The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1902-05-31
Public SCHOOLS vs.. COmmissioner OF
Hygiene.
Opelousas, MaY q. 1902.

Opelousas, May a. 1902.
To the Editor of the Times-D Democrat:
There are some things as to which all OF our
people agree, among others the following
That we have an insufficient number of pub
lie schools, and in most cases the sessions are
too short.
That in consequence thereof according to
stattstics) we stand last in educational affairs.
That in measure the State is blameieSS TOR
this condition OF affairs. That the pubuc schooi
system Is being bettered annually.
THAT Notwithstanding this there is contin
ual demand for more schools. with longer terms.
Colleges desire additional endowment, the
public schools more money.
With these facts staring us in the face. what
are we going to do about It! Economic. econ
omiZe, eeonomiZe, and have the Legislature see
to 1t that every dollar not neeoed for necessary
expenses be expended in the cause Of educa-
tion. educate your children and the country
Is safe,". is truer now than when trst uttered
The world has become more peopled, anu III
the struggle for existence 1t resolves itself INTO
the question OF the Survival of the tittest."
when the weakest must go to the wall. snail
our native born population be permitted to re-
main in the slough of ignorance engulnnS them
for years past to compete with the qulck.Wlt-
ted Intelligent Western, Northwestern or East
ern man now focking to our State? The reply
Is no, q thousand times no!
These self-eyident propositions being agreed
to, I desire to call the attention OF the General
Assembly to piece of proposed Legislation, at
this time wholly unnecessary, and which, II
enacted, creates new office which the State
will have to support. 1 refer to the following:
BY Mr.. Ventress thy requesD-An act 10
create commissioner OF hygiene, anu pre-
scribe his powers and duties; also to fix his
salary and to provide for his office expenses
and equipments. House bill No. IS.
Now, i'll the name of all the gods at once,
what on earth do our people want with q
commissioner of hygiene?" This takes the
cake. A commissioner of hygiene going around
lecturing the people as to the necessity there
for. or Issuing tracts indicating its usefulness,
when the same is being taught In all our pub
10 a pl.n IstHltylnQiV
point of watering an exotic III the Wlndo"
while the weeds ale growing i'll the garden!
Creating new office fixing salary therefor,
and providing for office expenses and equip
ment for commissioner OF hygiene" white
our common schools are langulShlng for lack
of sufficient funds2 Why, Mr.. Editor, this
would be ludicrous indeed, II 1t was not so
serious. 1t might be treated as a jest II the
propOnent OF the measure was not So much III
earnest. 1t will be remembered that this bill
passed both Houses at the last session, anu
was vetoed by the Governor Tor want VI Suul-
cient funds.
This reason holds good now. Our financial
condition has improved We all pray for It's
continued improvement. But the question
arises. has the public treasury become SO full
as to neces,itate an additional Office at this
time wholly unnecessary.
Take the proposed expenditure and give 1t to
a school board in North Louisiana, and they
will light the hilltops with public schools.
Given 10 one IN the Southwest portion of the
State, and it will lengthen the four months
Term now DeIDR Shbu out tO JilS cHlluitu pl Ihc
poorer classes Endow a college or university
with the same, and you give 1t new strength,
new life. Turn it INTO the proposed channel
and you water the exotic Ill the window while
neglecting the weeds in the garden.
A gentleman who was in continuous attend
ance upon the session of the last General
Assembly las was the prOponent of this meas
ure) stated to the writer he was OF the opinion
that one-half of the members of that body had
voted for the measure to get rid of the propo-
nent thereof, while the other half had voted
the same way, knowing in advance 1t was going
to be vetoed.
The fact of its being reintroduced at this
early date shows that the one behind 1t has
hopes of Its enactment into a law. Men do not
usually pursue an object with this kind OF per
sistency for their health, nor for the health OF
the State. It is the office, the salary, and
equipment thereof that whets the appetite
Create it without emOlumenf and it would not
find sponsor. Having as think demonstrated
the want OF necessity of such office, 1t now re
mains for the General Assembly TO give 1t q
"coup de- grace" q deatll-dealing one OF such
fierce nature as will place it beyond resurree
tiOu.
The superintendent of Public Education
(aware OF our inadequate fuuds) should op
pose it.
Every parish superintendent flor the same
reasonl should oppose it.
Every school board should oppose it.
The people, the press and the General Assem-
bly, should oppose 1t. and thus opposed 1T should
be indefinitely postponed.
| to you" to determine whether it is better anC
wiser to tend the weeds in the garden than tt
| water the exotic in the window. Very truly
vours GTIRERT r.. DTPRE.