The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1899-09-23
NIX. G/R4RD'.S SPEECH.

Crow Girard was one of the speak
rected against the gentlemen respon
sible for the administration of tn,
affairs of this parish.
| The Gazette has no complaint &c
proper to criticize the present ad
ministratIon. In doing that he has
merely exercised his right as a citi.
zen and taxpayer of this parish.
When public affairs are, in the opin,
ion of any citizen, not administered
as they ought to be, it is not only
the right of the citizen, but it is his
duty to say SO and to offer any rem
edial measures if he should hap
pen to know of any. But with all
due respect to the intelligence and
honesty of purpose Of Mr.. Glrard,
The Gazette thinks that he has been
unfair In his criticisms. If slIowed
to go unrefuted his remarks may re
fleet unjustly upon some gentlemen
WHO are responsible for the aller ed
maladmin istration.
The Gazette is not the champion
of the Police Jury, nor does it crit
cize Mr.. Girard's speech in cap
tious spirit. AS public journal it
merely wishes to give credit to
whom it is due and to defend public
servants against what it considers
und eserved censure. In the course
Of his speech Mr.. Girard is reported
as having said:
''Here in our own parish, can call your
attention to the condition, it exists. and
it affords perfectly fair example of the
condition throughout the State of Louisiana.
In this parish the present politca faction
have been in control some twelve years.
nearly twelve wears. During those twelve |
years the revenues of the parish have in |
creased from in the neighborhood of SIS 900 |
per annum to nearly more than S25 900 |
per annum. All that money goes into the
hands Of the treasurer, and what has been |
he result? During the eight years that
preceded this present regime, under what
was then called the McEnery admnistra-
ion. Il use this name only describing
he eight years preceding the last twelve
years.. During those eight years, fellow
the administration that then ex-
sted, gave you as a public monument the
all that cost over SI2,ooo-may be $4,000.
During those eight years they gave you the
Jerks Office that was absolutely necessary
nd essential to the welfare of the parish
They gave you the iron bridge over the
bayou. which has stood there
ince that time, with very few dollars
worth of repairs. Each of these two last
ost the parish 5000 $1,000. There
we're something over $4,000 $4,000
expended during eight years in monuments
nat stand to-day for the welfare of the peo-
lie of Lafayette. Since that time-since
he inauguration of the twelve years-that
lie present admin istration has had control
lie revenues OF the parish have nearly
Dubbed, and yet what has been the result
an they point finger to anything that
lands as a representative of the portion of
ny of the money that went into their
ands. The public roads are no better
DIV than tn ey were then. The schools are
tile better but very little better. And
zen to-day the parish is in a condition of I
,nkruptcy. 1t is in debt to-day.'' {
We have quoted Mr.. Girard DIT +
myth. Wishing to be fair we have 7
ven all that he had to say on this |
inject. '
But let us see if he has not over /
"a wn the picture to suit his case. a
e tear that his portrayal OF the c
)nditiOn under the McEnerv adj r
inistration and of the affairs dur
G the last twelve years is decid-
lily One-sided. This picture re- n
inds us OF the one used by, the "
ltent medicine firm to tell the s.be- O.
re aud after taking" story. 1t ir
'gs the praises Of the remedy, but fl
'es scant justice to the patient
Mr.. Girard tells US that the Nc q
1ery administration spent $4,000 b
$4,000 in Improvements which "
and as monuments, etc We have q
certained that the jail, the bridge +
i the clerks office cost the parish II
1900, but we do not wish to de II
act from the gentlemen of that a.
ministration and we refer to these u
alters in order to show that Mr.. p
rard's ComPariso. is unfair to the n
esent administration. 1t is not p
~ ~. i