The Opelousas courier., 1905-05-06
The Parish Printer Causes the
Police Jury More Trouble.

Police Jury More Trouble.
On April 22d we published the
following article:
If the thoughtful citizen would
like to have a pointer as to how
the parish funds are administered,
he should read the list of claims
approved at the two last meetings
of the Police Jury. Some of those
claims will almost take his breath
away. Evidences of graft are
sticking out all over them, but so
far as we know not a voice was
raised against their approval.
Gentlemen, you are not careful
enough in this matter of approv-
ing claims.
On last Monday, May 1st, COM
mlttee appointed by the Police
jury, which had just assembled
in its regular monthly meeting,
called at our Office to demand an
explanation and sJbstantiation of
our statements. We told the COM
mittee, which consisted of Messrs
Guillory and Daley, two of the
most respected members Of that
body, that in the nature of the
case positive and direct proof was
perhaps inaccessible to us, but so
confident were we that the Police
Jury itself had in its possession,
or could easily adduce the proofs
of much grating, we promised, if
they gave us a little time, to for
mulate a more definite and con-
elusive answer.
AS these gentlemen expressed
the opinion that our criticisms
were construed in some quarters
as directed against some particu-
lar member of the Police Jury,
we assured the committee that the
article made no charge against any
individual member, and its read
ing did not justify any such con-
struction; but it did apply to he
Police Jury, as a body, for its
loose methods in approving claims,
which left the door open to men
less conscientious than themselves
who might be disposed to tak ke ad-
vantage of the opportunity to over.
charge the parish: such things had
been done before by unscrupulous
grafters, and it would be the part
of wisdom to bear in mind the old
saying that "when you dance with
a bear you should"keep an eye OF
your partner.
We knew that it would be diff
cult to prove to the satisfaction
of a majority of the Police Jury
that the several hundred claims
recently approved, or any of them
were not perfectly honest, just anc
reasonable; and we were in a guam
| dry for moment as to what mean:
to adopt in order to convince
body of men, most of whom wers
desperately opposed to being con
vinced. But only for moment
We remembered that the Clarion
had had several bills approved a
the last meeting, and then WI
knew the task assigned us by th'
committee would prove to be al
easy one, after all. For we knew
the Clarion had an unfortunat'
; habit of making ''mistakes" sucl
, as we had elaborately and con
vincingly exposed some years ag'
t to the public and to "a forme
Jury; and though we feared tina
t a similar exposure now would re
t suit, as it did then, in the heap
t ing of additional honors and fay
] ors upon the unfortunate victil
! Cor beneficiary of these ''mi<
t takes" we saw that no othe
means Of demonstrating the acct
= racy Of our charges with sue
: mathematical precision as mus
:. carry aUSUluCG COuF lStiOA W SsSh
q mind, and we called that aftel
, noon upon the clerk of the Polio
: Jury for these bills. One glanc
Z revealed an ove1charge of $24
the very first item, and we calle
the attention of the clerk, who
himself printer, to the fact.
. The next morning we appeare
before the Police Jury, and b
! fore handing them the followir
d communication we requested i
8 insertion in the minutes, to whic
s the President agreed, and no ol
i lection was then made by al
e member of the Jury:
'e at is impossible for me to We
d Iify the nature of the 15S approve
i claims published March 18th, as
on, not sufficiently familiar wi