New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1902-06-21
GRAND JURY REPORT


ing OF the new lHll. luz "". ri "
committee are not plain to us, hnl we w
that It is to generally pro'ee' 'ne
Parish in the fulfllment of certain con
tract with the builders. In our OPINION
tbie committee is not doing its full duty,
hut "a we are without authority 10 90 other /
than comment on this feature we beg 10
,rport that from rumor the jail hulidin9 Is
not fully M TO specifications ana We ft'
ommend that the Police jury committee
be requested 10 give the matter proper ai-
tpniiun aud to take any acton that VIII
nat rnmuromise the Parish under the terms
az the contract The Police Jury COMMIT
too was to serve without compensation,
hut we find that on May q, l9o2, Henfy
O,tte. n member Of that COMMITTEE and
also A member Of the Police jury, made
demand for 4I5, and that warrant was IS
sued for that amount tscp Minute BOOK tn
lilo 763) and discounted him, all OF winch
Il contrary tn the statute above referred
10 The remaining members OF the com
mittrc made no demands for compensation
and none was paid them.
we find that the Police Jury has made
a contract with Sheriff Henderson amount
ing + u $6. 500 per annum for cortmu duties
relative t0 criminal work. We have not
the time nj our disposal to thoroughly IN
vrstignto the equity of the contract. We
also find that il has contracted with l'r
W. ! Emmcr, amounting to 5000 per an
mum, fo, the care Of the pest house aud rs
inmates ana that he is allowed *lp t"r
hur,inr panprrs cav limited tim" rr"
vents a proper investigation Of this con
tract hence we are unable tn comment
npon IL Wcnlso ascertain that the Police
Iurv pays the District Attorney T2ao per
aunn,n ~ its legal adviser. and $500 prr
anunm fn, rcprrsrutiufthe Parish rs Vt
tnnvy in the ccll,ytlnu If road taxes
l'rnm the limited Investigation ot these
two contracts we AZ, Inclined To cutlrlS"
the first contract rs legal adviser. lor
while he j. paid tn advise the Police July
aud point out their duties, we find that
that body has in several instance violated
/ laws through absolutely Ignorance ol the
exist nco uf the laws 50 violated. lhat
the Police Turv needs 4 legal adviser IS
! indeed apparent to this committee anu 10
/ your body from its recent Investigations.
/ Act - of 1898 prohibiting the Police Ju-
rors from receiving money other than M
lpagc and per diem from their Parish, a
/ law that they violated as the list in the ro.
mort shows was not made known to them
until about four months ago, after Police
Jurors of the Parish Of St. Martins had
been indicted for similar abuses. We alst
find that on Jan. |. 1909. (see Record
Book folio T52. } the Police Jury advanced
the sum Of $500 to the Assessor l.. $. Frert
on his future claim for per centage of AS
sessments, aud or April 3D., 1902, Csc,
Record Book folio I5I) an additional sun
of as. The first amount Of $500 was ap
proved for cash and paid and the Secont
a warrant for $15 and discounted by him
While we cannot find this appropriation
contrary to law, we believe il a bad pre-
cedent In the event of the death, resig
nation or removal of an Assessor compi
cation might arise as to the liability of hi
successor and involve the Parish in litiga
ton of an expensive nature. We also fin,
that on Sept. 5. 1901, the Police Jury ap
propriated the sum of fio0 in favor of A
b. Romero, its Secretary aud Treasurer
for the purpose Of giving the regular ap
pointed Assessor assistance in certain
matters. We cannot consider this actor
as good business judgement and canno
find that the appropriation brought am
returns of valuable nature. We fine
that while the work was performed tina
the Police Jury did not follow up its in
tention in the premises and that the labo
involved bore no fruit in proportion to the
cost.
While we are unable from our hasty in
vestigation to ascertain whether or no
discrimination is INDUCED in in the matte
of paying these approved accounts, vi
can say positively that the method EN-
ployed permits favoritism wherever de
sired as it is "frst come, first served
regardless of date or character of deb
approved. We have positive evidence
that contractors doing business with tn,
Parish and all persons selling merchandis,
to it include in their bids the probable
loss by discount to be incurred by them
and the addition of this anticipated dis
count comes indirectly from the Parish
funds in the shape of an advance over tn,
current prices. This is unjust in tina
those whose compensation is fixed by Law
have no recourse while those who deal a
contractors simply add the discount t.
their proposals The laborer, the jurors
witnesses and even some of the publ,
officers are the sufferers directly. Thi
can be remedied only in one way: b,
pledging the Parish receipts and borrow
ing money ut legal interest or less i
possible, and paying cash to all. Thi
would create competition in public con
! tracts and result in benefit of create
amount than the interest paid for neees
saiy loans
We recommend that the Police Jur,
adopt system of registering claims an,
paying them according to priority that i
to abolish its present approved bill
system and issue a more comprehensiv
evidence of debt. for which stub shall
be retained and that book showing out
standing notes and debts, with the date
of maturity mentioned that vouchers flo
each fund be colored differently am
stamped accordingly that they be draw
on their respective funds aud paid onl
from that fund that each fund be pre-
teeted from from invasion that the pub
lie be informed of the Parish condition
each month in the Published minutes
that an auditing committee be appointe
from time to time to verify the statements
that the position of Secretary and Treas
urer be divorced and not as now be hel
by the same party that the advisin
attorney compile a written opinion as
the duties of each Police and of the Jur
| as whole that proposals for public wor
c be offered for competition and bids be II
= quired in the proper written shape, PR
tected by safe bonds to insure their faitl
full completion that before approvin
bills the Jury be certain that the wor
has been properly performed and that tn
4 charges are not exorbitant
The Police jury has no check again,
the Tax Collectors office. hence it is in
possible to ascertain how ii stands
financial relations with that officer. I'll
). method of the transfer of public funds
crude IN the extreme. Whenever Oh
: Tax Collector OF any other party turn
!. into the Treasury any funds that remi
!, lance should be accompanied by Ii
= showing. in detail, what the money repr
: sented The Treasurer furnishes $50t
bond
, SCHOOL. FUNDS.
We made partial examination of tt
: school funds and have no comment
make thereon. We urge, however, tn;
the School Board, at the close OF eaC
: term Of Court. secure from the Clerk
list of fines imposed and then see tn;
these fines are collected and the none
SO received paid their Treasurer. II
Sheriff now has ss9l 50 (See cash DO,
folio i2l which is due the School Fur
from October and February collections