatives of the Parish | shall act on
ly upon the will of all my constituents
as expressed either by themselves d.
rectly or through their agents, the po-
lice Jury. Here again ! cannot per-
nit my private opinion or private in
terest to influence or control my official
action. ] have no doubt Int that the
many cogent reasons which can be
urged with the Police Jury will induce
them to join the Town Council in the
request to the Legislature for the re-
lief sought. They meet in April be.
fore the meeting of the Legislature,
and both as matter of right and Of
expediency I suggest that the matter
be brought officially before them. As
they represent the interests of the
whole Parish it is but right to consult
! them. If they agree there will be NJ
difficulty in the way of getting the bill
through the Legislature. If they op
pose it, there wonld be great difficulty
beyond doubt. fl esponse the Towr
cause because | live here and DR.
Meeker for a similar reason takes side,