The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1898-08-20
The Laborer is Worthy Of his Hire.

Mr.. EDITOR:
From the quick and hasty manner in
which our Police Jury grasped and took
hold of the reformatory laws as laid down
in the new Constitution at their June
meeting one would have supposed that
they would have held to them allthe way
down the line. But no, they left off with
the fixing of the salaries of the iustlceslof
the peace and constables at so low a rate
thai it makes these officers bear the full
weight of the so-called reform measures.
Cutting their earnings down to fifty dol
lars for the country wards and one hum
bred dollars for the 3rd ward per year in
direct conflict with justice and equity,for
there is an old and recognized principle
Of law that says that 10 one shall work
without just and adequate pay or remu-
nefation for his or her hire. Can the gen
tltmen of the Police Jury in their wis
dom fail to see the inexpediency of this
law, for under it can the law be upheld
and enforced in other wards? Can a on
criminal warrant for an offender and VIC
lator of the law and place it in the hands
of lis constable ordering linn to arrest
the offender and bring him or her as the
case may be before the proper authority
there to be dealt with according to law
when that officer well knows that in
order to execute his commands that the
constable will require d horse and saddle
and perhaps have to travel a whole day
not find the party, and have to go out in
all kinds Of weather night after night be-
fore the arrest can be effected, or as is
sometimes the case have to go into an adj
joining parish incurring more or less ex-
pense before executing the warrant And
all of this time and expense to say moth
ing Of the troublefo the enormous sum
of fifteen cents per day and to make a
speedy aud quick return as the law di-
reefs Of their doings in the premises back
to the coHrta Can our able Police Jurors
fail to see the utter ruin that will inure
from this measure by destroying the po7
lice powers ont and away from the sheriff
thus letting things revert back to olden
times when crime went on the rampage
throughout the parish with IMMUNITY
arm in arm with the officers of the lawf
The reason for which was attributable ina
E
great measure to the insufficient pay re-
ceiyed at that time owing to the indebt-
edness of the parish and of the low value
OF parish paper eve though their pay by
fees as was the law under all the consti-
tntions of this State previous to 1895.
Why should this branch of expenses be
made to bear the whole weight OF reduc-
tion9 Is 1t because they want to abolish
an Office founded and based upon the or
ganic law Of the state If so they have in d
great measure accomplished their wish,
for an energetic officer can not and should
not work for nothing.
We are willing to admit that in some
wards there were a great many niyalous
prosecutions ubus Dub 02AV NIt " tASe
officers to blame for thisY We think not,
and aver if some of them were in fault
the parish is still ahead for it has the
c~leanest name of any in the State for her
quick and prompt methods of dealing
with crime and criminals. 1t is to Big
hoped that our Police jury will see their
mistake and remedy the evil before its
r5tinous effects are felt and pay these Off
GERS salaries sufficient to cause them to
exert every means attainable for the
maintenance and enforcement of the
law. For a servant is worthy of his hire
and if not, then kill him, but for Gods
sake don't starve him.
Malarionl is endorsed BY best Physicians
Fand guaranteed to cnre Chills. Fever and
Ague. AlLdruggists or from Northwest
JlrnO Go Ef auia Nh