St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1891-09-19
Mr.. p. Donahy and the Tax Sales.
Mr.. Patrick D0naly, of Bayou Chico
writes to the st. Landry Clarion thus:

NIL otllCh VI DuIOu CnlCD
) writes to the St. Landry Clarion thus:
will you allow me space in your paper t
reply to an article in the st. Landry DEMOCRA
OF Aug. 90. from Beaver Creek, signed Scrap
and addressed to the Sheriff of st. Landry, stat
ing that the citizens of the sixth ward wou!t
like to know why he charges one and two dol
lars for advertising tax sales when we belcv,
it can be done for less. Now, Mr.. Editor, we
any such thing for it can not be proved tina
it has erer been done Gtalics ours), and we, the
citizens OF the sixth ward, pay our taxes, and
tax sales; and II it did concern us, we have eX
plicit confidence in the honesty aud integrity OF
Sheriff Fontenot to render an account of all the
money that will pass through his hands, when
the proper time COMES" &c.
And Mr.. Donahy is a shining light in
the Farmers Union
Let lis dlssect this sentence. Scrap"
says the citizens of the sixth ward would
like to know why the Sheriff charges one
and two dollars for advertising tax sales
when they believe it can be done for
less. Mr.. Donahy replies that they do
not believe it cnn be done for less.
Why? Because it cannot be proved that
it has ever been done. Ergo, that which
has never been done cannot be done.
This is logic with a vengeance.
s.s.He says further: We pay our taxes,
and it does not concern as what it costs
immense. 1t is simply telling the peo-
pie that although they pay for adyertis-
iug their property, it does not concern
them what it costs. And, says he, il it
did concern them, they have confidence
in the honesty and integrity of Sheriff
F0ntenot to render an account of all the
money he may handle, derived from
such charges. Mr.. D. is certainly tritling
with the main question, for who has ever
expressed doubt that Mr.. +. will ac-
count for it? But when he puts it in
his own pocket for his own benefit, what
account does he owe to any onep Ger
tainly, he will account to the State for
the taxes, but the State has no claim to
any part of the cost for advertising.
Mr.. D. certainly does know that fact.
about it, that the one and two dollars
charged for advertising tax sales go to
the Clarion exclusively. Does Mr..
Donaliy mean to tell the people that
Mr.. Fontenot will account to them or to
the State authorities for money that
does not belong to the Stateq IT he
does, he would DO well to learn some
thing before he undertakes to teach.
"When the proper time comes" saws
be. Now, will be be kind enough to in
form the people of the sixth ward, when
the time will come for Mr.. Fontenot to
account to them, for what he does with |
money belonging to himself and his as !
sociates? AS we'll might Mr.. d. say
the people of bis ward will have the |
right at some time to call him to ac-
count for what use he makes of his pri-
vate means. We doubt not be will ac-
count for every dollar he should account
for, but we know be owes none to any
one but the Clarion for the money char
ged for advertising.
1t MIR. ID. knows anything of what is
going on around him, he knows that the
Courier and the DEMOCRAT did offer to
advertise the tax sales at 5 and 10 cents,
1t is no answer for him to say he don't
believe it can be done, and assign as
teason that it never was done at that
price. That proves nothing, beyond
rhe fact that lie does not know what he
is scribbling about, or that he does
not care what he says. We offered
to do it at that price, and still stand
prepared to do it for cne-twentieth of
what Sheriff F0ntenot is collecting from
the people for adyertis stag tax sales.
knowing it, that the Clarion and not the
State aud parish, gets all the money
paid for advertising tax sales. And he
knows, too, that it forms no part of the
axes demanded by the parish or State
He knows, too, that the charge made by
he Clarion for advertising, goes to the
Clarion. knowing these facts, how
lOes it become him as prominent
Farmers Union man, to tell them that
when they are forced to pay that paper
dollar for advertising which the Cou- {
ier and DEMOCRAT would do for five i
'ents, and two dollars for what they {
would do for ten cents-when he knows t
hat these charges form no part of the {
axes-we say how can he face the peo- 6
lie of the sixth ward and have the ef- I
rontery to tell them they are not con- '
erned in it? Pray, who is concerned, i
those who pay it are not7 Will Mr.. t
}. tell us? Will he tell us and the peo- c
lie Of the siyth ward, when and why 4
he Sheriff will, account to the proper &
authorities for money which he gives e
0 his paper, the Clarion? |
Instead of iEstructing the farmers, Il
7hose fugleman we are told be is, he is f
llrowing dust in their eyes, binding c
hem to the painest facts, and telling
hem they ere not concerned. Not con-
erned when they are required to pay .
D the Clarion, for advertising, twenty -
mes more than is at all necessary Are y
he people of the sixth ward, and Of all !,
he other wards OF the parish not con- y
ut Sheriff Fontenot will render an ac- y
Dunt when the time comes. Will Mr. .
'onahy tell the people when that will :.
6 When he will have to account for Is J.,
le dollar and two dollars that he COL l., l.,
cts of them for the exclusive benefit y
nd compensation of the Clarion u u
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