The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1914-05-30
Parish Commission Government.

Parish Commission Government.
Representative Powell, of Beau
regard parish, has introduced an
interesting bill in the Legislature,
for. q commission form
Of government in the parishes of
the State. In other words, this
bill authorizes and permits the
people of each parish to do away
with the Police Jury form of con.
troll and board of administration
of school and health affairs in
April, 1916. He contends that the
last named form of local govern.
ment 10 unpopular; that the com.
mission form OF government which
he proposes will save thousands
of dollars TO each prrish.
Mr.. Powell's bill provides for
three commissioners. A com.
missioner of public affairs, q
commissioner Of fioance, and a
commissioner of public improve.
ments.
The Commissioner of Public
Affairs will be president Of the
board, and, as such, shall have
charge and control of all public
buildings and property of the par.
ieh, of public health and santa.
tion, and of the care and main
tenance of paupers; he shall be
ex.oficio tax assessor of the par
ish, and he shall be vested with
ell the powers and charged with
ali the duties of parish assessor
under existing laws; he shall also
be vested with all Of the power,
and charged with all the duties
heretofore vested in or imposed
upon the President Of the Police
Jury, the president Of the Parish
Board Of School Directors and the
president OF the Parish Board Of
Health.
The Commissioner of Finance is
to be the fiscal agent of the par.
ish, and, as such, shall have
charge of all moneys, credits and
securities Of the parish, and of all
receipts and disbursements there.
Of; he shall also act as treasurer
Of the parish.
The Commissioner of Public
improvements will have charge
and control of all public roads,
ways, bridges and ferries, their
construction, repair and mAinten.
auce.
The Board of Commissioners |
shall act a. q Board of Reviewers |
Of Assessments made by the Com.
of Public Affairs, in the
same manner and with the same
powers and duties as the Police
Jury.
The Parish Of Orleans is ex.
smpted from the provisions Of this
bill.
Salaries of the Commissioners
ire graded in the bill a. follows:
First Class-Parishes whose as.
is over twelve million
dollars, commissioner of public
lffairs, $500 per year; commits.
toner OF public finances, S2,400;
commissioner of public improves.
nents, $1,000. II
Second Class~Parishes with an
Of between Ave and
welvs millions, $4,000, 81, 800 and
z, 100 respectively.
Third Class-Parishes, assess.
aents between two and + half and
We millions. $500, 1900 and
$40, respectively.
Fourth Class-Parishes, assess.
TENT under two and q halt mil.
ons, $500, 81 200 and 81, 200 res
ectively.
Whether the bill Of Mr.. Powell
I'LL be satisfactory as q whole to
very parish in the State, is .
uestion. Il 10 certain that the I
'olice Jury system is not very
ltisfaotory IN some parishes az it !
ow exists, and some measure
hould be adopted that will afford {
moro satisfactory form Of par. .
h government. The commission
,Hm of government has been q
access Ii the cities and towns Q
lot have adopted it. and, no '
pubt, II 1t IL extended to the par. !
hes, Il will meet with the same 9
lccess and be productive of great e
sneilt. g
The light 10 on before the Legis. q
lure 10 re.establish the races In d