The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1908-01-18
st, Martinvillp, La, Jan. is, 1903

st. Martinville. La. Jan. Is. 1903
To The Weekly Messenger:
In answer to and in explanation of an |
article In the New Orleans PIcayUha
from their Baton Rouge correspondent,
the article by the way bearing all the ear
marks of some political headquarters
We wish to say this article appears to
us to be Q poorly concealed attempt to
prove that Sheriff Pellerin has not turn
ed over to the State Treasurer all mo
nsys collected by his Office for the lie
vee Board.
This Is all absurd and untrue, a. the
Levee Board and State Treasurer them
selves very we'll know. This is no qaes-
tion Of non settlement but of BOn col
lection; Ia other words, Sheriff Pellerin.
not having collected any produce taxes.
be very naturally had no produce tax
money to settle for.
The facts are First that the sheriff was
not furnished by Assessor Guidrv with
an assessment roll Of the produce tax
for the year 1908 and at that time We
wrote to the Lsvee Board informing it
OF this fact. Later acting upon advices
received by us from the board, We called
upon the assessor aud then upon the De
putty Clerk of Court, and We inquired
whether any such assessment existed or
was ever made and we were then told
that there wa none on die.
So the whole matter was dropped by
OFT Office, as we were then as we are
now OF the opinion that no produce tax
could be collected correctly by the
Sheriff unless the parish assessor first
6led assessment Of these taxes as the
law provided.
Secondly we will say that upon re-
ceiving the assessment roll of 1907,
which by the way was the Gully produce
tax assessment ever furnished us by the
Assessor. we sent out Deputy and de-
nanded payment from every person sub,
ject TO this tax. In every case. however
payment was refused Us.
The demand referred to above was
made.at the expressed request of the
Levee Board.
Now Sheriff Psllsrin has always felt thai
this tax is q very unjust one and a great
and well-nigh crushing burden upon
On already tax ridden section
Of our people. / mean those. resi-
ding on the East side of Bayou Tech'
Who are paying in mill and acreage le-
wee taxes alone. very often as much a
two and three times the total amount o
their state and parish taxes put togeth
Or, and yet are without Levee Protection
shall wonder then that the people tot
tering under this most unfair addition
70 their already abnOrmally swollen ia!
bills, are found protesting aloud and ur
gently demanding some relief.
And shall wonder either il She'll
Pelleriu hasn't been in very great hurr
TO squeeze this tax out Of poor people
pocket by using the strong arm Of tn
law In order to do 50. In fact Mr. Pei
TERM has always felt that he should nt
force collection upon these peoples un
less he himself was ~ hardpressed b
the Leyee Board a. to leave him, no e'
cape but for him to do 50.
10 the absence Of ME-. Pellcrin fro'
town have deemed 1t to be my duty
give out for publication correct stat'
meut Of the matter feeling it to be b.
right and fair that the people shou
know. Mr.. Editor, the exact status
the present controversy.
Yours very respectfully.
EDMUND NJ. FOURNEf.
DIV sheriff & Elk 0fficiO tax collect