The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1899-09-23

sum of one thousand dollars for tn
public schools of this parish
Think OF it: A little more tha
: one hundred dollars per annum! I
could well afford to build the in,
} provements which have been men
toned.
In striking contrast to this shine
J out. in bold relief the $4,000 give,
for public education during tn,
twelve years which are included
in what may be termed the presen
regime. The present Police Jury ha
been particularly solicitous for tn.
progress of the cause of free educa
uon as is shown by its liberal ap
preparations. Those large appro,
Priations toward the maintenance
OF the schools may account for a
portion of that amount whose dis.
position, Mr.. Gi,ard suggests. is
'still yelled IN mystery"
| 1t is we'll known that the incnm-
ing Police Jury in 1888, in com
p!ianCe with the imperative demands
of the people, opened a large mum
Der of roads whic h wee necessitated
by the rapid settling up Of the par
lsh. A great deal of money was
spent to open the roads and 20
build and maintain the large num-
Der of bridges which were required
by the new roads. Four thousand
three hundred dollars have been
expende in repairing the Jail. 1t
Is true that the revenues of the par
lsh have greatly increased since
twelve years ago, but for the same
reasons the expenses of the parish
have largely augmented. We think
that instead Of being to their dis
credit it is TO their everlasting fame
to be able to say that the Police
Juries of the Nichols and Foster
administrations have, notwithstand-
ing the unusual demands that have
been made upon them from other
quarters, beer in a position to give
thirtyfve thousand dollars to edu-
cate the children of the parish.
Under the administration which
Mr.. Girard recommends to us as
an example of economy and good
government, parish warrants, Jurors
and witnesses certificates were
sold at so cents on the dollar and
probably for less. That has been
Now, as to the schools. Mr..
Glrard says they are very little bet
ter than they were twelve years ago. |
That is surely palpable error
The schools Of this parish have i'm
proved very much since 1888.
When the Nichols board was in
Quoted into office there were few if
any school-houses in the parish.
In the town Of Lafayette there was
an old barn which had cost $3.50.
To-day there are school houses in
every ward, belonging to the parish
md in Justice to the teachers we
must say that there are some very
:reditab BILE schools. There is
Ugh school in this town which is
nicely and bids fair to
become an excellent institution il
We help it along and give it orr
nIted support. 1t has just begun
term with an attendance of nearly
ne hundred and it is under the eli.
ection of an able teacher.
In his speech Mr.. Girard said:
81 would be glad to trace out all the
'eanderiEgs of the parish money as it goes
ut of the treasurers hands. 1 can easily |
'certain where a considerable portion of it t
mystery, SO far I have been able to
nd out.
The Gazette has not always en- t
orsed the acts Of the Police Jury, t
ut it has never believed that there
as anything mysterious about its
isposition of the public funds.
very month the bills approved at
le regular meeting are published
the official proceedings in which
SO appears the report Of the treas
rer, showing the receipts and money 8
aid during the month. The Jury -.
dds a voucher for every cent ex- !,
ended and any one who desires to
e where the money DoeS ~ap find