The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1915-11-06
ADMINISTRATION vINDIcATEE
CONTINUED from page one.)

| the world, where cotton can FIND
| cheap storage facilities, and build
mammoth grain elevator and other,
wise develop the facilities of the
port of New Orleans-whieh is yours
to attract there the commerce OF
the world, you are again told that
my administration has been a failure,
and that I am spending too much
money.
"When | take shattered levee
system and restore it in three years,
with an overflow, floods and bad wea-
Their to contend with, preventing an
other overflow and doing more work
than was done during any other adj
ministration, you hear the wall that
nothing has been done.
'sIf you go to the records you will
find what has been done, and also
you will find there the names of those
who have sought to wreck the state
in order to discredit the administra-
ton.
at has cost money to build up and
properly maintain your state institu-
lions and your school system. The
work could not have been done with
out it. You cannot live without
money. You cannot construct new
buildings, repair old ones, build new
school houses, increase your school
facilities, and feed and clothe the
1000 or more demented men and wo-
men, deaf and blind boys and girls
without money. Yet, there are some
who would tell you the state can en-
large and maintain its institutions
and school system and pay the ex-
penses of the government on
nothing a year.
tBut with all the money that has
been spent, and with $4,000 given
to the parish high schools, agricul-
tural and domestic science schools,
and other similar school purposes, /
will leave to the next administration
more of the revenues of 1916-the
last year of my Observation-Disclosures
able for appropriation than was left
by the former administration of the
revenues of. 1912-its last year.
"There was left by the former adj
of the revenues of 1912,
something less than 100000. This
is what has been called surplus. |
will leave of the revenues of 1916
100000. Yet you are told that |
found surplus when came into Of
fee and will leave deficit. What
is credited to the former administra
ton as surplus, they seek to charge
against me as a deficit.
"The chief increases over the APP
of the former admins
tration are found in the appropria-
tons for the hospitals and education
al institutions and for the agricultural
and other high schools. | would not
weary you with details of the sta
tistics. / would have you bear in
mind, however, that I have given
from the general fund $4,000 to
the high schools referred to. In the
former administration 100000 was
given for the purpose, but every dol |
ar of the amount was taken from the
current school fund, which is a spe- |
eial fund for the support of the COM
schools. This policy I
was abandoned by me because it was
unjust to the small children, who
should be our first care, and the
money for the high schools was taken
rom the general fund, from which /
he miscellaneous expenses of the
;tate are paid.
"You have heard much talk about
he financial affairs of the state from
men who know nothing about the sub
ect. 1t is not financial wreck. But
With its revenues not keeping pace
With It's increasing expenses, It will
oon become d wreck unless some sys
EN- is devised which will bring upon
he assessment rolls wealth that is
lot found there today, and other
ources of revenue are utilized.
"Of course, the money could be-
aised by an increase Of the rate of
tate taxation. To this | have been
opposed and to prevent
he increase / have been endeavoring
o secure an equalization of assess
nents, realizing that something would
ave to be done to provide for the
uture. The people were told and
elieved that everything proposed
boxing to this end meant an increase
f their taxes. The argument was
made to them that more money could
ot be obtained unless taxes should
e increased. This seems plausible
ut it is absolutely untrue.
Here is an example which it
7ould be well for you to bear in
lind. If two men owe another SIS
ach and only one of them pays him,
e will have bat SIS. But if both of
hem pay him. he will have So No
mes burden has been increased be-
ause both have paid what they owed,
ut the man has more money. This
) the principal involved in what is
nown as the equalization of assess
tents.
eff the men and interests owning
asst wealth are compelled to place it
n the tax rolls, where it is not now,
nd new sources of revenue are used,
he state would obtain more money
nd those whose property is fairly
ssessed would not have their burden
lcreased one cent.
"A proper system should he Ge- ;
sed whether the state should need )
ne dollar of additional revenue or
OF, because it is only fair and just {
lat the burden of taxation should be
renly distributed. Some men should 4
Of be compelled to pay all the taxes ,
nile others ENJOY the benefits with
1t paying anything. Now under the
resent system, it is the poor man :
I'd the man Of moderate rneans 4rhe :
'e compelled to bear the expenses
the state. We should tax wealth :
Id not poverty"
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