The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1908-01-25

1 ASCIlu6 IuCAuuluS Que d. JcducIctIe
on January 9th, 1908
III It was on only January 18th, 1905
that in letter of Sheriff Henderson
addressed to Congressman BrOussard
> that he alleged that his taxes on hi
D Second Ward plantation for the year
1906 and 1907, had been paid Il
december 1907.
o In my platform written man.
months ago. l said:"As Sheriff, m.
books will be open at all times for in
spection and investigation by an,
citizen, by the Police Jury and By
c the Court; and a list Of the citizen!
: who shall have paid their poll taxes
shall be posted from day to day and
open to public inspection at the Sher.
IFS Office during legal hours"
IF elected Sheriff promise that nc
: such report will ever be turned into
Court, as the following excerpt which
l quote from the Grand Jury of June
18TH, 19Ol.
Sheriff's Office:
The books, blanks and Parish ac-
count of the Sheriff's Office were de-
liyered to us upon application. We
find that the stationery furnished
this Office, is anything but in keeping
with its Importance, License blanks
furnished by the State are poorly pad
ded and the stubs are not properly
numbered, thus making it impossible
to properly check the Office up.
The Parish license books are no i'm
provement over those OF the State,
but. on the contrary are less business
like.
The parish license are not num-
bered, or limited and the receipts due
the Parish depend all together upon
ate honesty OF the Collector, and the
ohoroughness of his duty.
In order 10 correctly check up this
Office i would require personal Wis
Il on the part Of your Committee to
every place of business in the Parish
dhd there to personally inspect the
license. License blanks unnumbered
and in irregular quantity are some
times found in the same book when
they should be kept separately.
The book provided for application
for licenses is improperly kept. This
book exhibits statements upon the |
part Of license applications that are
glaringly untrue, and the practice Of |
making these glaringly untruthful af-
fidavits of the amount Of business
done in order to secure properly grad
ed license is almost universal; and
those who truthfully present their
business receipts are rare exceptions.
The law requires that all parties
SO applying be sworn before signing
the application, but this is not done.
The applications are even not correct
ly filled out in other respects. Some
show the stub only filled in, others
being signed In blank. many filled
unsigned, and many partially com
pleted, and the effort Of business men
and firms to pay minimum license re-
CARELESS of the annual receipts is the
rule rather than the exception.
The number Of license due are ex-
tremely large. and the receipts would
be extremely increased IL an effort Of
this Parish would be made to enforce
the delinquents.
You will find that no delinquent
list has yet been handed the Attorney. Is
whose dtlty it is to enforce collection.
We also find that the cash book
shows the payment of licenses III sew {
eral instances, but that the certin-
Gates have not been issued the parties. q
we find that n some instancesthe !
parties are doing business without
my licenses whatever. State, Parish, t
liquor or merchandise. t
Some have paid their state but not h
Parish licenses, others their mer- b
'handise emitting their liquor II
enses In fact, there il no uniform 6
ty Of payments and the leniency Of Q
he Sheriff's once is clearly imposed e
lpon and the custom has obstrued y
he law. IL
We find considerable irregularity .
n the methods used In the collection o
{ fines and costs. They are not paid s
romptly. An imperfect record u
ept Of these collections, and We ind I
70 list Of the fines imposed In the
heriff's ONCE. Your Committee be- s
ng compelled to secure q list from il
he list OF the minutes Of the Court Ii
rom the Clerk thereof. In
The books Of the Sheriff, are not y
'ritten up to date and our request III
or them to be written up, was ig- Lei
ored; Deputy, whose duty this q
'ould be, giving us as reason, that g
e was over crowded with more inn t
work. We concluded BY the Il
sseEtion that the force now In the q
aeFife's Office. is inadequate to prop o.
'iy serve the public and we recon- d
end that he increase his once force a
the proper standard" 81
The Grand Jury was composed OF H
e following citisens: @. c. Laugh u
!. Foreman, Hazard Vaughn, Wal ",
: N. Gates. James 0sbert, T. A. hi
'rouen. Albert Boutte, Pierre Jubin, t.