St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1902-06-07

young boys and young men, black an
white, and we urge the punishment g
Z all such cases TO such an extent As /
cause, If possible, its discontinuanc,
But these matters have been so frequen
3 ly brought to the attention OF the COM
that 1t seems an of told story. and !
again refer to 1t but serves to impres
the fact upon the court and the public d
to this growing evil. We believe tha
the remedy lies In working such offer
defs on the public roads, when conyic
ed, rather than permitting them TO &
ulwhipped of punishment upon the pas
ment Of q nominal fine by too fon
parent, or . season of ldleness and eaS
In the parish prison.
/ With shame and modification we ar
again called upon to refer to our paris
Il jail. To say that we have carefully ca
amined its condition would be prepostel
Gus, for ii would require man with th
stomach Of the Of tho birds which pre-.
upon putrid carcases, to be enable 4
come In contact with the eesspeol of fiitls
sanitary poison and the collection q
/ everything which is disgusting 10 th,
eye and sickening to every sensitiv,
organ of which humanity il possessed
Such q state OF affairs is disgrace I.
any civilized community and has beel
] repeatedly declared dangerous 10 th,
hsafth OF the whole tawn and liz stand
ing monument OF rebuke 10 onr claim
to refinement and intelligence and hnan
cial ability.
With due regard to the intelligence 81
| the committee appointed by the police
1 jury at its last meeting for the purpose
Of inquiring into the feasibility Of build
ing new Jail, we are compelled to take
issue with their adverse report. In
s$xx,x1 fasT IN
the second place we can have u new jail
and without any special taxi being
iivfed. Our revenues exceed by twenty
thousand dollars that of few years ago
and we are not aware that our territoT-
ial limits have been extended or new
mountain streams have burst forth, to
exhaust our financial resources In inter
nal improvements. IL the police jury
will but give the same attention to the
affairs of the parish as they give to
their own private affairs and inspect
contracts and bills against the parish
with the same scrutiny they observe in
inspecting their own contracts and bills.
NE doubt not but that In . few years we
can pay for a new Jail and even com
our public schools. Every grand jury
convened during the last two years has
made q similar complaint rs 10 the con-
dition Of our parish jail. Doctors have
pointed out the great menace to the pub
lie health; appeals In the most strenuous
terms, have gone forth and very recent
ly onr sheriff, who is In position to
realize the situation more fully than
any one, In communication In the Off
cial paper, explained fully these great
needs, and yet we supinely sit and hold
up our hands and eXclain, aWe rre help
less, it can't be ione.s When we eonsi-
der that onr sister parish Of Acadia, but
recently part of us, with revenues less,
by one third than ours, has contracted
coLrt house, by issuing certificates OF
inde ebtedness In anticipation OF its re-
venues, we are forced to observe how
puefile oar excuse.
The Jail building should be removed
from the court house square. Apart
ments for the safety and comforts OF the
insane, who are forced to await accomod-
ations at the asylum, after Introduction,
should be provided separate and distinct
from all criminals or the vicious Of
whatever nature, and easily accessible
TO the friends and relatives OF these
unfortunates, without seeing or being
seen by those ineareerated for crime.
The question is often asked "why are
persons convicted and sentenced to
confinements In the parish jail not
worked ON the public roads" This
question becomes still more pertinent
since the adoption OF the contract sys-
tenn of working the public roads. The
services of the prisoner will pay for his
feeding and the hiring of guards for his
safe keeping. The adoption OF some
system Of working these prisoners on
the public works. will facilitate the
speedy trial OF Iuisdeamenors, without
overburdening the taxpayers in feed
Ing an idle set who are contented with
Jail life and appreciate no dishonor, by
therein. We venture the
prophecy that thirty days at work on
the public roads or work under the
supervision of strict diseiplinarian.
the mischief maker, the lloodium and |
the apistol toater,n than twelve months
IL parish board.
The police jurors are supposed to be
guardians Of the interest OF the people, |
without fear or favor to any one and we
ask that they observe every principle /
which will innre to that end. We belive
hat our present police jury is composed |
if men VINO are eoncientions in the per- |
'ormance Of their duty but we fear that /
hey don't give that minute attention to |
The public affairs rs charabteriZe their /
,Wn business transaction. The police |
Jury liz the most important branch OF |
,ur porGe LII government, and their /
svery act should evidence WatchfuI- +
hess of the peoples interest. And It
nay not be amiss to here suggest that
d future the people should be most
:arelul in the selection OF members OF I
hat body. for whist intending to cast
10 reflection upon the present Incu1n-
lent, we are not unmfndfHl of the res
resting In the hands OF the +
.olice jury.
Now, as to one more suggestion, II Is
,ften matter of comment that the pub
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