The Thibodaux sentinel. (Thibodaux, La.) 1905-1912, 1912-07-06

to the people, through the local school
boards elected by them, the power to
select. without the possibility OF out
side interference or dictation. their
respective parish superintendent, to
name their teachers and otherwise to
control their local school systems. In
the final arraignment OF the details of
the bill, should changes or additions
be deemed necessary, this principle
should be scrupulously observed. Any
criticism that the observance of this
principle will result in the selection of
incompetent superintendent and
teachers and in injury to the efficiency
lack of proper regard for the wishes
of the people who pay the taxes to
maintain the school system. They have
rightly rebelled against sXste1a
which depriyes them
cesentat ION - III
tion of a school oligarchy.
Conservation Policy.
The conservation of the natural
resources of all kinds of the state is
a necessary and wise policy and should
not be directly or indirectly aban-
doned The bill to create a statewide
system for the enforcement of all con-
servation measures seeks the radical
curtailment of the executive power ex-
listing under the present system which
has been so generally denounced. A
commission or board to protect and de-
velop the oyster, srimp and salt water
fish industries would in any event
have to be maintained. The bill pro-
poses to obviate the necessity for the
or boards by giving one board general
conservation powers. AS sbstitute
for the office of parish game warden,
as now constituted. it is proposed to
make the constables of the several
parishes ex-officio game wardens OF
their respective wards or parishes and
to pay them, as compensation for their
services, one-half Of the fines collect
ed in cases reported by them. An an
nual license of q cents is levied on all
L
fray the cost Of maintenance Of the
system. This is very small license,
and surely no one who desires the pro-
lection of game and fish could rightly
complain of its imposition.
Evils Eradicated
The police juries are given the pow
er to appoint one or more conservation
agents or game wardens for their re-
spective parishes and to levy license
equal to that levied by the state to pay
the compensation fixed by them. But
the exercise of this power is left en-
tirely discretionary with them.
with these main features retained
in the bill a reasonbly efficient system
will be erected and at the same time
the evils of the old system will be
eradicated.
1t would be impossible to abolish the
license for hunting without destroying
all efficient means for the protection
of game and fish. The platform on
which the administration came into
power recognized the necessity for
the imposition Of a reasonable license.
Taxation Revision.
"In my inaugural address it was
suggested that in order properly to re-
wise our assessment and taxation laws,
which need radical amendment or
change. constitutional convention be
called with limited membership and
~, cd To ho crhinnt of
assessment and taxation. This sug-
ses'ion was made under the realiza-
ton Of the fact that the general as
sembly could not at this session give
the subject the careful and thorough
consideration which it would require
and was followed by the Introduction
of bill to call the convention The
conclusion reached has been verified
nv the. circumstances that notwith-
standing the session is now far advanc-
ed no one has undertaken to propose
any amendments to accomplish needed
reforms il the present system. which
EVERYONE recognizes TO be unsatisfac-
tory. to SAY the least.
Commission Suggested.
IF. however, the general assembly
should prefer to undertake the work
itself, suggest the prompt passage Of
an act to create commission to draft
the necesssry constitutional amend
men: OF amendments. the commission
to be composed of members selected
from each house and Of citizens of
the state who are not members OF the
general assembly. This commission
could make it's report probably in Au-
gust. An extraordinary session OF
the general assembly could then be
convened to consider the report and
to propose The amendment or amend
ments 10 the people to be voted on at
the approaching congressional eiec-
ton. The necessary enabling acts
could be passed at the same time. con-
disioned upon the adoption OF the
amendment or amendments. I should
cordially cooperate in any plan which
you may finally propose. urge upon
vou however. the importance OF
p, on,pt action in the premises.
Fertilizer inspection.
-. desire to invite your attention to
two measures now pending. the chief
obicct OF which is to restore TO the
board Of agriculture and Immigration
the control OF the manufacture and
sale. .r;hin the state. OF foodstuffs and
fertilizers, which includes the control
Of the inspection and anaIyzing thereof
These bills in that regard. are really
intended 70 carry into effect articles
so, and 306 oil the constitution. which
Would Teach Fire Dangers.
The house committee on education
reported favorably on the bill by Col.
I0seni, kanty providing for the teach.