The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1915-07-17
FINAL REPORT OF
The GRAND JURY
Of IBERIA PARISH
New Iberia, La, July II, 1915.
The Hon. Judge Simon, of the 10th
Judicial District.

Dear OH W t DbB lbdNt " Shb~
nit this our last and final report.
The most noteworthy matter that
came under the observation OF
this Grand Jury is the striking to-
tai absence of serious crime in this
parish; matter that will strongly
appeal to those students of demo-
cracy, who extol the virtues of
self government az the perfection
of the type that will most power
fully appeal to the public aud be
most universally honored by the
masses. The people having realil-
ed that governments can only sue
ceed and protect when its laws are
obeyed and its officers respected
is reflecting that philosophy by the
law abiding character to which this
report, with great pleasure and sat
isfaction humbly refers.
1t is in spirit of disappointment
and regret that we are compelled
to refer to our justice OF the peace
system AS piece OF judicial ma
chinery entirely out of joint with
the greater district Judge system
with which il should cooperate and
facilitate tie transaction of all judi
icial business. tt appears to me,
if not a mockery, at least travesty
of government. The appalling in
competency and staggering litter
acy OF some members of Justice of
the peace fraternity is source Of
most OF the friction and irritation
in some OF the wards of the parish
and furnishes the bulk of the irk-
some, but useless work OF the
Grand Jury. Most Of the affida-
Wits issued in the Justice OF the
peace court are glaringly faulty and
over-charged Much of the minor
criminal matter coming under the
the Jurisdiction of these minor
courts is purposely confused, mag
nified, and over-charged, coupled
to the additional purpose OF having
the work transferred to the higher
tribunal. A closer cooperation
with and stricter supervision of the
District Attorney over those minor
courts and charges is greatly to
be desired. A watchful District At
torney, aided by professional abil-
ity, could carefully Gull thess af-
fidavits and separate the serious
from the trivial, the shadow from
the substance, and greatly simplify
and systematize the labors OF the
Grand Jury. Much ANNOYANCE and
consequent dissatisfaction is
caused by the prolific production
of affidavits of the justice of peace
court and much of the frivolous
character of these charges could be
eliminated by closer analysis and
scrutiny of the charges by the Dis
trict Attorney, and the burden
bearing on the Grand Jury light
ened, and congestion of work re-
moved. We would heartily recon-
mend to the next delegates of Ibe-
ria Parish to the next State Con-
stitutional Convention change,
and Improvement of the present
cumbersome method of the dispos-
ing and adiudicating of these court
matters.
We would recommend the con-
struction of new court house
building which could faithfully rep
resent the wealth, the standing and
the Industrial Importance of 1be-
ria Parish. The present structure is
impressively inadequate and fails
utterly to respond to the pressure
of public business transacted there
in. Special quarters equipped with
all modern sanitary arrangements
should be furnished and dedicated
TO the uses of the Grand Jury.
Every arrangement should be carri-
| ed out to secure comfort of the in
dividual Grand Juror and maintain
the security absolutely necessary to
the privacy and secrecy OF the
Grand Jury proceedings. Every
| Grand Jury transaction to-day !;
each discussion of any problem
submitted; each investigation Of n
| complex case is exposed to publi-
city on account of the present loca-
ton of the Grand Jury room. We
view this handicap as serious in
reference with the conscientious
work expected of the Grand Jury
and should receive immediate at
tention and consideration OF the
court. Secrecy in our deliberations
| is regarded as the corner stone of
| our work.
The inspection of the jail dis
| closes an apparent Improvement
1 Of its former sanitary conditions,
due, perhaps, to the presence OF the
ubiauitous State Board of Health
| officer. We trust that his instruc-
| ton in sanitary matters concern
| ing the Jail will be ardently follow
ed and the sanitary efficiency in
ltrodnced maintained. The Parish
| dipping watts we are glad to say
are now being accepted by the
/ farmer as a greater protection TO
their stock. We are glad to know
the educative influence of the san
;farv measures have changed the
4 hostile attitude of the farmer and
i we hope that with the encourage
/ ment of the Police Jury the eff
cheney of the dipping watts regula-
tion will be developed and stand
ardized SO as to eliminate the diff
4 ferpnt pests and diseases that per-
ennially appear and harass our
stock.
Il We have examined report OF
the Secty. of the Police Jury SUBJ
mitted to US. The financial state
ment and the other work perform.
ed by the Police Jury contained
therein matters for congratula-
ton. We find spirit OF business
ability and executive experience
| governing all expenditures and di-
rection all public works. Civic
pride as well as patriotism seem tc
| have been great factors in the COM
plete success of the model road
building undertakings. The array
of facts and figures presented by
the secretary are an additional evi-
dence OF the thoroughness and bu-
siness like spirit characterizing the
present official life of the Police
4 Jury. TO have succeeded to nentri-
alize the hereditary preindices and