New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1905-07-08
AND OBSERVER CONSOLIDATED
"a WORD OF cENsURE."

"a WORD OF cENSURE."
The Enterprise does not desire to
unduly or unjustly cri&icise the pres
emit City Administration. 1t recog-
nizes that this administration after
having been elected by majority of
the electors of the City, is entitled to
the cooperation of all good citizens
in every effort that might be made for
the betterlnent and Improvement OF
the City, and this Journal proposes to
accord it unsinted support in what
ever might be inaugurated for the
greater development Of our municipal
life. We are convinced that the
Mayor and the gentlemen constituting
the Board Of Teustees are animated
with a desire to give the City OF New
Iberia q good, economical and honora-
BILE administration, and SO knowing
we regret exceedingly that our duty
as journalist forces us at 80 early
day to condemn with emphasis an or
dinance adopted by the Board Of Trus-
tees and approved by the Mayor at
recent meeting.
We a1lude to the ordinance exoner-
ating all liquor dealers who have not
paid, from the payment of anything
ON the license ordinance for the year
1904. The reasons given for this act
will not bear scrutiny. They are
faulty in logic and inaccurate IN
statements. Argue as You may, the
fact remains that the Supreme Court
Of the State Of Louisiana has decided
that every liquor dealer in the City Of
New iberia owes license tax for the
year 1904, and for the Council and
Mayor to assume to take issue with
the Supreme Court is farcical to say
the least.
In addition to this, number OF Ii
quor men have paid by compromise
ave hundred $500. 00) dollars each to
the City Treasury, and remarkable
and astounding as it may appear, yet
tie present administration under the
6xtlinance in question does not propose
to return to them the amount and thus
put them on An equality with the
other liquor dealers who have paid
nothing. The injustice and Unequal.
ity OF this situation is manifest and
the discrimination cannot be defended
in the forum Of conscience or law.
Assuredly all liquor dealers should
be placed ON the same footing. Much
is said in the preamble to the ordi-
nance as to the conduct Of the prior
administration with reference to the
collection Of these Licenses. Some Of
these structures may be just, but some
are unjust and inaccurate. However,
tho fact remains that the Dupuy ad.
ministration never perpetrated such
high handed, unfair and indefensible
act.
Moreover, even il what is said be
trne, that is no justification. The
Mayor and Board of Trustees of the
City Of New Iberia hold no commits
sion to give away the funds Of the
City.
At all hazards, il funds are to be
given away, let everybody be given
his share. All considerations Of fair
ness, justice and equity demand that
tho saloon people who have paid
should be given their respective
amounts back or should receive .
corresponding credit for the license to
b due next year.
There is another unfortunate cir
cumstAnce in connection with this
ordinance, and that Is that the City
Administration acted without con-
sulting m attorney, Mr.. A. J. Cam
mack, the City Attorney, being rs
sociated with HON. r. F. Broussard
in defending the liquor men who
hare paid nothing, properly recused
himself.
We say. all Of this in spirit Of
candor AMI without any intention Of
the motives Of any gentle
men concerned. We repeat that we |
are ceEtain that all Of these gentlemen
involved ana honorable and upright |
md are INSPIRED in al Of their acts
81 thetr sense o. right; nevertheless |
they hare erred eeregiously, and we
trust that the error will BE- remedied.