The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1899-09-30
NIX. G/RARD'S EXPLAWA-
TON


reforms most needed.
On the threshold 1 apologize for using
| the name of McEnery; but l explained that
I made use of that name to indicate the
period of time to which desired to direct
attention. I apologize for using the name.
although it seems that the present admins
| tration are proud to do him honor, and
! when he rescued then1 from defeat at the
| hands of Mr.. Denegre and the Citizens
League, many of them seemed ready to fall
down and worship him.
MIR. Editor, I readily accept your kind
| and liberal offer that the discussion be free
and open and unfair to none. With refer
ence to the material improvement con
structed during the eight years mentioned,
1 said the Jail, clerks Office and Pin Hook
| bridge cost the parish between $4,000 to
SIS 900, I spoke from memory;-the official
figures give it as SCI, 200. l am satisfied to
let that stand. The debts left by that
Police Jury were probably against the re-
| venues of that year, which were no doubt
ample to cover them. / remarked further
in this connection that the last report Of the
Grand Jury contained the statement that the
treaSurer'S report furnished them as their
organization, showed cash on hand, sI.4S.
Since that time within my know Wedge. debts
have been incurred against the PARISH Tor
several hundred dollars. | doubt now that
any of the parish officials salaries tor the
quarter ending Sept. 1, have been paid
ki101o that some have not been paid
imagine that if the present incumbents
should leave their offices at this time their
successors would find a very respectable
debt Notwithstanding that the present
revenues of the parish amount to not less
than Se5 900, exclusive of the road and poll
taxes, by some error, or however 1t may be,
they have been unable to turn over TO the
school officials the thousand dollars prom
ised.
On the question of public education,
| must say that youl reporter has done me an
injustice, unintentionally 1 hope; he adj
mitted to me that he had lost a considerable
portion of what l said. What ai0 say and
know to be in substance that ''there
has been marked improvement in the tacl-
lites for public education, but II there mas
not been more, was because in my opinion
SO much of the parish revenue was absorbed
in the sheriH's office and jail There has
been of late years decided awakening OF
| the people to the necessities OF education.
Far from me to detract from the credit
due the gentlemen who have faithfully de-
| voted themselves to the development OF the
public school system. No branch of the
government deserves more careful attention
| and more liberal support; the fact remains
however that some of the teachers have not
| been paid since April last, and though the
| schools are now open, the teachers look Tor
| little or no pay until December or january
next. 1 will not undertake to discuss where
| the fault lies.
Certainly the responsibility for this condi-
| ton must rest on some one: grant free!y
"there are some very Creditable Schools
| and they are accomplishing much material
good. Is that cause that we should bind
ourselves to the condition of some, possibly
| many of the others? Have all the schools
in the parish the required number of attend
ants? Are all the teachers properly quail
fed and worthy to be entrusted with the
| care and instruction of young children?
These questions of vital Importance to
they have every right to fullest information.
In criticising the financial policy of the
Police Jury, 1 exercised right of citizenship
| to discuss public affairs, fairly and hon
| IT, I>a1:a h,u dome 81
| not undertake to accuse anyone farther than
errors Of judgment and mismanagement.
| AS to the two indictments, have good
! reason for believing that they are more
| nearly political prosecutions than legal pros
ecutions.
| If I have become engaged in this cam
paign, it is because of my belief in the Dem
| ocraic rule of rotation in office.
| I shall lend myself by all honorable
! means to secure the free and fair expression
| of popular will, and when that is secured
the purpose of this campaign shall have
| been accomplished.
Respectfully,
CROW GIRARD.
With Mr.. Girarc's apology for
having used the name Of Gov. Nc
Emery we have nothing to do.
That illustrious gentleman is not on
trial just now and we have no de
sire to find fault with his admins
tration al this late day. We are
willing to forgive him for his past
errors if he has committed any. He
has done valiant service to the De-
mocracy of this State and as he is
presently engaged IN administering
a deserved castigation to the Jack
sonians we are pleased to doff our
cap to the old man and to bid him
godspeed in the good work.
Our friend very adroitly evades
the issues raised in his speech at
Falk hall. Being a lawyer he
knows he has weak case and pro
ceeds to beat around the bush with
the characteristic ingenuity Of the
legal mind. He no doubt feels that
he has been unreasonable in his
charges and he :ries to let himself
down easy by modifying his lam
guage. In his speech he confesses
his inability to :strace out all the
inca nderings of the parish money as
it goes out Of the treaSurer's hands,"
and speaks of a balance "that is
still yelled in mystery" magnani-
mously conceding, however, that