The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1912-07-26
FIRST POLICE JURY
MEETING OF JEFF DAVIS.
Jury Convened Wednesday, Lake
Arthur Chosen Temporary Par
ish Seat.-Parish Divided
Into Nine Wards.

The first meeting OF the provisional
police jury appointed by Gov. Hall,
for the parish OF Jefferson Davis, con.
vened in the handsome club house OF
the Lake Arthur amusement club, at
Lake Arthur, Wednesday at ten
O'Clock. Owing to the absence of police
Jurors, Mr.. Ed Conner OF Jennings and
Mr.. Merritt Of Elton, the jury took a
recess until one O'Clock, shortly after
which time, the two absent members
having arrived. the jury reassembled
for work.
The meeting was called together by
MIR. II, p. Howell, and upon motion
bY Mr.. Cooper the work OF permanent
organization was taken up. Mr.. r.
T. Howell was chosen president Of the
new board, and Mr.. l. r. Price, OF
Lake Arthur was selected as clerk.
Following the election of the officers
DR.. Cooper presented u resolution fix.
ing the temporary parish seat at La Ike
Arthur. This resolution was uuani.
mously adopted.
Parish Clerk, Mr.. Gossett. of Cal
casieu parish was present and at the
request of the president came forward
and explained the immediate needs of
the Clerks in regard to books etc for
the transference of records at the
present time.
The subject of 'Conditions under
which towns may compete for the To-
cation of Parish Seat" was then taken
up, and discussed at length. DR..
Cooper submitted resolution upon
the subject that contained a number
OF important features, among which
we're that any town seeking to enter
the parish seat contest should give u
written notice to the police jury to
that effect prior to August 10Th, should
agree to furnish free suitable plot
of ground for court house site to
consist of not less than 1900 square
feet, and to be located not further
than 800 feet from the post Office in
said town, title to be guaranteed by u
bond of not less than 10000, also to
furnish free of cost to the parish
suitable Office and court buildings and
equip the same for u period of not to
exceed three years, Or until the new
court house should be built and
equipped. and furnish bond of S.. 900
as a guarantee of the fuItiIlment of
this promise" This resolution was
fully discussed, aud will doubtless be
adopted Thursday morning with
possibly a few minor changes.
The question of division of the
parish into wards was then taken up,
DR.. Cooper moving that the parish be
divided into nine wards. Mr.. Conner
moved as a substitute that the parish
be divided into five wards, and pre-
scented map embodving his ideas.
After having explained at length bis
views Mr.. Conner requested that The
vote on his substitute be taken. the
substitute was lost the vote being two
for and two against. Mr.. Conner
then moved that the original question
be laid on the table indefinitely, this
motion also was lost. The vote on the
original question was then taken and
upon roll call resulted in three in
favor and two opposed to division
of the parish into nine wards, motion
carried. MIR. Conner moved that the
matter of lines be laid on the table for
twenty.four hours in order that the
people of the parish might be invited
in to discuss the question, DR.. Cooper
moved as substitute that a committee
of three be appointed on lines to re-
port Thursday morning at ten O'Clock
The substitute motion prevailed and
the chair appointed Messrs. E. D.
Conner, DR.. Cooper aud L. S. Lang
lev, on this committee, it being late
| the iury took a recess until 10 a. m.