St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1911-07-08
NON-INTERFERENCE OF Elk.
ECUTIVE WITH D
PENDENT D T
MENTS OF GOVERN
MENT


It has been charged that I con.
trolled and coerced the Legisla:
ture.
The members Of the Senate
and of the House were elected
by the people, just as | was and
at the same time. When | be,
came Governor, it was my pur,
pose to remain on friendly terms
with the Legislature and not
seek, by arbitrary method OF
d~ictatorial manner, to force that
body to do ought against its will.
It is, indeed, a source Of gratifi-
cation to me to be able to say
that a great majority of both
branches of the Legislature were
and are my friends; and matters
of legislation were discussed in
the friendliest of spirit. Often
my views prevailed; often they
did not; but no matter what the
differences of opinion were,
there was always a spirit of
friendship existing between a
large majority of the members
of both houses and myself. This
friendship and mutual under
standing has been perverted by
my enemies into control of the
Legislature. I do not consider
any man big enough to control
the Legislature Of Louisiana. I
am certain that I did not, nor
did [ ever seek so to do. | had
the friendship of an overWhelm-
ing majority of both Senate and
House. That friendship | return
ed, that friendship I am proud of.
TAXATION.
The assessments of the State,
during the term of office of my
predecessor, were increased from
1851, 900, 900, in round figures, in
1904, to some $507, 900, 900, in
1907, an increase of about $780,
900, 600. From 1907 to 1910, the
assessments have been increased,
u n d er my administration, in
figures, $40, 900, 900, and
S12, 900, 900 of this amount has
been from the increased assess
ments levied on public service
corporations.
Instead of increasing the bur-
of taxation, this administra-
has done everything possible
to reduce it. For instance when
the boil weevil was ravaging our
cotton lands, the assessments
were reduced Is per cent on this
character of land. Taxes are be-
ing collected at a less cost under !
administration than ever be-
fore.
STATE DEBT.
In my address to the people,
[ promised to do all in my power
to retire a portion of the State
bonded debt. This is a pledge
that | have not been able to
carry out. The surplus which
Heard left in the Treas
Try had been spent and the State
was many thousands of dollars
n debt when [ became Governor.
took charge of the State with
In overdraft Of S106. 507. OF
against the general fund. On
July Z, 1908, I called the atten-
ion of the Legislature to the
conditions existing. A perusal
# this message shows that the
Sanders administration has to
Jay $132, 927. "a for debts con-
'racted during the preceding
administration.
The deficiencies, overdrafts
md additional expenses created
~ the previous administration,
lggregatlng the sum of $685..
~. "a, was the legacy of debt in
lerited by the Sanders admins
ration. All this floating debt
his administrator has paid, and
besides, has kept the State debt
N a cash basis. More I could
lot do.
In viewing this matter, we
must likewise recollect the thou
Of dollars lost to the peo-
,le of the State and the State
reasury by foods, the ravages
II the boil Weevil and the lorna
loes which swept the State dur
ng the early years of this adj
n~inistration. The flood of the
Red River and the ravages of
he boil weevil alone caused an
absolute stagnation in the parts
# the State effected and the as
'essments that ordinarily we
ooked forward to were not avail
Lble. The experience of the
State in the matter of the re-
luction of its debt, has been a
lot uncommon experience among
citizens of the State during
he same period.
This promise was made in good
but was impossible of full
illment.
RAILROAD
The powers of the Railroad
Commission have been extended