The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1903-05-02

Mass Meeting at YOsllgsvillc.


Last Sunday there was a mass meeting a,
Youngsvile in favor of better schools and
longer terms. While this met ting was not
characterized by the enthusiasm and good
VII NANTES, in other parts of the parish,
all are agreed upon one thing and that is
, that the people of the fourth ward have re-
ceived some food for thought and that on
the whole the meeting a success. Adj
dresses were made by Rev. Father Ruquet,
DIR. G.. a. Martin, J. G. St. Julien. Jr., and
MIR. A. Iudce.
Presented in IS true light this cause IS
bound to win and if there is any opposition
to the mbvemen, il is because the question
has not been explained 10y tn use Who are in
n position to do But rs The Gazette has
already Soii this is question for the people
:" decide for the ,.$clv, and if III. people of
this parish believe that the School Board
should h able I" maintain "a schools and
paw S. teachers with virtually the same
amount disirursed ten years ag., whcn there
we're IS teachers and about IL sch >o!s, then
the Tx shouli he voted down. The people
Of this parish certainly III rst understand that
there is vast Il ference between maintain
ing - sch"''s with l-ss than 500 pupils
taught Icy IS teachers, aud teaching 1000
children in 81 schools taught by S. teach
While the Schoo Eoa,d has received some
increase in funds the increase is little com
pared with the increased am ,nnt of work to
be done.
The present Police Jury has increased its
appropriation so per cent, investing now
5000" in the brains of its youth as agains,
$4,000 before. This $4,000, little more than
,f ;e all &c H..
erty tax money OF the people invested in
schools. If, therefore, the State support
was Withdrawn from Lafayette. this parish
would its schools something over two
months during the year. Again, the nesr, res
of the parish together with the resident
tax payers of the parish pay three ,er,hs of
the tax, or $3.50 per year into the parish
school appropriation, leaving seventh tenth
or $1,000 to be paid by the white people,
who residents Of the parish. OF the
81 200 paid hy the white people, fully
So. 500 is paid 10y the wealther class, leaving
$I,7uo to be paid by the white people of
modern means. The same figures will apply
to the proposed SPECIAL tax because three
mills will amount to 50" '!he Gazette
gives these figures in order to show those
VIII" are ''willing to tax them |
selves, bu: are unwilling to burden the
poorer classes With taNes''-to show those |
citizens that after all the
burden of taxation wifi not be borne by the |
masses.
The Gazette can not believe that any in
leIiigent man in the fourth ward or any other !
will refuse to pay tax of cents per acre,
for the education of the children of this par
sh. The fact that the required num-
Der of signatures were obtained in this pop
llouS parish less than four weeks is the
best Indication of the will of the people. 1t
$ the peoples cause and is hound to VIM
But Ee:orc closing The Gazette wishes to
pay its respect to the Rev. Father Tuhanni
tuquet, who, CoIing he does from that
model little republic, Switzerland, is imbued
With Democratic principles: and knowing
he truth this citizen priest ,ares to advocate
t plainly shown at the Iourgsville
meeting. Lafayette parish has reason to be
proud of this man of e. I'd.