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

Police Jury committee be requested to
give the matter proper attention, and
to take any action that will not COM
promise the Parish under the terms of
the contract. The Police Jury com
mittee was to serve without compensa.
ton, but we find that on May 6, 1909,
Henry Ortte, member of that COM
mittee and also member of the Po-
lice Jury, made a demand for S75, and
that warrant" was issued for that
amount (see minute book, folio 163)
and discounted bv him, all of which
is contrary to the statute above re-
ferred to. The remaining members of
the committee made no demands for
compensation, and none was paid
them.
We find that the Police Jury has
made contract with Sheriff Hender-
son amounting to $500 per annum for
certain duties relative to criminal
work. We have not the time at our
disposal to thoroughly investigate the
equity OF the contract. We also find
that it has contracted with DIR. w. j.
Emmer, amounting to $500 per annum,
for the care of the pest house and its
inmates, and that he is allowed $40 for
burying paupers. Our limited time
prevents a proper Investigation of this
contract. hence We are unable to com
ment upon it. We also ascertained
that the Police Jury pays the District
Attorney $3.50 per annum as its legal
adviser, and $500 per annum for repre-
senting the Parish as attorney in the
collection OF road taxes. From the
limited Investigation of these two
contracts we are inclined to criticise
the first contract as legal adviser, for
while he is paid to advise the Police
Jury, and point out their duties, we
find that that body has in several in
stances violated laws through absolute
| ignorance OF the existence of the laws
so violated. That the Police Jury
needs a legal adviser is indeed appar-
ent to this committee and to your
body from its recent Investigations.
Act No. 22, of 1898, prohibiting the
Police Juors from receiving money
| other than mileage and per diem from
| their Parish, law that thev violated,
as the list in this report shows, was
not made known to them until about
four months ago, after the Police
Jurors of the Parish of ST. Martins
had been indicted for similar abuses.
| We also find that on January 2, 1902,
| (see record book, folio 752), the Police
Jury advanced the sum of $500 to the
| Assessor, L. S. Frere, on his future
claim for percentage of assessments,
and on April 3, 1902, (see record book,
folio 757) an additional sum Of S75.
The first amount of $500 was approved
for cash and paid. and the second, a
warrant for S75, and discounted by
him. While we cannot find this ap-
preparation contrary to law, we be-
Leve it bad precedent. In the event
of the death, resignation or removal
of an assessor complication might
arise as to the liability of his successor,
and involve the Parish in litigation OF
an expensive nature. We also find
that on September 5. 1901, the Police
Jury appropriated the sum of $400 in
favor of A. B. Romero, its secretary
and treasurer, for the purpose of Civ
ing the regular appointed Assessor
assistance in certain matters. We can
not consider this action as good bust
ness judgment, and cannot find that
the appropriation brought any returns
of valuable nature We find that
while the work was performed, that
the Police Jury did not follow up its
intention in the premises, and that
the labor involved bore no fruit in pro
portion to the cost. While we are un
able, from our hasty investigation, tc
ascertain whether or not discrimina
tion is INDUCED in in the matter oi
!. paying these approved accounts, We
can say positively that the method EN-
ployed permits favoritism wherevel
desired, as it is s'frst come, frs
served" regardless of da.e or charac
ter of debt approved. We have posi-
tive evidence that contractors doin.
business with the Parish, and all per
sons selling merchandise to 1t, includ,
in their bids the probable loss by dis
count to be incurred by them, and tn,
addition of this anticipated discoun
comes indirectly from the Parish fund
in the shape of an advance over tn
current prices. This is unjust, in tha
those whose compensation is fixed b.
law have no recourse, while those VIII
deal as contractors simply add the dis
count to their proposals. The labo.e1
: the Jurors, witnesses and even som
; OF the public officers are the sufferer
; directly. This can be remed1ed onl
in one way-by pledging the Paris
/, receipts and borrowing money, at legs
; interest or less, If possible, and pay
ing cash to all. This would Great
j, competition in public contracts. an
result in a benefit of greater amour
than the interest paid for neeessar
, loans.
' We recommend that the Police Jur
adopt system of registering claim
? and paying them according to priority
. that it abolish its present approve
= bill I" system, and issue a more con
i prehensive evidence of debt, fl
which a stub shall be retained, ar
;, that book showing outstanding not
and debts, with the dates of maturit
mentioned. that vouchers for eas
!, fund be colored differently and STAN
u ed accordingly; that they be drawn {
their respective funds, and paid on
y from that fund; that each fund
, protected from invasion; that the pu
- lie be informed of the Parish conc
= tion each month in the publish
= minutes; that an auditing commit
be appointed from time to time
- verify the statements; that the po
D tion of secretary and treasurer be {
= yorced and not as now, be held by t
:, same party; that the advising attorn
- compile written opinion as to I
: duties of each Police Juror, and OF t
- Jury as a whole; that proposals
:, public work be offered for competitit
~ and bids be required in the prof
!, written shape, protected by safe Dor
~ to insure their faithful complete
| tAt q. At t.a II