The Opelousas courier., 1888-09-01
Proceedings Of tEae Police Jury.
OPELoUsAs, August 18th, 1888.

meeting was dispensed with.
On motion of Mr.. Stage, recess was taken
for half an hour, to allow the committee to
prepare their report ON examination of books.
On r%osuming, the committee, through their
chairman Mr.. Stage reported g follows
To the Honorable PresidenJN md members
of the Police Jury of the parish of st. Landry:
The undersigned, your committee appointed
to examine the books of the ex-Treasurer and
Clerk, ascertain what is the Indebtedness of
the parish up to the meeting of the present
Jury, Cd July 1888, and the amount Of money
turned over to the present Treasurer, respect
fully report:
That they have examined the books afore-
said with care and diligence, and find them
correct and precise IN their letter and cyphers,
showing that tho total debts and liabilities OF
the parish to I'd July, 1888, is forty-eight
thousand one hundred and eighty-nine GilOO
dollars, $4olS9.06
That the ex-Treasurer paid in ex-
cess of the money received by him $50
Consequently that no money was turned
over to the present Treasurer.
R~EcApITULATIoN
Amt. due and past due including
$S297. 80 outstanding witness certiti-
Gates and including current expenses
Of this year up to I'd July, as credited
acc'ts. on parish books, also the two
and eeonstables
Amt. due Chas. ID. Stewart ont of
funds of 1888 and 1889 s-----..----- 10000
Contract with s. A. Oliver Bro. to
build bridge at Washington, La, pay
able in five equal annual instruments
when completed according toreon-
tract. Interest to be paih by Wash
ington. Bridge not built yet.....---- 10000
Second paymenton Courthouse due
LIST Jan, 1883, ...-...---.-.$6i25.oO
Balance due on cash paym't.
of $4,000, which was to have
been made by the town OF
Opelousas on completion of
Courthouse .......- 2f30.I0
Interest due by parish on bal {
ance of cash payment up 10
date. 3l7.2 9l72.6S
Amt. due j. q. Chachere for money
disbu rsed in excess of amt. received 100
To which must necessarily be added the
current expenses of the parish from I'd July,
1883 to Jan. /, '89, and in which will figure the
criminal expenses of one term of the District
Court. TO the credit of all OF which stands
the taxes, licenses, etc, due and collectlhie
for this year, which will probably realize the
sum of $4,000. 90, and when the town of Opel
ousas or sureties pay the balance due upon
the cash installment of the pricA of Court
house, the amount so paid will then operate
as O credit. 1t is thus demonstrated that the
revenues of the parish to be collected during
the present year are not sufficient to pay the
aforemeutioned Indebtedness and that on the
LIST day of JaU,, SO there will be "a resultant
debt staring us i'll the face, not a dollar Ia the
treasury-cOmpelled to wait upon the coilec-
ton of the taxes and licenses of the year ~
to meet current and past due Indebtedness.
In other words-will be forced to begin the
new year 80, in debt and on trust.
The financial operation of the parish, has
for Il long time past, been conducted on a
cre,iit basis the revenues OF each year have
been anticipated, appropriated and expended
in advance of their collection, thereby neces-
stating the making of contracts for all the
needs of the parish at credit prices, which en-
tailed an expense far in excess of what the
same contracts would have cost on a cash Sasis.
The difference between the two systems,
cash and credit, in a few years amount to an
aggregate equal to the present parish debt.
SO that the presenC debt may be directly
traceable and due 30 this blind system of
credit on the ~futureps
1t may not be amiss to remark, that a very
large portion of the present Indebtedness has
been forced on the parish for and in the trial
of criminal cases in tho District court; espe-
cially IN the matter of witness fees, and we
would respectfully suggest that your Hon.
Body earnestly request the District judge and
District attorney to use in the future every
means in their power to reduce said criminal
expenses in the parish.
What is the remedy and in what manner
Ctu tffG paFfSn Vi 6b. LduuEy DG bCSb hlA Sooh
est e~xtricated from its present financial en-
barrassnent? The problem is one of morals
and finance and under both heads, every man
must find it a matter Of personal interest. 1t
is difficult to resolve, but sleuld be solved.
On motion of Mr.. Durio the report was ac-
.cepted.
On motion of Mr.. p Robin resolved-That
whereas the committee appointed to examine
the books of the ex-treasurer and clerk have
reported that they find the same correct. Be
it therefore resolved that we tender our
thanks to the members and officers of the for
mer Police Jury for the able and efficient man
ner in which they administered the affairs of
the parish.
On motion of Mr.. BOSNIAN, Resolved, that
a committee of three be appointed to ascer-
tain if the change of road from Vile Plate TO
Washington, according to petition of A r.
FOntenot, the change commencing ut the end
of j. Malbrough's lane nearest Vile Plate and
running west between lands of A.. Il. FOnte-
not, Hyp. Spencer and Aurelie Vidrine, as far
as corner of A. X. Fontenotis lands, thence
south between lands of A. r.. Fontenot and
Samuel Haas to end q lane known as Eos
ter's lane would prove satisfactory to the
inhabitants of that section and the public in
general. The following committed was ap-
pointed: L. Reed, Damon Devilh and Y. vi
drine.
On motion of Mr.. Haas, L. j. Dossman was
added to the committee.
The committee appointed to sell the COP
tract to repair the bridge at bayou Petite
Passe, reported, that the contract was sold
according to law to Mr.. D.. w. Wilson, the
lowest bidder for the sum of one hundred and
ninety dollars f$190.001, that the repairs were
made according to contract and accepted by
them. When on motion the report was ac-
cepted and the committee was discharged.
On motion of Mr.. observation-disclosures Mr.. C.
SatterIy has applied to be appointed Benefi-
ciary Cadet from St. Landry parish, be it re-
solved, that, although VIC regret to be forced
to refuse the said appointment, we are forced
to dc SO by reason of the embarrassed eondi
ton of the parish.
On motion of Mr.. Milburn, Messrs. Simeon
Ardoin, Ed. j. Conwa9 and j. e. Bacon were
appointed q committee to examine. and aseer-
tain the cosb to repair bridge over bayou Gro
codile on the public road leading from Vile
Plate to Whiteville, as prayed for in petition
aud report at next meeting.
The following road 0verseers were appoint
ed Leon Pitre in place of james McCiennan
on public road from Dejean's bridge to Nal
let bridge and to John Boudrean's.
Pierre Cormier-from Child's plantation to
Theodule F. Richards.
Edgar Savoie-from Dick Smiths place to
R. r.. crossing.
CASTOR Guiilaumin in place OFF. W. Seeley,
from Frilot1s bridge to j. b. Ardoin's.
On motion of L. j.. BOSNIAN the Police Jury
adjourned until Monday the 8th OF October,
1893, at $50 o'clock a. m.
Attest o e. M. B0AGNI,
J.J. BARRY, Clerk. President.