The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1914-08-21
WHAT WILL THE HARVEST Be?
Sentiment Against a Jail and Court
House. The Parish Feels That
Jennings Should Furnish These

The institution of the mandams suit
by District Attorney Edwards against
the Police Jury wherein he will seek to
force the Police Jury to erect a new
Court House and Jail in Jennings, is
bringing that official in for quite deal
of unWholeson1e comment throughout
the larger part of the parish. 1t is IN
fortunate that Mfr. Edwards should
have conceived it his bounden duty to
take this action Just now. The action
is having the effect to stir up again
that old rivalry that characterized the
different sections of the Parish during
the rigid contest of 1912 for the Parish
| Seat. 1t is but natural that there
! should be generated very strong SEN
timent against Jennings in this matter
whether Jennings is responsible for
the institution of the suit or not she
will come in for a good deal OF rather
caustic criticism. The memory OF the
liberal promises solemnly made by the
people of Jennings with reference to a
Court House and Jail are still fresh in
F., the minds of the people.
These buildings were pledged to the
parish by the people of Jennings
through solemn act of her city coun-
! Gil for period of ten Years, 1t was
largely upon these considerations that
the people voted the Parish Seat to
Jennings. The considerations were
given the widest circulation. For
months these promises were published
by her citizens which sarried with it
the convincing argument that the Par.
iSh WOlld be saved the immediate ex
pense of erecting thess buildings. We
reproduce here copy of the resolution
passed by the city council of Jennings
which was carried in the very lead OF
all her arguments for the parish seat:
"Rese1utioh, providing for the free
Use of that portion Of the municipal
property known as the City Hall and
the City Jail, together with all the
equipments belonging thereto, for a
period of ten years to the Parish OF
Jefferson Davis. and to further provide
suitable offices for all Parish officials OF
the Parish of Jefferson Davis for a
period Of three years.
SECTION Be it resolved by the
Mayor and board of aldermen in special
session convened. That the Parish OF
jefferson Davis having been created at
| the regular session of the General As.
sembly for the year 1872
Now for the purpose of aiding the
people to locate the permanent parish
seat at the town of Jennings, that the
town of Jennings will donae the free
use of the town hall and the town Jail
belonging to the municipality to the
parish of jefferson Davis to be used as
a court house and Jail for period of
ten years.
SECTION 2. Be it further resolved,
etc. That the town of Jennings will pro
vide and furnish free from any cost
whatever to the parish of jefferson
Davis all offices used or needed by any
and all public officials Of tile parish of
Jefferson DaYis for a period of three
years.
Adopted this 18th day of July A. D.
I1912.
IS. A, SUFFER-, Mayoy.
Attest
III. T. Moses, Town Clerk"
i The memory Of these solemn obliga.
tons is still fresh, and the people of the
Parish are now wondering il the people
of Jennings are inspiring this suit of
District Attorney Edwards The report
is current that She is weakening under
her obligation and is making an effort
to shift the load now to the Parish. 1t
is considered no less than act Of re
pudiation of a solemn contract If she is
really in sympathy with this suit. One
thing is evident her vote in the recent
election ON the bond issue gave conyinc,
ing proof along this line. 1t is also not.
ed now by the people that in the insti.
tuition OF this suit that Messers. Puio
and Williamson, one Of the strongest
law, firms in this section of the State
appears as associate counsel in the case
A great many people are wondering
who employed these gentlemen. They
/ are evidently not in it for glory there is
in it. Some body is doutless paying
them a fee to assist in the prosecution
of the case and if it should develop.
that this fee is being put up by Jen.
nings the people will look upon it as an
effort on her part to repudiate her
obligations madeIin 1912 in this respect.
Less then two years have passed since
these obligation were assumed and thus