The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1904-10-29
JUDGE BARKsDALE's VIEWS.
Corrected Statement of His Position With
Reference to the Proposed Com
stitutional Amendments.

Corrected Statement of HIS RosibtOn w ala
Reference to the Proposed Con-
stitutional Amendments.
M its issue of Sept. 10 The Chief re-
produced letter from Judge Allen
Barksdale, OF Ruston, to the New Or
leans Times Democrat, containing an
expression of the distinguished jurist's
views as to the way the people ought
to vote on the several proposed amend
ments of the state constitution which
are to be submitted to the Louisiana
electorate in November. }Inadyert-
emily the heading and Introductory
comments with which we prefaced the
letter misrepresented Judge Barks-
dale's attitude with reference to sew
.eral al the amendments, and it is with
much pleasure that We give space to
the following communication for the
purpose of correcting the unintentiona
error and setting. the Judge right be-
fore our readers:
RusToN, La, Sept. 16, 1904.
EDITOR CHIEF, Donaldsonville, La:
Your marked copyof Sept. 10 cached
me in due time. I thank you for the
expressions of friendliness to myself.
note, however, in your heading that
you make this remark: incidentally
the Judge advocates the defeat OF all
the proposed amendments except the
one providing for an increase OF the
pensions of needy confederate vet
erans.'' In this you are mistaken. II
YOU will notice, the last clause of my
letter to tie Times Democrat OF Aug
ust 81 was as follows: 'sVote down
every single amendment proposed thai
will increase the expenses OF the state
except the one which increases the
amount which may be appropriated
for the pensions OF needy ex-eonfed-
crates. /" By this expression | mean
vote down the million-dol1ar bond
issue: vote down the increase IN the
salaries of the attorney general and
of the superintendent of public edu
cation; vote down everything thai
increases money to be paid out by
the state. Do not vote down the
amendments which carry with them the
right to elect officers, such as judges 81
the supreme court, and to ill va
cancies ia the Office of clerks, sheriffs,
district judges and district attorneys
IF your people will but think of the
expenses of the state government ane
of the clauses stated in these articles
as proposed, they will vote agains
them unanimously, i. e., those inereas
ing expenses.
! Then notice that in the million-dollal
| bond transaction, banks may inves
their entire capital in these bonds ane
pay taxes on neither the capital mol
| the bonds. We do not know who is tt
manage this million dollar fund. l:
that to be done by the school board:
/ appointed by the state board OF edu
| cation, dictated to as it is by the gov
ernor and Mr.. Aswell, and men picket
i out contrary to the wishes of the PEG
| pie in the parishes where they are tt
/ do their work? The proposed court o
| appeals will cost the people $22, O0t
per annum more than to have oul
courts of appeal as at present, ar
ranged by the constitution Of 1898. TIT
extra Judge in Caddo will cost thu
state $4,000 per annum more, when il
truth and in fact the legislature coult
arrange for a district judge from SOM
other district to occasionally go II
i Caddo and assist the judge there whel
he has more work than persisten
labor would accomplish. The docke
| in Caddo is unquestionably crowded
but Judges OF districts nearby hav
| plenty Of time to assist the Judge 3
that district. Respectfully,
Il u "A A