The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1904-06-22
1imes-D Democrat. June IS.

A~'mes-Democras. June IS.
The Davis bill, proposing a consti-
sutional amendment that will allow of
me organization Of new parishes in
. we event the people wish them. is in
: d main an excellent measure, and,
2Flth some slight .t:pges, should be
adopted and sub itsed to the popular
vote, which, We believe, would ap-
prove SO democratic a measure.
The Iegislo. -..e is not the best Judge
of whet1~ tew parish should be
created, as at can not thoroughly
know the conditions in favor of the
division. The hearings on this sub
ject before the Legislative Committee
are never as complete as they should
be; and the fact that the parish officers
are almost always opposed to a divi-
sion, which reduces their patronage,
power and revenue, is given undue
weight by the Legislature. The ques-
ton is rarely considered from the
standpoint of the people, who are
most in interest in the matter.
No new parish has been created
under the present Constitution of the
State, and the manner in which the
petitions have been treated by the
present Legislature gives little hope
that there will be any change of
policy, although the changing cOndi-
tions in Louisiana, produced by
immigration, warn us that we are
likely to have a very awkward and
clumsy condition of affairs unless we
arrange some plan by which new
parishes may be created whenever
necessary. Only one parish was
created under the Constitution of 1879,
that of Acadia in 1886. During the
past thirty-three years, during which
the population of Louisiana has
doubled, there have been but two new
parishes created, and one of these
NWest Carroll) should never have
been organized, being entirely too
small in population.
The Republicans during their short
regime of four years created eight
parishes-Grant Iberia, Lincoln, Red
River, Tangipahoa, Cameron, Vernon
and Webster. While Louisiana has
been organizing n new parish,
Florida, which has grown no more
rapidly, has Gre six new counties
and South Cor JANA, which grows
more slowly, has turned out seven.
tn ne is true of all the other
- Evidently our present system
Is too restrictive, preventing the
creation Of lev parishes when the
people want them and when they are
necessary.
As, however, it is desirable to limit
the subdivision of the State except
when necessary and justiiable and
thusrcheck the increase in the number
of officials, there should be some
Aproyision, similar to that in other
Etate Constitutions, limiting q new
parish as to size and population. No
new parish should be created Of less
area than 600 square miles or of less
population than 1900 to Il, 1000 mol
should such parish be created when
its secession leaves the original
parish Or parishes from which it is
taken below these minimums. It is
not desirable to cut Louisiana up into
. great number of petty divisions in
order to create more Offices and make
each town . parish seat: and the new
parish should be large enough and
rich enough to support its local
government without burden to its
population or starvation to its off,
Gals.
We believe that the Legislature ca
improve the law in this respect or,
rather, permit the people to do SO, in
. way that will result in good 70 the
State, encourage immigration, render
justice less expensive and better
assure the preservation of peace and
order.
Trlwmphs Of Modern Surgery.
Wonderful things are done for the