The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1902-06-21

New IBERIA, La, June ". l9O2.
To the Foreman and Members of the
Grand Jury Of the Parish OF Iberia:
The undersigned have the honor to
acknowledge receipt of the following
communication:
NEW IBERIA, La, June II, l9o2.
thereby appoint the following COM
mittee of Grand Jurors, as experts. to
examine and audit the books, ac-
counts, papers, forms and methods of
financial transactions of all officers and
offices of the Parish Of Iberia-Wal-
ter NJ. Gates, Joseph Moore and Pierre
Jubin.
(s,gned) g. c. LAueHLIN,
Foreman.
Approved. T. Don Foster.
Judge.
Upon receipt OF this commission we
Immediately entered upon our duties,
and requested all Parish officers to de-
liver their books, papers, etc., to your
committee, which they did. We also
requested the books and records of the
Police Jury. which were delivered us.
POLICE JURY AND ITS OFFICERS.
The affairs of the Police Jury were
given our first attention, with view
Of making financial statement of the
Parish, whereby We may show Its re-
celpts and disbursem ments, and enable
us t., balance its account ana ar
rive at it's ability to meet its obliga-
tions. We find this, in our opinion,
| impossible altogether, and especially
80 in the time allotted this COMMITTEES.
The system employed by the Police
Jury cannot be termed system at all,
and so grossly at fault is it that an In
Ite1ligent or correct statement OF the
Parish affairs cannot be arrived al
without actually making an entire sci
of new books. Under the present
method we could not verify single
action of that body, and in the event
of the loss or destruction Of its min
ute book, that body would be hope
|lessly at sea. But two imperfect rec
ords are kept-a minute and casE
book. No stubs are kept as records
of out standing orders on the treasury
and it is impossible to ascertain how
many of these have been issued, O
for what amounts. Often large mum
lber of these evidences of debt are can
ce11ed and q single one issued as
substitute and the cancelled ones de
troyed, thus preventing their be1n]
: checked against the minute book tn
only record of their issue. In fact n
warrants are issued, but merely tn
original bill presented with approval
The method employed is this: Mr..
has claim Of say $25 against the Pal
, ish. He is furnished with blank {
l. a0k4 Vnt hi
: sent his claim. This blank is al
) proved, and signed by the secretar
and countersigned by the presiden
e and an imperfect mention made upo
, II the minutes thus: "A, $25," and tn
blank delivered to the claimant.
then becomes what is grossly mi
named "a warrant" No stub is =,
tanned; the blank is not numbered;
e is drawn on no particular fun
! charged to no one or to nothing. II
holder goes upon the street and sci
9 IL for what he cares to, and to who
: he thinks will give him the most, II
usua. discount being about 10 per Ger
ell All these so-called "warrants' a
i, lon parity, no matter wheth
{, the fund against which th,
t are supposed to be drawn be owe
: drawn or show a credit. The Treasu
shows that the General Fund has
d fctitcious credit Of $64I7.69 while t
Criminal Fund is overdrawn
" $500. .35, vet orders against these fun
g. are on 4 parity; and citizen with
at..warFant.n I'VE use the term Nv,
= rant" under protest, Against
lo General Fund cannot secure
!. money bat has 10 discount his order
= the same per ceptage % the man vi
9, | an order on the Criminal Fund, n
ofi withstanding that the frst has lal
9 credit and the latter = deficit. Z