The Opelousas courier., 1905-09-30
Reply to Push.
Opelousas, La, Sept. 81, 1905

SpoAoeoat t ~
Mr.. Editor
Anent Mr.. "Push's' communication
in the last issue of your paper, l have
to say: That l am now, as L was when
the question was first brought forward,
eyer willing and ready to submit the
proposition for n decision to q vote OF
the people of the town OF Opelousas.
However, when the matter shall have
gone before the people, / reserve to my
self the right of deciding on which side
of the question my vote shall be cast.
As d member of the Board of Aldermen
/ always endeavOr to do that which
seems to be in accord with the wishes
of the people; but, as an individual, on
questions of this kind / think and act
for myself without being influenced in
any way by the wild dreams of "Push,"
'Pusher,n or pushed as to the "demon
which may cast a pail over this commu-
nifty and smother our growth beneath
it's deadly shadow"
am against the sewerage tax at the
present time, Mr.. Editor, even though
/ know it to be q good thing where con-
ditiOns warrant, because / believe that
the people of this community who are
now paying q six mill state tax, a ten
mill parish tax, a ten mill town tax, Il
live mill rail road tax, a two mill water
works tax, and who are now about to
vote another five mill tax in the aid of
the Colorado Southern r. R., in addi-
ton to the licenses which they have to
pay to run their shops or ply their pro
~fessions, are fast approaching q cOndi-
ton of affairs which will vest the owner
ship of our little homes in the hands of
q few ''mOnied" men. 1t wont take
much more push" of this kind to
drive the Clerk. the small Grocery, the
artisan and the workman, right ont in
the "T'all-timbers. Tie people want to
hear the truth! Let them know that
sewerage is n costly thing even after
yOn have paid the tax. They paid the
water works aud electric light tax but
they get nary a drop of either without
putting up "the dough-" Let them
know that it takes water to run the
sewerage apparatus and that the
meter will measure every gallon of it
flowing through their "home, sweet
home" at the rate of 30 much per gal.
Let them know also that the block
which has no privies, either because
vacant or because unfortunately it is in
the "TaIl-timbersn will pay its pro rata
and get water, etc.-if they put np the
costs of running connection to Mr..
Great "PUSH'S" backyard!
Because / happen to side with the
people OF the subnrbs,-Mr. Push wants
me to tell through the columns of the
paper where the money which the town
authorities received for licenses etc,
have gone. If Mr.. Push had read the
proceedings of the town Board of Al
dsrmen published in the Official Jour,
nal of the town he would lot have to
ask this question. However, for his
benefit. / will state that since | have
been q member of the Board of Alder
men all monies collected by the town
authorities and paid out by them were
detailed in statements or reports filed
in the proceedings and duly published
30 that all interested parties might
have neither the time or the disposition
TO furnish MIR. Push or any other Pushsr
II detailed account; bat, IL be will 60
over his files of the official Journal of
the town. or, better yet, il he will call
at the town Office be will find books
which the public have a right to zee
which will furnish him all the informa-
ton desired, showing receipts, disburse-
ments, ETC., and where balance deposit
ed, etc.
liz Mr.. "Pushn had brought his ordi-
nance providing for the submission OF
the question TO the people before the
Board of Aldermen, at their last meet
ing, instead OF writing essays on typhoid
and privies, he might now be riding on
that great sewerage wave which ex-
ist nowhere else but in the fevered i'm
agination nc his brain.
To my mind, Mr.. Editor, over taxa
tion ID the greatest danger to this com
munity and the real demon which may
cast Il pail over this community and
smother our growth beneath its dead.
ly shad0ws.n Remember that the as
sessment increases just as fast as The
rate of taxation.
HOMER VENTRE.