Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1908-01-24

white citizenship our state is unsur-
passed. Exclusion Of tax delinquents,
illiterates and criminals from suff-
rage, puts our destiny in the hands
Of an electorate of the highest order.
To those people who make the best
use of means, time and talents, good
fortune opens wide its doors. While
honest and efficient, we sEould pres
steadily forward in the effort to
make our government, in theory and
in practice, the very best in all the
world.
Unequal Representation.
Justice demands that each county
should contribute to our states ex-
penditures according to its wealth
and should be represented in our
legislature according to its popula-
ton. These truths are self-eviient.
The constitutional barriers which
cause unequal legislative representa-
ton are not now needed, and should
be removed. Our state tax is col
lectd upon the varying standards of
assessment adopted by rs counties
and the railroad commissioners, each
wholly independent of the other. In
stances exist where land of the
same kind and value on one side of
the county line, through higher as
Sessment, pays four times as much
state tax as other land just across
that line. #, Some form of fair tax
equalization by which individual and
corporate property, regardless of To-
cation or kind, would be taxed ac-
coriing to actual value, can be de-
vised, and is imperatively needed.
Under our constitution each coun-
ty contributes to the state school
fund in proportion to its assessment,
and is repaid from that fund in pro-
portion to the number, regardless of
school attendance, of its educable
children. Gross injustice, calling for
remedy, frequently results from this
defective system.
Equalization of Taxes.
Just equalization of taxes and a
distribution based on the average at
tendance of each county, its educa-
tional opportunities utilized, would
probably correct existing dispari-
ties.
Only such taxes should be collect
ed as are absolutely required for hon
est, economical and efficient public
service, and the people should re-
ceive full value for every dollar ex-
pended. Bonds should not be issued
except to meet inherited indebtedness
or for erection of permanent i'm
provement whose use would be shar-
ed by coming generations.
Establishment of repositories for
public funds, allotted through fair
competitive biddinf, would increase
the demand and value for state,
county, levee ami municipal securi-
ties; would lessen the contraction of
currency at times of our greatest
need; and would lower taxes by get
ting interest on deposits and dispen-
sing with needless Offices.
For An Elective Judiciary
Government should be brought
nearer the people, whose average
sense and virtue should be crystal
lied into law ami reflected in its en-
forcement. No good lesosn now ex-
lists for failure to carry into effect,
in letter and in spirit, the declara-
ton Of our constitution that "All
political power is vested in, and de-
rived from, the people; all govern
ment of right originates with the
people, is founded upon their will
only, and is instituted solely for the
good of the whole"
Election of judges and levee COM
missioners requires neither more nor
different virtue and sense from that
involved in choosing district attorneys |
and other officers. If our carefully |
eulled, high-grade electors are unfit
to name judges, their unftness is
equally applicable to other officers |
and would prove them unworthy of
selg-government. The people wish to !
settle this question for themselves