The Rice belt journal., 1914-05-22

Recently articles have appeared in the
Times Record of Jennings and also in
the Lake Arthur Herald relative to the
Election to be held on June End to get
the sense of the property taxpayers on
two propositions; First the authorizing
bond issue OF $1,000 to build a court
house, and second the authorization
of bond issue of $25000 to build jail.
The Times Record says that it believes
the sentiment in favor Of the proposed
bond issues is confined largely to the
Police Jury room where only MIR. Hath
away and Mr., Kohl voted against it, |
presume this opinion grew out of the
fact that only the two gentlemen men.
toned voted against the ordinance
which they did after Mr.. Hathaway had
made two efforts to eliminate the build.
ing of a court house. Now as matter
of tact don't believe there is member
of the Police Jury except the gentle
men mentioned who is in favor OF build
ing either court house or jail at this
time, am not authorized to speak for
any one but myself, but only give this
as my opinion.
In answer to the Herald's question |
would say believe it would be a wise
move to vote down both propositions
and later on we might build a court
house and jail without a bond issue.
this being my position you may askWhy
| voted to submit the propositions at
this time, and | will say that it was a
cOmpulsiOn. The law seems to be
mandatory on the Police jury to pro.
vide suitable public buildings, and
when the Judges called attention of the
Grand Jury to the condition of the iail
which was perfectly proper under the
circumstances. If the Police Jury had
weighed carefully all the circumstances
and the expense incident to organizing
and starting our parish on proper lines
and instead Of trying to bring the re.
proach of the court and people down
on the Police Jury sought the indul.
gence of the Court land placed there
sponsibility on Jennings where it be.
longs we might have been allowed to
post pone the matter at least until we
could get i'll better shape financially,
but after the Grand Jury's report the
District Attorney told me in person
that unless the Police Jury took some
steps to build a jail, he would bS s5m.
PEELED to institute mandamus proceed.
ings which would cost the parish posi-.
bly, as much as the election with a
probability that the Police Jury would
have had to order the election any way.
True the Grand Jury took the same
view OF the matter as does Mr.. Hatha.
way. that is that the Jail could be built
out of the general revenue by issuing
certificates of indebtedness. These certif
Gates are made payable out of the funds
of the parish that remain after all the
other expenses are paid and unless it
could be shown to prospective pur.
chaserS that there would be funds to
pay these certificates it would be very
difficult matter to dispose of them al
all, and if at all probably considerably
below par. l can't see where the ne
cessity for either court house or jail
is such that we should dispose of at a
sacrifice certificates Of indebtedness OF
saddle upon our people additional taxes
but of the two in my opinion we hsd
far better build court house.
The Times.Record calls attention to
| the fact and it is fact, that the people
of Jennings guarantee suitable accom-
dation for the court, ten and the
parish Offices for three years, but il
does not mention that the people OF
Jennings, also guaranteed to furnish
the Jail ten years. So far as my in
! formation goes | don't think there is
anyone or at least very few in the
parish outside of Jennings who are
clamoring for ajail and why should Jen.
mugs? Is it because they know, as we
all do, that the jail they SO generously
gave the Parish is not a proper place to
keep prisoners, and hope to be relieved
! OF the obligation by forcing the Parish
to build Jail now. The Parish
prisoners are no better than the city
| prisoners and why does not Jennings
provide a suitable place to keep her own
prisoners, and allow the Parish to
use it as she agreed to? After a few
| years when we have gotten started ant
] have paid for the transferring of oul
records and some other expenses sucf
as books and other supplies we Cal
! take up the matter.
| But suppose Jennings does not dC