The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1886-10-23
Communlcated.l
TO THE PUBMIHC.
LAKE DuAp1rs. Oct. 15. 1856


Whereas, the present Town Council
of Lake Charles, at their regular meet
ling, October 4th, 1886, saw fit, il
their proceedings to state and give
publicity thereto, that the proceedings
of the meeting of the Council held on
the 18th of june, 1886, was illegal,
and expunged from the minute boob
of the meeting Of june ~, 1886.
| We, the undersigned, avail ourselves
of this method Of making this formal
protest against such high handed pro-
ceediugs, and deny most emphatically
that any of the sets of the Council of
1886 were illegal, or in any way irreg-
alar, and that this is only an attempt
to cast improper reflection upon the
doing OF the old Council, and thus
cover up OF divert public attention
from their own questionable acts.
The meeting held June 18th, 1886,
by the old Board was the most import
ant one during their term Of office, in
ssmuch as at that meeting it was nee
essary that settlements were to be
made, and were made as to all indebt-
edness of the town created during
their term; also, with the Treasurer
and Tax Collector, and in all respects
clear up al matters in n satisfactory
manner to the people who had so
kindly entrusted us with the guardian
ship of their interests; and with this
spirit alone, were they actuated in
holding that meeting.
We further say, that the Treasurer
and Tax Collector as good, dutlful and
intelligent citizens and public officers
made satisfactory settlements and a
commendable showing of their stew
ardship, at that meeting Of the old
Council, and that in their good sense
knew well of the legal status of the
Council they were dealing with. Any
other inference is a reflection upon
their well known good sense.
The regular meeting day of the old
Board was the 18th of June, 1886, but
no meeting was held on that day, and
the Mayor called a meeting in the
legal way on June --th, but the Mayor
saw fit not 10 be present, and the
Council adjourned until June 18th,
1886, of which the Mayor was duly
notified, but he refused to attend with
out giving any reason therefor. Hence,
the Council chose a mayor, pro tenn,
and proceeded to business and, to-
gether with other important matters,
received the Treasurer's report, filed
same, and burned warrants amounting
to 50, Hill, and leaving d consider
able balance in the hands Of the Treas
urer to pay all accounts approved by
us, and have since been warranted for
by the Mayor.
These are the proceedings which
seemed to set upon the minds of the
new Council, and to be the bette noir
which they were eager to place out of
sight. But it was not long before they
discovered their error, and to make
settlement with the Treasurer, have
seen fit to, in an indirect manner, give
proof Of the legality Of the old Board
proceedings by giving an acquittance
to him upon the receipt of the old
Board. Consequently they have made
it plain that their expunging (l) reso-
luton was nothing more than silly
attempt on the part of the Mayor and
some of the new Council (becanse We
know that some of the new members
did not vote to expunge) TO show their
animus and Indifference TO the public
interest, to say nothing Of their respect
for the old Board.
If our Mayor can create hiatus in
the government of our town, at his
pleasure, by refusing attendance at the
meetings of the Board, because of his
personal dislike of some of the mem
bers, it is important that it be known
and some action taken as early as pos
sible 10 avoid snch q calamity. Our
town is too large, and our interests too
much at stake, to permit them to hang
upon the frivolities of one man alone
A. RIGMAIDEE,
Taos. HANSEN,
a. l.. REID,
L. G. ToUcHY.