St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1891-08-29
We Have no Right to Reject It.

Landry is whether they will accept O
reject the lottery franchise of twelve
hundred and fifty thousand dollars {
year beginning in 1895 and to continue
until 1920. 1t is equivalent to six mill:
tax on 21S millions, or about as mnci
as the total assessment of 1883. Car
they afford to reject it? Is there any
valid reason why they should
Coming nearer home, can they afford
to reject St. Landry's interest in the
$350,000 which the lottery amendment
will secure to the schools OF the State,
payable quarterly in advance? 1t is to
be appOrtiOned among the parishes ac-
cording to the number OF children be-
tween the ages OF 6 and IS years, as the
current school fund is. They may num-
ber 100000. Those of this parish num-
bered 10529 in 1888. In 1889 the assessor
returned 5517 white and 1902 colored
children, total OF 1909. A later emu
meration is 14,5OS. In 1895 the same
ratio of increase would make the chill
dren of St. Landry not less than 10000
and their share of the lottery school
fund will be $17,500.
| The school receipts for 1889 were,
from the current school fund S4944, poll
tax S,4250, interest on 10th sections 1914,
donations S447, total $10,5S5.
Un 1899 st. Landry paid Il tax of $20,
093 of which $4,000 went to the current
school fund.)
There were 1865 white and 69l colored
children, total 1S47, enrolled and taught
! in 40 white and IL coIored schools, the
average Attendance being 1923. These
teachers were paid $50 a month and
! their payroll amounted to $11 200. In
1888 the schools were taught six months.
There were 333 pupils in private schools
leaving 10,429 who did not attend school
| at all, or fve-sixths of the euucabie
children of the parish.
Again we ask, can the voters of St.
| Landry reject the $4,000 which their
| children may have from tho lottery
school fund.- With that help we might
have so more schools, pay the teachers
| better wages, build new school-liOuses
and do much to dispel the deplorable
ignorance that prevails among thous-
| ands OF children. We could make pub
| lie education something like what it
ought to be, although $4,000 for $780,
600 children will be a limited allowance
for education.
We may also get for schools a large
part ($15O,00O) of $3.50, 900 which the Lot
terry will pay to the general fund. St.
Landry's share of this would be $500.
1t will rest with the General Assembly
to employ the increased general fund
according to the best interests of the
State and none more important than
public education Can engage the Jealous
care of patriotic legislators. Ii they
could help the schools OF the State to
the extent of million and half each
year aud put fair primary education
in the reach of every boy and girl in the
State it would be money well spent. 1t
benefit and more than compensated by
the actual increase in taxable values.
immigration would no longer pass by
our prolific lands. Immigrants from
the South and West want good schools
as we'll as good farms. A school in a
comfortable and cOmmodlcus house,
taught months n the year by compe-
tent and we'll paid teacher will increase
the cash value of all the farms in the
vicinity.
The lottery franchise is no more than
just and proper license ON Il large busl-
ness. Other kinds of business are made
to contribute to the States revenues and
there is no reason why the lottery busi-
ness should be exempt. AS long as
the State needs money so much and in
and federal taxes are an irksome load,
bearing upon everybody, we have no
right to reject the revenue which the
lottery amendment is to bring.
At the regular annual meeting Of the
Chachere family, held on Tuesday at
the residence of Mr.. j. O. Chachere,
uear Opelousas, the following officers
of the Chacher6 Family Association
were elected, viz: Vauchere Boutte,
president JOS. D. Bernard, first vice
president A. B. Chachere, second vice
president Robt. Chachele, treasurer;
Jules Chachele, secretary.
At Z o'clock on that morning, accord
ing to long established custom, a mass
was said at the Catholic church here,
after which large number of the fam
lily and its connections repaired to the
shady grove near MIR. j. 0. Chachere's
residence, where succulent breakfast
of barbecued beef was partaken of,
moistened with iced milk. Besides the
gentlemen named above Except Mr..
Bernard), many others and large num-
Der of ladies and children were present,
and spent a few hours together very
pleasantly, making the occasion one
long to be rememb bered by all. In the
gathering, among those residing out of
town, we're DR.. and Mrs. Theogene Cha
chere, and Miss Lucy Moore, Of Plague
B. E. Clark and B. A.. Boutte, of Aca-
dia Mrs. T. P. Bowden and Miss Win
ME Deputy, Of Rayne Joseph Chacher6
and family, Eddy Beauchamp, and JOS.
Bacon, Jr., of Bellevue; Mrs. Jos. d.
Bernard and daughter, of Rayne; Robt.,
Joe and Eddy Milstead, and others, be-
sides many from Opelousas.
The guileless farmers and the antilottery
tioin boxra hao,, haxy of