New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1907-10-19
NEW IBERIA, ST. MARTIN &
NORTHERN x. X.

The last election for the New
, Iberia, St. Martin and Northern
/ railroad will be held in St. Ian
dry Parish on the fifteenth inst.
although according to the ST.
Landry Clarion there was mar
row margin by which it escaped
being called of. In an account
OF the difficulty the paper quot
ed says;
"Ihe proposed four mill tax
in aid ot the New iberia, St.
| Martin & Northern Railroad,
sought to be levied in the third
ward OF this parish, came near
meeting premature death at
the hands Of the Police Jury
last Nuesday.
"Ihe election is ordered to be
held OH next Tuesday, the 9Th,
and the fight pro and con has
been spirited. The opponents
of the tax, however, thought
they would strike a death blow
even before the encounter, and
appeared through counsel, MIR.
b. II. Pavy, before the Police
Jury, Monday and male the
point that the petition asking
for the election was not signed
by one third of the taxpayers OF
the ward, as the law requires,
and asked for an investigation.
"Ihe Police Jury appointed
committee composed of Mes
srs. Daley, Savant and GuilIory,
and these gentlemea, after care
tuI examination, reported that
the contest of the tax opposition
was well founded, as they (the
committed found that only s.
of az qualified voters in the
3rd ward had signed the peti
tlon asking that an election be
called The committee found
that many of the signers owned
no property, while Others who
owned property were not other
wise qualified.
"After much discussion, how
ever, the Police Jury, by vote
of eight to tour, decided to per-
NIT the election to be pulled off
as scheduled, the majority tax.
ing the view that as the peti
tiorers for the election had had
no opportunity to be heard, it
would not be full justice to take
"snap Judgment" on them.
"The fact that the parish is
put to no expense for the cleo
ton had much to do with in
fluencing the majority OF the po-
lice jury to take this course, as
it also had in leading il to ac-
cepting the statement OF MIR.
Wslch, who represented the
railroad and petitioners at the
previous meeting of the police
jury when the election was Or
dered, that the petition bore the
required two thirds OF the quail
fed voters of the 3rd ward. Mr..
Welch in his address to the Jury
stated positively that such was
the case, and guaranteed that
the railroad people weuld bear
the entire expense OF calling and
holding the election. Acting
upon these positive assurances,
backed with guarantee OF de-
fraylng the expenses, the police
jury failed to make the custom
airy investigation as to whether
or not a sufficient number OF the
slgners of the petition were
qualified to sign. The face OF
the petition showed that the re.
quired number had signed, and
as "Welch paid the freight" OF
the election they naturally
thought that he had satisfied
himself that he was not carrying
along ballast.
"The election will be held
tuesday, cas- advertised" and
both side are confident of win
ming the dav.
"Ihe proposed four-mill tax
is in aid of the New iberia, 81.
Martin Il Northern Railroad
which IS to run from Abbevillr
through New iberia and St.
Martlnvllle, and striking this
parish at ArnaudvilIe and run-
ming through the thira ward to
as far as Port Barre, eight miles
from Onelousae