The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1908-01-25
Hr. Pharr Reviews the Work of the
Extra Session.

Republican nominee for governor, adj
dressed the following letter to his
campaign committee:
"Replying to your request for my
views on the work of the extra session
of the legislature, | beg to state that,
from a general standpoint, long step
has been taken by the Democratic
party toward reforming many abuses
that sprung up under its own DONNA
tion. | had hoped, however, that in
view of the impending election, much
more would have been accomplished
for the people. That so little was done
under such pressing circumstances, is
proof positive to my mind that the
people need never look to the Democ-
racy for genuine reform. | am con-
WINGED that as much has been done as
will ever be done by the party in
power.
81 have therefore expressed my re-
greet that the governor did not include
in his call for this extra session the
absolute prohibition of book making
aud race track gambling in any form
and statutory state high license I re
gard these as the two great pressing
questions of the day and it seems to me
that the failure of the Democratic party
to act on these subjects at this time
marks it as being in league with the
powers that are making for evil in
Louisiana.
"Of the measures of reform that re-
ceieed favorabla ,n>ideration, each
and every one WIS advocated in my
platform issued Octo Der "A, 1907, and
adopted by the Republican party as
it's own declaration of principles. In
most instances, however, the legisla-
ture stopped far short of what should
have been done. This was notably the
case with reference to the assessors of
the city of New Orleans, where the old,
cumbersome, expensive and strictly
political board of seven assessors re-
mains.
81 am convinced that the best inter-
ests of the state require one assessor,
elected by the people from the city at
large, who, with four assistants, Sc
lected strictly through the merit sys-
tenn, shall constitute the board of as
SCISSORS of the city of New Orleans.
The assistant assessors should remain
in Office during good behavior and eff
icient service, while the assessor, who
would be the directing head of the
board. should be elected every four
years. The salary of the assessor
should be $4,000 per annum; that of the
assistant assessors should be $500
per annum. The entire Office force, as
we'll as that of the tax collector, should
be put on civil service basis, where
merit, and not political pull, should
settle all questions OF employment and
promotion. The speeches made in the
legislature with reference to the as
SCISSORS and the political nature of their
work, should open the eyes of the peo-
pie to the necessity for immediate and
complete changes. I am positive, the
cost of assessments in New Orleans
could be reduced $4,000 per annum
under the system propose, besides the
advantage of fairness and equity that
would result.
"Again, in reducing the fees OF
the sheriffs and assessors through
out the state, and in failing to
act on the fees of the clerks Of court,
the legislature fell far short of it's
duty. | am satisfied that a further
saving of 100000 per annum to the
people could be accomplished by plsc-
ing these Offices on salaried basis
ranging from minimum of $500 to
a maximum of $4,000 per annum.
There should have been COM
plete and arreaching investigation
of the levee boards throughout the
state. There are at present fourteen
such boards, each with an army of en-
ployees, including high salaried at
secretaries, ETC., and seven
teen per cent of the taxes collected for
levee purposes by these boards is ex-
pended for official salaries and per-
quisites. All of this should be wiped
out and the levees turned over to one
board, who should be advised by the
attorney general. In due course OF
lime under Republican administration,
he national government can be IN
1uced to take entire charge of the le-
wee system and the eoneentr alton of
his work as here indicated would IA
,ilitate and hasten this result, while
marking a great saving of expense to
he whole state.
The provision for appointment OF
/ travelling auditor was step back
Yards. The stripping OF the appoint
We power of the governor and the Gre
ltion of no new Offices has been the
desire of The people of late
ears. This work could well have !
'een left to the bank examiner and
lis assistant.
II think the Legislature made mis-
axe in proposing constitutional
amendments depriving litigants OF the
light to 60 into the United States
odrts, and placing autocratic powers
q the hands of the railroad commits
ion. while refusing 10 permit The