St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1915-07-03

y V1AN
the voters, choose the Assessor but He is NOT THE PERSON WHO
ASSESSES THE PROPERTY OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE COR
PoRATIONs. THESE CORPORATIONS ARE ASSESSED BY a
BOARD, NOT ELECTED BY YOU AND WHO OWE YOU NO
RESPONSIBILITY
The System Of eleeting an assessor, supervised By the Police
Jury and Board Of Equalization, has its faults and may not be oil that
it should be; but it is at LEAST IN THE HANDS OF THE PEOPLE
H CHOOSE THESE OFFICIALS.
The Board Of Appraisers who assess public service corpora
tions ARE NOT ELECTED YTHEP PEOPLE AM
TO THE PEOPLE FOR THE POSITIONS THEY HOLD. HERE
is WHERE THE CORPORATION HAVE BOLDLY PUTITOVER
THE PEOPLE AND MADE POSSIBLE THE SYSTEM WHICH is
sAPPING THE LIFE BLOOD OF LoUISIANAS INSTITUTIONS.
The corporations. are entitled to fair play and should not be
made to pay more than their share, property values considered, than
any other citizen. BUT THEY SHOULD NOT EXPECT ANY AD
VANTAGE AND IT OUGHT TO BE THE DUTY OF EVERY 70
TER TO SEE THAT NONE IS GIVEN THEM
A short while ago a few new men were placed on the Board Of
Appraisers. These new men on that Board forced up . raise on the
public service corporations OF more than four million dollars. IF
THIS BOARD WAS RESPONSIBLE TO THE PEOPLE AND DE
PENDED ON THE PEOPLE FOR THE POSITION THEY HOLD
THESE FOUR MILLIONS WOULD BE INCREASED BY
H NEW MEMBERS TO ONE HUNDRED N FIFTY
MILLIONS, WITHOUT OPPOSITION FROM THE OLD
MEMBERS OF THE BOARD
To my mind the question of making the corporations pay their
share of the expenses of running the governments the REAL OBJ
JECT of the Convention THERE CAN BENO SANE REASON
WHY RAILROADS SHOULD BE ASSESSED LESS IN
LOUISIANA THAN IN THE ADJOINING STATES. I'D
SAY THAT WE HAVE TOO MANY SPECIAL TAXES AND
FOR THAT REASON f. SHOULD BE ASSESSED O
Err HERE THAN IN OTHER STATES IS NO ARGUMENT
WHEN YOU CONSIDER Thai HE LIE FfeCFETSII
OWNERS HAVE TO PAY THESE SPECIAL TAXES Is well
as the railroads.
Ny record in the General Assembly is too well known il this
Parish to need any discussion at this time. Suffice it to say. how
ever, that my course as . Legislator has been endorsed by the farming
and laboring classes throughout the state.
If elected to the Constitutional Convention, I propose, IN addI-
ton to the tax measures, to advocate the following.
1st. Reduce the Membership in the General Assembly soas to
make that body a more efficient and workable assembly. Instead ct
one hundred and eighteen members IN the House, I would suggest AZ
members to be elected from the present Senatorial districts Instead
Of Fortyone Senators, I would suggest two to be elected from each
Congressional District and four at large throughout the State.
I'd. To meet any objection to the reduction in size ct The
General Assembly, I would adopt the Initiative, Referendum and Re
call This would give the people absolute control.
Sd. would remodel the Commissioner Of Agriculture's Office
so as to make that official the representative of the Farmerin the sale
ofhis products. This Department of the State government should see
that the farmer gets fair price for his products The farmer res
ceives enough advice already as how to grow his crops and what he
now needs is a far portion Of the price naia the consumer pays for Jaras
products.
4th. The immigration Department and the Commissioners oI
Labor should have their activities turned towards getting positions
for those already here out Of work before endeavorlng to place I'M
migrants. They should act as the go-between for those seeking WorA
and those having work to give. The condition Of a man looking Tor
work and not being able to find it while another man Is looking Tor
help and cant get it should be stopped.
9Th. I would favor and advocate a change in the Judiciary
system BY which delays could be eurtaned. the dispensing q justice
facilitated and made more certain.
9th. I would advocate ana support any measure seeking g
protect the right to vMe Of every nhte aNa who has heretofore reg.
istered under the so-caHed Section Fiveaor grandfather clause of
the Constitution Of 1893.
II conclusion, { wish to state that 7 am not the candidate u
fany CLIQUE or faction, Parish or State, and that if elected ! want Ia
represent the independent manhood OF the Parish OF ST Landry.
would like to have the other candidates TO join with me il
holding joint meetings at which we can discuss the issues OF the day
in q fair, open and candid manner. Let us hope that the day has
come when we can have a campaign in this Parish without the use Of
Doodle.
If elected as a delegate, / will ii the Convention, Is II the
General Assembly, be always ready to- confer with my constltr
uents and give due weight to the advice Of the head Of the Stats
Farmers Union and the officials of the State Federation OF Labor.
Very sincerely,
I. AUSTIN FoNTENoT.