The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1894-01-20
Mr.. Pickett and State Bonds.

Within q few days past, COM
menting on the decision by the SUI
preme court in the case of the State
board of liquidation VS.. the State
treasurer, the Baton Rouge Advo-
cate printed the following:
"The decision of the supreme court in
the case Of the board OF liquidation vs.. the
state treasurer was rendered on yesterday
and will be hailed with delight all over
the State. Justice Watkins was the or
gan OF the court, and his opinion was
complete vindication of the position as
sumed by the governor aud board Of IL
quotation, and o wholesome rebuke to the
obstructive tactics of Treasurer Pickett
and his advisers. Unless further obstruct-
tive measures are restorted to the State
will immediately ntilize the large surplus
now in the hands of fiscal agent to the
credit of the interest tax fund in paying
of and retiring State bonds and thus re-
ducing the debt of the State instead of
squandering it, as proposed by Mr.. Pick
EFT, IN payment of illegal warrants issued
in defiance OF law and the State consti-
tttlon, and now held by money sharks
who acquired them for song and with
full! knowledge of the fact of their worth
lessness. This decision is eminently in
the interest Of the people of the entire
State, as the retiring Of 100000 Of State
bonds will extinguish interest to the
amount Of $4,000 annually"
A representative of the Picayune
called on Treasurer Pickett and re-
quested his view of the decision,
calling at the same time his atten-
ton to the article quoted 1t elicit
ed expressions as follows:
Eyes I read the article, and it was in
line With articles which have appeared
from time to time IN it's attempt to make
me appear odious in the eyes of the peo-
pie OF the State. From the time it be-
came the official organ Of Governor Fos-
ter's administration its guns have been
leveled upon me for some mate purpose.
suppose we'll known to the stockholders
of that paper. II am correctly inform
ed, majority Of them have about the
same interest now that they had when
that paper was battling SO nobIy for the |
lottery cause.
believe that it has been the fixed pur-
pose of the Advocate and It's indorsers to |
make the climate of Baton Rouge 30
warm for north Louisiana man that / |
would be compelled to retire from my |
officials position and desert the trust the |
people have placed upon me. But, sir. I |
am here to stay, until May, 1896, and / |
am gratified to know that my official acts |
have been Endorsed by the people.
1 have neither inclination nor time to |
enter newspaper controversy. So far |
IA the Advocate is concerned, where IL |
alludes to me as wanting to equander |
It" (the peoples money! "in paying ille-
gal warrants issued in difiance of law"
is absolutely 1dse. No official act or word |
Of mine can Warrant any such conclusion.
The words fraudulent and illegal war
rants" are significant, when applied to the
states floating debt, and mean simply |
repudiation. Do you suppose Governor
Fosters administration would indorse
this doctrine, and declare the floating
debt as fraudulent and illegal? Never.
Such facts as these, if they are facts, would /
ruin the States credit and drive every
dollar of foreign capital from Louisiana.
My duties as State treasurer are out
lined by the legislature, and such laws
that are enacted by them will be obeyed
10 the letter. am not hampered in my
action by political obligations. owe no
allegiance to any party cliques or rings.
but am obligated only to the people. who.
ire, or should be, the motive power OF the
government. I shall conduct the treas
lry department in continuity with my in.
depreciation of the law regardless Of the
criticisms or wishes of any newspaper.
My Interpretation of the law bearing up-
% this matter is in accord with that
placed upon it by the administrations of
Governor Wilt, McEnery and Nichols,
md the policy rs carried out by them, not
,nly by them, but by the present admin
stration, until changed at meeting of
he boad Of liquidation in August last.
IT the legislature has enacted laws in
conflict with the debt settlement of 1874.
IS the supreme court seems to have held
thu decree not having been published |,
t is no fault Of mine, and would be in
exceeding bad taste for me or other OIL
'ials to question or refuse to obey an act
Il the Legislature because it did not meetI
With my individual approval. 1t is the
luty of an official to obey the law as he
inds it unless changed by decree of court.
I, in following this policy, am to be
onsidered an obstructionist in the exe-
ution of the law, well may it be said
hat Wilt, McEnery, Nichols and even
Governor Foster, until recently, were
n
We reproduce Mr.. Pickett's de-
ense of his obstruction tactics SO
hat our readers may have his side
+ the CASE 1t is interesting to /,
lote, however, that both Cows.
Nichols and McEnery are now on
he bench of the supreme court
7hich has sustained the board of
liquidation, and Mr.. Pickett's bald (
ssertion that their administrations | !
'ere the pioneers to set q prece-
ent for him to follow, has but
pahlo cnrvOrt uof r., cox <~1xf,., rvbk !