The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1906-02-24
LET US MAKE A START.


erection Of a new court hous,
building until January, 1907. Wa!
drieattu by tie vote of the mem.
D-rs Of thai body. The BANNER
therefore conc,ufes from this &C.
ton OF The Police Jury that tn.
members thereof are unanimous
in their belief in the absolute ne.
cessity of this important public
improvements; thar they are uni
in the conclusion that this building
should be erected and differ only
as to the time OF its erection
This must be comforting news in
deed to the conservative public
that some time in the near future
at least the people are to have a
long needed suitable public struc-
ture adequate for the transaction
of public business and wherein
the records and title deeds of the
parish can be safely kept from the
corroding and destructive force of
| the elements.
If the members of the Police
Jury, who voted for the postpone
ment of the court house to a fixed
time, are sincere, land we freely
concede that they are sincere
concede that all public servants
do sincerely and only act on their
conception of what is best for the
public), the pivotal point in the
court house controversy is settled as
far as the police jury is concerned
that is, every member of that body
openly comedies the evident ne
cessity Of new court building.
Now, if this improvement is ne
cessary, why delay the prelimi-
nary steps leading towards its
erection and completion? Why
does not the Police Jury resolve
now that they will build a court
house? After such a resolution is
passed, the delays will be many
before actual work can be COM
menced.
The jury must first advertise for
plans. There should be allowed a
free and fair competition, and be-
fore plan is adopted there should
be full and careful scrutiny of
all plans presented with the pur-
pose, without favor, of selecting
the one best suited for a court
building. After the plan is adopt
ed. then there shou Id be compe-
tition between contractors bidding
for its construction. And withal
there should be appointed a COM
mittee composed of competent,
firm and careful men, to see to it,
that both the architect and con-
tractor strictly comply to the let
ter and spirit of their agreement.
These preIiminaries will of me-
cessity extend over a period of
several months. Therefore, we
think it better for the jury to COM
without delay, preparatory
especially as all agree that
the parish should have a new
court house, unless there is some
vital public cause for delay. That
cause can't possibly be for the
want Of means. Thanks to the
economy and wise judgment Of !
the present police jury our parish
has ample means. 1t is one of the |
richest parishes in the State; it is
cut Of debt and has a large cash !
surplus in its treasury.
But the argument is advanced |
by some as a reason for delay,
that the public roads are in a bad
and ample funds should
irst be expended for good roads.
We freely agree to that PROPOSE
ion, but the fact still remains
hat the surplus revenues of the
parish are sufficient to make good
he roads and at the same time
)uild court house. If the BAN
SER thought for one moment that
he building of a court house
would retard the repair and main
enance of the public roads, on a
ull reasonable basis, it would
RELY say that the postponement
II the former would be right. But
he facts show to the contrary,
The parish is fully able to accom-
dish both without one interfering
With the other and without the
BURDEN OF extra taxation. Both
therefore, being admittedly me-
essary; and the parish being
BILE to accomplish both within
Is revenues, the conclusion is not ,
My logical but just, that the po- {
ice jury should construct both.
nd construct them at once.
No better disposition can be
lade Of surplus revenues then by /,
uttlng them into necessary and l
ornament public improvements; S
4 such Improvements the people {
ct value received for their money t
nd they prevent at some time the
radual wasting away of idle pub c
c funds into nothing valuable or 4