The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1906-06-01
AN EXPENSE TO THE PEOPLE.
Copy OF Letter by F. VI. WeIch, Print
ed in Times. Democrat.

| Inc Legislature or Louisiana Will
convene in regular session to-day
Much interest is being manifested in
the subjects which the Governors mes
sage will deal with, as the great wave
of economic measures in politics is the
principal topic of the day throughout
the country, and the taxpayers of
| Louisiana are very much interested,
wishing to know if the coming Legis-
lature will be business session and
act upon lines that will be to the gener-
al welfare of the State in cutting down.
expenses and taxation, at the same
time placing high license on a bust.
ness that can best pay it and do the
greatest number of people the lestl
harm.
There are several legislative matters
which should be taken up and laws
passed that will save the people of this
State several hundred thousand dol.
lars that would help to supply the
demands for money made upon our
Legislature for education, immigra-
ton, good roads, etc. Laws should be
passed placing the sheritfs, clerk of
the court assessor and tax collect.
ors of the State salary basis.
There is not another State in
the Union that would submit or
does submit TO such outrageous sal
aries which are paid the sheritfS,
clerks of court and assessors of this
State. Nor would any other State,
corporation or individual pay the "a
mount which is paid the State tax
collectors of the city of New Orleans
for the service rendered. There GER
tainly can be no reason why the taxes
of the State, amounting to seven mills
in the city of New Orleans, should not
be collected by one tax collector, as is
done by the city where they collect
twenty two mills and only receive, as
| am reliably informed. about s., 900
instead of paying something over
100000 under the present arrange
ment to the State tax collectors for
collecting the seven mills.
This cannot be claimed by the city
members of the Legislature to be a
city issue; it is a State issue as the
funds belong to the State--not to the
city. Therefore every country men,
Der has an equal right and interest
with his vote in this matter which a
city member has. The sheritfS of some
of the Parishes Of this State are this
year receiving from $l5, 900 to nearly
So, 900 in different ways through the
commissions, court openings, etc. as
under the new law the courts are open
a greater portion of the year, and each
time they are opened the sheriff is en-
titled to - for declaring the court
opened.
There can be no reason given why
the officers of this State should receive
any more pay than the sherlffs, clerks
of court. assessors and tax collectors
of Texas, Mississippi. Alabama, Miss
Our!, Iowa and other States. This
matter should be governed according
to population, assessed valuation and
the area covered by the parishes, and
stipulated salary fixed for each par
iSh, and all commissions or fees
of any kind paid into the sheritf's clerk
of court, assessor or tax collectors
office, which exceed the amount named,
should 90 into the parish or State
treasury and be devoted to public
schools, good roads, the old COnfeder-
ate soldiers and immigration work.
No doubt hard fight will be made
by the different officers affected by
such lawto defeat it, and if they find
that they cannot defeat the law they will
try to postpone its effect until their
term of Office for which they were elect.
ed or appointed expires. There can
be no reason why any extension should
be made. The State needs every dol
lar which the tax PAYERS pay into the
State treasury, and if proper laws are
enacted the saving to the State in fees
of the officers named will amount to
several hundred thousand dollars,
which can be used for the purposes
above named.
The question arises, who is the man
of the hour in the Legislature to take |
thisrnatter up and stand for the rights
of the people as against the few office
holders who. with the influence which |
their enormous salaries give them alb
solute control the politics of the
State, the people having no voice 10
its affair. Every interest of this State
demands an immigration station in
this city and if the State taxsscOllectOrs,