The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1900-09-01

| dutt al IiittIIl'Ii pau 'oi f''i "'i'ii' WIN
their interests i'll Il dralna2
system. are of similar natllr
might combine in the prosecutlo
of such work. A clause provide
that the Police Juries may includ
incorporated towns in the distric
created by them. Whether OF DC
This applies to our little city unde
its special charter need not her
be discussed.
In order that this municipalit.
might take advantage OF the pre-
posed drainage act (and be able t.
leave out of the sphere of specia
taxation the property on the Eas
side of the Bayou Teche, not bene
fitted by the contemplated drainage
scheme) an amendment to the Git!
Charter was proposed, and enacted
into law.
On this issue.it allows the Coun
Gil to divide the City into drainage
districts, retaining supervision and
control thereof.
The contemplated plan was tc
create one district of all
that territory on the West side
of Bayou Teche, and in conjunction
with the drainage district to be
created by the Police jury, to per
form the work proposed.
1t was naturally deemed very
essential, that the drainage of the
City should be in the charge of the
Council, accountable to the people,
and removable by the force of the
ballot, for any delirquencies. 1t
was not considered advisable
to transfer the matter of drainage
to an Independent corporation, not
ele cted by the people, appointed
by an external authory, and not
to them. And this is
more particularly so when these
commissioners need not be(and
some are not residents of the
City.
But the Police Jury has acted
differently, upon the request of
some of our citizens sand let us
accept the matter as it stands.
The foregoing embodies what
We sought to accomplish for the
attainment of system of drain
'ge.
This brings us back to the wild
'ry. that all these plans have been
by the enactment of |
mother Statute, at The same SEES
ion, and introduced by Senator
Drew, hailing from the same par
sh as representative Steidley.
The acts of the General Assembly
f 1900 are not as yet published;
nd we are governed by statutes of
Which we have but little opportu-
ity Of acquiring knowledge. Com
equently, the legal ADVISORS of the
arious Drainage Boards were ex-
usably ignorant of the passage Of
be Drew act. | heard of 1t by
nance, during the middle of last
'eek. and having written to Mr..
lilling lnquiring about 1t. and re-
Nesting such data as be had. he
indy sent me aeopy-on Saturday
lst. On that day | furnished 1t to
lr Broussard, who is counsel for
re Bayou Carlln Drainage Board.
Is perusal caused the Board to
eslst III Its course, and will induce
,em to do that which they ought to
ave done at first, as will comment
pom hereafter.
l do not propose to discuss wheth-
that act bears upon or affects in
nywise the Steidley act. That is
Iscussion for lawyers. l do assert, |
owever, that that act does not des-
oy our efforts to create drainage
oards, nor will 1t imperil in any
Use, the ultimate achievement of
le work. 1t raises, perhaps, the
lestlon as to how some details are
} be done, bnt does not establish
he fact that they cannot be done.
The Board evidently will or
lould follow the advice of Its
'und councillors as to whether it
Ill assume the responsibility of ad
stlng what II may consider con-
cts IN the laws or submit them to
e courts for decision; but IN eth.
case, 1t will eventually come to
re conclusion that 1t has exercised
self, AMI alarmed some friends of
e canal scheme to very little avail,
1less 1t be 10 ipjure other public
lterprises; or to throw asperslons
! others Of their fellow citizens,
no have at the least, an eqial IN
rest with them, In the promotion
the drainage of the country.
And let me say, that the laws ap-
lcable to our canal project are the
me as apply to that of the people $
the Iberia q. St. Mary Drainage {
lstrlct. They have not had any {
asms. They are actually urging I
their work, under these same
atutes, and are preparing to hold
cir election by giving the neces-
~ notices.