The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1903-01-10
SATURDAY, JAN. 10, 1903.

SATURDAY, JAN. 10, 1908.
Judge Aliens Charge.
AS previously announced the
Grand Jury of the Parish of st.
Mary met at the Court House
last Wednesday. Judge A. c..
Allen charged the Jury on
It's duties, which was one of the
most mastery and best delivered
addresses made by any Judge
In the history of this Parish. His
Honor charged this august body
to look carefully into the various
conditions of the parish and See
IT the officers appointed were full
filing their duties according to
law. He called the attention of the
Jury that it was their duty to ex-
anime into the condition of the
Parish money and ascertain
whether or not those who are en-
trusted with the collection and
paying out of same are perform.
Inc. their trust satisfactorily, and
not to confine their examination
TO Parish officers only, but to all
officers of incorporated towns in
the Parish, to ascertain whether
Or not they perform the duties re-
quired of them in wise expendi-
ture Of the public funds.
According to a report furnished
the Judge by the Secretary of the
Police Jury it shows that the pres
cnt Police Jury has governed the
affairs of the parish in a most
economical and satisfactory man
ner. It is calculated that when
the tax collector makes his settle
ment for the year 1902, the Parish
viii be out Of debt with surplus
9cf about $4,000, the expenditures
Of the Parish for the past eight
months being only SIT 1000.
The assessed value of the prop
erty Of st. Mary parish, leaving
i out the, towns of Morgan City and
Franklin, is ST, 26O, sos, the taxes
against this property amounts to
3Si, 200 "a, add to this the annual
licenses, which amounts to about
Sc, 600, making a total fund, in
round numbers, of $53, 900, at the
disposal Of the Police Jury for the
expenses of the year 1903. The
three mills taxes for school pur-
poses il not included in this.
According to the budget adopted
by the Police Jury, the expenses
81 the parish, for this year, can
not exceed more than $50, 600.
His Honor went on to say
that there 10 every reason to be
assured that the Police Jury will
conduct the affairs of the parish
as wisely and economically in the
future az they have done in the
past; therefore the parish for the
j year 1908 will have over $4,000
and q surplus Of at least SIS, 900.
Judge Allen, in the course of his
remarks to the Grand Jury, made
special mention of the necessity
% building o new court house for
the parish Of St. Mary. He CALI
cd their attention to the present
terrible condition of the public
building Ia the parish; also to the
public square which, of late has
been badly neglected. The square
q present 10 q mere bog-hole and
II vet weather almost i'm passable,
and the trees, due to lack of at
tention, are last dying. His Hon
or also requested the Jury that
they make recommendations for
the erection Of q modern court
house, that will serve the needs of
the public and be q monument to
the parish. The Judge said that
the present 1urt house is o dis
grace to the civilization of this
y parish; and were it not for the
Iron braces which holds it up the
Winds would soon topple it over.
The court room Is in an unsani-
tary condition with no accommo-
dalton for the lawyers, officers
and others in conducting their
business. The vaults for the keep9
Ing Of tho records are small and
unsafe, and were q Are to occurl
these records would be destroyed.
The Parish ~ st. Mary to-day
10 out Of debt and is now in q
position to transact all her busi-
ness on. Z cash basis. She is in a
position now to expend between
t10, 600 and $f2, 900 . year for a
new court house without the levy
in9 Of one cent extra taxation.
SOn this basis court house to
/ cost about 500, 900 could be erecs-
ed; such an Improvement would
Show the enterprise and prosper
~ cvinOed by this, the richest
parish ID the State.
We oaxnestly hope that the
Grand Jury now In session will
not adjourn without needing the
advice OF Judge Allen, and make
recommendations for new court
house.
4 Signor Marconi last week me
cessfully sent wireless meoeages
bstween Cape Breton, Canada, and
<4aS9mnfl. Rn0land.