The Opelousas courier., 1904-05-28
Baton Rouge Notes.

The new judicial bill to, be in
troduced provides for ,t"e@urts
of appeal in Louisiana, one Seing
in north and one in south Louis
lana, three judges being elected
in each.
The committee on parochial af-
fairs last Wednesday voted down
the proposition to divide the par
ish Of Calcasieu in order to create
a new parish. The committee
stood 9 to 5. The fight was hot
one and lasted all day, both sides
being numerously and ably repre-
sented. The advocates of the new
parish propose to continue the
fight in the House.
Mr.. Bailey, Of St. Landry, has
introduced an amendment to Acts
124 and 125 of the Constitution,
providing that whenever a vacancy
occurs in the office of district at
torney or clerk of the district
court by death, resignation or
otherwise, it shall be filled by ap-
pointment of the Governor. Mr..
Railey's amendment proposes that
where more than a year of the
term remains it shall be filled by
an election of the people. A sim
liar bill affecting district judges
is to be submitted to the conven-
tion of lawyers which is to meet
here on the 9Th of June.
N. O. States, May 21.-Editor
Steidley, of the Lake Charles
Press, ehsd an interview with
Gov Blanchard yesterday in con-
nection with the use of his name
for the vacancy in the State Land
Office resulting from the election
of Register Smith as Treasurer.
Mr.. Steidley's friends believe he
is entitled to recognition. Strong
pressure is being brought to bear
on the Governor to do something
for Gen. Jumel, and his name is
being suggested for the same Of
fee. The names of Mr.. II. E.
Estorge and of ex-senator Boone
have already been mentioned ir
this correspondence as eligibles
and friends Of. George O. Elm'
| of Calcasieu, and Col. Tom Sci
lers of Union, would like to SEE
them favored. It is believed tc
be the Governors desire to give
the appointment to southwestern
Louisiana, and it is considered
probable that Mr.. Estorge will
get the place if he wants. H
| made fight against odds in st
Landry for Gov. Blanchard, ant
the Governor is disposed to taxi
care of him somewhere.
| N. 0. Picayune, May 25.-Gov
Blanchard proposes to enforc
the requirements for justices o
the peace to the very letter
Many of those chosen over tn
| State, who are now asking TO
their commissions, appear to hav
| forgotten the law relative to jus
tices of the peace, and that the
have to submit to an examinatlo
by the Board of School Examin
ers, and that they must be abl
to read write the English lar
guage and must be citizens O
ssgood moral character. y Gov
Blanchard wants the men he CON
missions over the State as ju'
tices of the peace to be able t
pass muster under the qualific;
tions of this law, and, according
} II, he has directed Secretary
) State Michel to see that the TO
lowing is rigidly enforced:
Act No. 155 of 1898, relative
) justices Of the peace, sets fort
,, the following:
Section |. Be it enacted by tt
, General Assembly of the State I
! Louisiana, That in addition to IL
!. qualifications prescribed by art
!. Gle - Of the Constitution, ju
tices of the peace shall be able
read and write the English la
guage correctly and be citizens
good moral character and stan
: ing in the community IN whi'
. thev are elected or appointed
t serve.
i Section 2. That no commissi'
. shall hereafter be issued to a
: person as justice of the peace U
r til he shall have fled in the Off
J. of the Governor or Secretary
@ State a certificate signed by t
Board of School Examiners sho
i ing that he possessed all OF t
i qualifications required of him
n law.