The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1895-03-30
TO P4RZS.H TAXA
T,/OW

Collector, against Numa Shayot, for
ried on by the latter in what is
known as the McComb's Addition
of the town of Lafayette. AS this
case involves questions of great i'm
portance to the parish as we'll as to
the town we will give its history:
In the year 1884 the Town Coun-
Gil called an election at which was
submitted certain amendments to
the charter of the town. Among
the number was one taking in its
corporate limits all the adj AGENT
territory known as the Mills, Nc
Comb and Mouton Additions.
These amendments were adopted
by the popular vote, and were SO
declared by the proclamation OF the
mayor.
Some time later, during 1884,
the question was raised between the
town and parish as to whom licenses
due by persons doing business in
the additions were to he paid. The
Police Jury appointed committee
to confer with like committee
from the Town Council. This
committee reported to the Police
Jury that the licenses were due to
the corporation and the report was
adopted by that body.
In 1889 the Police Jury appointed
by Gov. Nichols after the election
of 1888 passed resolution in its
license ordinance instructing the
. Sheriff to collect licenses from all
: persons engaged in business in the
: additions. The sheriff made de-
t mand but all refused to pay. Again
' in 1901, 1892 and 1898, the Police
= Jury gave the same instructions to
5 the sheriff, and again upon demand
s they refused to pay the licenses.
: The Police Jury then Instituted the
4 suit against Numa Schayot for the
license of 1898. The defendant
r commended that as the old town of
r Vermilionville was exempt from
4 parish taxation by its charter, the
e new territory annexed in 1884 was
y also exempt; further, that having
S agreed to the exemption and hav-
S ing relinquished or abandoned its
e right to tax, the parish could not
r now claim it. 1t was bound by the
report of the committe of 1884
approved by the then Police Jury
: The Supreme Court decided tina
II the Town Council had no right Of
t power, under the law, to take II
, any new territory and that the par
= ish could not relinquish the power
r entrusted to it. Hence the decision
IS means that the parish licenses
G claimed were legal and constitu
o tional.
- - 1t is to be regretted that the pro
- ceedings Of the Town Council were
not carried out according to law, O.
n if no law authorized the annexation
y of new territory, it is unfortunate
l. tina. it was ever. undertaken. L
n now places the inhabitants of tn
e additions in an anomal GUS P1edica
If ment. They invested in those 10
: calities believing them to be a par
h of a duly organized municipal cor
l. poration, with all the advantage
flowing therefrom, but they ma
now exclaim with the celebrate
statesman from Georgia, 'sWhere ar
= we at?'
We are not lawyer and do nc
know what will be the effects of tn
. decision on the additions, and w
, presume that many others and eve
- some among the legal fraternity
are in the same fix. IT'S a rathe
y, knotty question to say the leas
= But be this as it may, the error {
J. 1854 seems to carry serious hard
~ ships on these people.
But this is not the only side {
y, this question. Since 1890 the Pc
:, lice Jury gave notice that it II
I'd tended to exercise its power of ia,
ne ing the people of the addition
he Representing the people of the pa
'S- ish it considered itself in dut
- bound to collect taxes from all pc
ill sons subject to its jurisdictio
va ,,;+l, o,,+rar,rJ t1, individuals or 1oca