The Opelousas courier., 1904-10-08
The Proposed Bond Issue.


la orr last issue We discussed the pro
nOsed school bond issue, and pronounced
against the expediency of the measure.
We recur to the subject in this issue to
advance additional reasons against the
adoption Of the proposition.
The proposed loan of $1,O0O,OOO is
suggested foi the purpose OF building
school houses. We respectfully sub
nit that the most pressing need just
now is not SO much that of school bu,ld-
ings, with all the modern appliances, as
more schooling. that is, more schools,
longer and more regular sessions, and
| If it were wise and advisable to increase
the already large bonded debt OF the
State by 81 600, 900, at three per cent in
terest, there would be more justification
| to do so for the purpose of attaining
these objects than for the obtention Of
the end proposed by the advocates of
the bond issne.
Again, the interest on the proposed
loan will mean an annual outlay of
$3.50, 900, or $750,000 for 25 years, the
proposed term of the bonds, and if the
bonds be not paid at maturity, then
$50, 900 annually thereafter until paid.
We respectfully submit that this an
nual sum of 100000 could be employed
to better advantage il added TO the
school fund set aside and apportioned
for school purposes.
The borrowing of the sum cOntem-
plated would be unwise and inadvisa-
BILE not only because it is i~nexpedient
to add to the bonded Indebtedness of
the State, which is already too large,
but also because it will tend to render
the people less self-reliant and to stir
up dissension among them over the
proper distribution of tue loan made at
their joint cost and expense.
As the law stands today, the people
of any parish, municipal corporation,
ward or school district may levy a ape
> cial tax by complying with the provis-
ions of article 232 of the Constitution,
to support their public schools and erect
/, public school houses, and already the
. people in various parishes, and even
school districts, have taxed themselves,
r and are still taxing themselves for such
purposes, thus exhibiting a splendid
: spirit of progress, enterprise and self
reliance, and setting others a noble ex-
1 ample most worthy of emulation.
t To effect the proposed bond issue, and
: to substitute governmental initiative
: and action to this private initiative,
e fruitful of praisewOrthy emulation and
e promotive of laudable pride, ia to strike
: a severe blow at the patriotic impulses
t and self reliance of the people,; to dry
8 the spring at it's source; to spread the
/ blight of paternalism over the growing
spirit of individual and collective en-
terprise, progress and energy manifest.
" ing itself among our people in various
n parts of the State, and promising to &C.
complish, by the process of a perhaps
slow but safe evolution, more wonder.
e full and lasting results than the advo.
Y Gates of the bond issue can ever hope tc
it bring about by waving the magic Wanc
d of a borrowed million.
e The distribution of the amount Dor
rowed is apt to create dissension ant
u stir up jealousy among our people
some will try to get undue advantag,
a from it.
Z. The distribution Of the 81, 1000, 00
q, among the various parishes would hav.
to be made on the basis of perfec
&C equality in order to be just and eqnit
4, able. The interest. Cd tue .laan and tht
principal thereof will bear equally upol
d all, and, consequently, the people as
d whole, will be equally entitled to shar
il. in the benefits derived from the loan
q To make the distribution upon az.
other basis than upon one of perfec
q. equality would be unjust, because j
Do would discriminate against some il
is favor of others.
le The discussion of the proper basis @
n distribution will bring on dissensio
Iy among the people; the adoption of
ID will most likely stir up animosity an
petty jealousy, so difficult is it alway
w to satisfy all the people.
T. The plan suggested by some of helL
he ing those parishes who help themselve'
th and in the ratio contributed by then
cannot therefore be thought of for on
moment because it violates the prime
pie of equality.
A parish may not contribute to th
u building of school houses, because
- needs them not, having already sur
'e piled that want itself, or because it ha
IL not the means to do So; in either case
~ would be a gross injustice to debar il
w people from participation in the CON
!; mon fund to which they will be con
a. pelled to contribute their quota, an
~ taking money forcibly from them Il
~ the benefit of others; nay, worse,
~ would be forcing not only the preser
-, generation. but also future generation
80 in such parish to thus contribute for til
T.; n exclusive benefit of others. Under tt
=. first hypothesis it would be punishin
10 thrift, energy and patriotism; undo
III the second, poverty.
"a This plan, therefore, and every Otht
,,f plan which dOeS not regard the prime
.arr pie of equality in the distribution
u the fund among the people of the var
GUS parishes, should be discarded
;, y unjust and negotiable, and one seen
:. ing equality adopted.
IT. Even now. before the time for Il
arrangement Of the details of the prof.
,ty osition has arrived, discussion and col
be tention have arisen; what will it |
when once the proposition has bee
fairly launched upon the sea of specl
l.. lation and experimentation, and is l
ma before the people for adoption or reje
rk. tionq
Indeed, the proposed bond issue,
pushed along to a head, may yet pro-
as disastrous to our people as the opel
ing of Pandora's box, and it would sa,
,,oII our people trouble, cost and expense
e screw down, without further delay, Il
"a lid of emphatic disapproval tight, e
w. the evils lurking in the alluring prop,
sition be turned loose, and to let I'll
proposition itself 'die aborning"-tl
as fate it richly deserves. Thibodar
%, Sentinel.
ial
ly. do It To-day"