The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1886-05-22
SELECTION OF POLICE JURORS.

Assembly has decided, by the jug-handlee
vote Of g. to Z, to favor bill giving thu
Governor power to appoint the Police IN.
ries of the various parishes of the State fol
| q period Of four years from the expiration
Of their current terms Of service, which ex-
pire in 1883. Seven members-pro
among whom was Gen. E. 7. Lewis of St.
Landry-left the caucus and will presum-
ably not DO bound by its action, because
the people Of their parishes favor the Sc
lection of Police Jurors by the popular
vote. Senator Foster Of st. Mary and
Representative Brent of Ascension were
both strong supporters of the appointiye
system, and it is said that one of the COL
ored Representatives also spoke in its ia
vor, admitting that the parishes in which
the voters of his race preponderate- would
be subjected to the danger of having in
competent Police Juries should their selec-
ton be relegated to the people. There is
unfortunately much truth in the argument,
and the apprehension which this colored
man was candid enough to confess no
doubt figured more largely than any other
consideration in determining the attitude
of majority Of the Democratic members
of the General Assembly upon the question
under discussion.
The opposition to the prevailing system
is not dne SO much to the mere fact that
the Governor is vested with the power of
appointing Police Jurors, as to the arbitra-
~ and unjust manner in which he has
chosen to exercise that power. A case in
point was recently cited by the Jeannerette
Item, as follows:
A petition was sent from this place to Gov
McEnery. on March Z, signed by about one hun
dred OF our best citizens snd largest tax payers
q tins ward. requesting the appointment of
Mr. Bernard Milmo as Police Juror for this
enterprlsing business men in this community,
and was the choice Of large majority. In
stead ct the Governor appointing him. he APP
pointed Mr.. A. Monot. We have nothing to
the position nor do we make any fight against
HIM, for he is one Of our best citizens, but we
do object to clique of two or three political
schemers debating to intelligent people who
they should have to serve them as public ser
wants. Mr.. Monot signed the petition favoring
the appointment of Mr.. Milmo. This ring is
composed ct q few politicians aspiring for
Office and It they thought they could gain few
votes there is no telling what they would not do
to advance their interests. We wish to inform
this ring that there are Intelligent people
enough IN this ward to know what is for their
pest interest. and we are perfectly capable of
taking care of ourselves,
Strikingly identical with the action of
the Governor in this instance was his re-
cent appointment of Police Juror for AS
cension parish to fill vacancy caused by
the removal of the former member beyond
the limits Of the fourth ward. Fully nine
tenths of the tax paying residents of the
ward, without distinction of race or politics,
petltioned for the appointment of one of
its Oldest citizens-a white man and a
Democrat-but upon the counter recon-
mendation of very small coterie Of indi-
viduals the wishes of the people most near
ly interested in the matter were contempt
uously ignored and commission issued
to the minority candidate. who, like Mr.. |
Monot of Iberia, had previously recon-
mended the nomination of his competitor
for the office.
1t Governor McEnery and his cdvisers !
would make some show of consulting or |
respecting the popular will in selecting ap-
this system in vogue - which is
supported from reasons of expediency by
many who are opposed to its principle -
would be much less obnoxious.