The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1912-03-23
AgsENTEElsM OF OFFICIALS.
meS-DemCcrat:

A8SENTEElSM OF OFFICIALS.
Times-Democrat:
In a speech at B&,on Rouge during
the recent campaign Judge Hail an
nounced that he intended, if elected
Governor, to remove the State cap
ital to that city. The sarcasm was
deserved, and was thoroughly I'M
derstood by the people, not only at
the capital, but throughout the State.
The matter has been more or less
discussed in every campaign in LOU
| isiana, as one greatly affecting thel
| interests Of the State, as well as OF
all who have business with it. This
was especially the case during the
| recent contest, where the voters in
sisted that those officials who, under
the law, hold offices located in Bat
On Rouge should do business at their
| offices. A number of the candidates
nrOm;sed to do so if elected, and 1t
has been seen in former primaries
and elections that those candidates
who promised to attend to their du-
ties, and those officials who carried
out their promises, generally receiV-
ed the arrQoyal and support of the
voters.
Many, however, either made no
promise to that effect, or after MAX
ing it, failed to keep it, There have
been many complaints against Gov
Sanders on this score; and the spir-
it Of absenteeism was never perhaps
worse than during his administrator
Hundreds of visitors who have gone
TO Baton Rouge, from all parts OF
Louisiana, frequently on business OF
; great Importance, have been aston
ished and angered to find that Off
: GERS whom they wished to consult
we're not at the capital; that 1t was
not known when they would be there,
: and that they had left no one IN
charge with any authority or power
: to actin fine, that the trip to the
capital was a failure, and that the
: time and expense of making it We're
a. total loss, through official laches
and neglect.
To many persons such failures and
the delays they entailed were great
hardships. They had come from dis
tant portions of Louisiana and could
ilLaffOrd the loss of time SACRIFICED
to official neglect Of duty To be
told that the officer they came to
see was off in New Orleans or Wash
ingtOn, or somewhere else, usually
on a lark, and the office was prac-
tically closed as far as business was
concerned during his absence, was
the cause of many indignant protests
in Baton Rouge, especially when IL
developed that the clerical force IN
this office could not attend to any
important business, or did not care
: 10 do so during the absence OF the
' deDartm.nt head. An investigation
, usually showed that the missing OF
ficer was in New Orleans, which haE
proved a fayorite stamping ground
for some State officials, and where
they are to be found almost as OF
ten as at the State capital.
Some of the offices are located q,
New Orleans, because the busineGE
under them can be better handled IL
this city thal at Baton Rouge; anc
it is possible that Others now fix
ed by law at the lattCc city could bt
better operated here; but as long a!
the Constitution Gnl the laws III
Baton Rouge as the location Of TIT
offices Of Secretary CT State, Treas
urer, Auditor, Commissioner cf Agri
culture and other departments AM
bureaus, these offices must be al
: ways open in that city for the trans
action of business during the regula
office hours, and on az days not pub
lie holidays.
This is che CT the many reform
that must be put in operation undo
the new administration. The Oh
abuse of absenteeism that has pre-
vailed must be broken up. The Gov
ernor should issue an order requll
ing every State office located in Be-
ton Rouge to be opened every bus
necs day Of the year under tn
charge Of the officer elected by tn
people, or some deputy of his wit