The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1888-03-31
'Fo the People Of the 1stSa Sena"
tOrial District.

am candidate for the State Senate and
solicit your support. My expe
rience in public affairs has afforded noe oppor-
tunities of seeing where many needed chan.
ges should be made in our School, Crinshal
and Road Laws. We need legislation in nnl
Public Road system-the present method r ct
working men on the public highway is insni
ficient and unjust. Under it We can never ex-
pect good roads. w
lust enough funds to make us depend upolfst,
and not enough to do goods Let US have good
schools and good school-h0uses, with comfort
able fixtures, aud leave our children an edu
cation if we leave them nothing else. A cblld
cannot study in O cold, comfortless house
usually perehed upon q bench his feet OF the
floor, and no support for his back. Keep "a
man in this position, under restraint, tor ak
hours a day for one week, and he would be a
fit subject for the Insane Asylum, Schools
are monotonous to ehildrenr-at best let US
make them more attractive and comfortable
Our Criminal Laws need many changes. In
MANY instances they are burdensome, troh-
blesomelsn costly. My experience as Sher-
if for tile last n years has acquainted me
9th many defects. Our Jury system is oaa
Il may say dangerous to the public gooa;,
Jurors should be drawn with more care ana
form, and directly under the SUPERVISION o.
the district Judge. The present mode OF sc,
lectipg Jurors " de talbus" is improper ana
Too much money is necessarily wasted in
the trial of petty criminal cases. man Is
arrested for carrying two.dOiiar pisloi; or
under Act 81 of 1886 for cnrsing in the public
aoad. He is placed under bond to appear be-
fore the District Court witnesses are sum
moned before the Grand Jury, then before the
District Court if a true bill is found-some
times five or six by the State and ten or htfeeii
by the defense. The prisoner wants all the
friends he possibly can get at his trial. Ihey
must be cited, for no Limitation is placed by
law upon the number of Witnesses-and each
witness must be paid. The result in most
cases ia fine of $5 or $40 on the prisoner aud
costs aggregating from $50 to $500 on the par
ish, Whu is the sufferer! Who is punished
the most seyerely--the prisoner, the witness
or the taxpayers
l shall do all in my power to have the Gen
eral Assembly pass the necessary laws FOL
amending the Constitution of ehis State SO as
to give Magistrates final jurisdiction owe
pettv cases. Let them have to limited ex
tent the power to fine land imprisoniu defaui
of payment of the fine and Magistrates ant
Constable's feesl, the fine to go to each lesa
School District. The Office of Magistrate vii
increase in dignity and character and his tee
will come ont of the offender.
Let him be the judge in the case, 10 place
tg-xs Inrv of twelve men who are not acquait
ed with the characters of the witnesses test
flying, and costing the people eighteen dollar
per day for their services.
This change will improve the condition q
| your Parish Treasury and will build schoo
house in every district before two years, o
| will build up and maintain our public high
| ways for our use and comfort,
In announcing myself as candidate Tor Ii
Senate, maintain 5that 6the above TefOrm'
and others, in our fews are necessary.
| Should the peopli aof this District henor a m
with their supportaI shall labor zealously I"
their welfare, and hope t05haye their approbi
tion for the work may accomplish.
Very respectfully. ) C. G. DUSON