St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1916-10-21

"
will heartily support this much
needed amendment. It is certainly
in the interest of economy and
sound finance.
amendment No. ff-This is the
amendment placing officials upon
a salary basis and if defeated by
| the people the state and parishes
| will continue to pay the exorbl-
tant fees that have been SO much
complained of in the recent cam
paign. Governors administration is
| trying to redeem the pledges made
| the people in the campaign and one
of them is that officials be placed
on a salary basis. An insidious e1-
fort may be made in certain quar-
ters to defeat this reform. but with
out it's adoption the legislation car
rying same into effect falls with it
and you will have no relief for a
long time to come. DO not fail to
vote for Amendment No. II. Amend
ment abolishing the State Board of
Appraisement and also the state
Board of EQUALIZATION and in lieu
thereof creating the State Board Of
Affairs. The cost of this new
board will be very little more after
it is once organized than the two
old boards which are abolished.
This is the amendment which GER
tain special interests political and
otherwise are now sharpening their
knives to kill and are already en-
deavoring to becloud the issue and
befuddle the m n DIS o f
the people in regard to same. BY
the adoption of this amendment and
The enabling act carrying same in
20 effect the present state admins
ration seeks to give the people the
neform demanded on the subject OF
equalization of taxes. Under the
present system the state valuation
For assessment and that of the par
shes and cities must be the same.
The effect of this has been that
ross Inequalities exist all over the
state in assessments. because in
some parishes and municipalities
The local taxes are so high for
roads. schools. streets and other
purposes that if their assessments
we're put on the basis of other par
shes that have no such high local
rates it would amount to almost
ronfiscation. Now this amendment
proposes to unite the valuation of
property for state purposes from
he valuation for parish and local
purposes. Tt does not change the
ffuation so far as the assessor is
concerned in his election or duty
oward the parish or towns only
''e cannot assess property for less
han 25 per cent of the value OF
he property which is surely low
nough to satisfy the most penu-
sious tight wad." In this wav if
he state board proceeds to equal
70 the values in the parishes for
tate purposes it will not affect
your local assessment in the least
nor will it increase taxation.
The present status is not dis
turbed. / for one do not believe
people for the state government.
IT we have the right kind of econ
omv Dracticed in our various insti-
tutions we can get along satisfac-
|forilv though perhaps not as ele-
gantly and sumptuouSly as some
states that have no bonded debt.
However, equalization can he
be brought about in this way with
out in the least increasing the bur-
dens upon the people who are al
ready paying all the taxes they
should. This amendment is ex-
eeedingly important and should re-
ceive your most earnest and patri-
otic thought. Some complaint is
made that this board would have
too much authority. OF course 1t
has and so has the police jury, the
city council, and all other admin
istrative bodies of public affairs.
This board would investigate the
actual needs of each state institu-
tion long before the Legislature
convenes and fix its appropriations
upon a business basis or budget SO
to speak. and there will be no log
rolling for appropriations at the
and no general aDprO-
priation bill exceeding the revenues.
Demand has been nlsue that we
place our affairs upon a budget ha-
sis and this is the way to do it.
Governor Pleasant is trying to re-
deem the pledge made the people
in regard to reforming our assess
ment system and this workable
plan has been submitted for your
thoughtful consideration and should
receive the endorsement of the peO-
pie at the polls. do not propose to
criticise the motives Of those who
expect to fight this amendment,
but would only ask you to see for
they stand toward the present
Democratic administration that is
trying to make good and then draw
YOUR own conclusions. Do not al
low your minds to become becloud-
eddy preiudiced or unfair and er-
statements made by those
who are seeking to discredlt our
present governor, who is doing his
utmost to make good in every
made you in the late CAM
Daign. This amendment has no !
whatever to that pro-
posed in 1912 and does not seek any
of sources of revenue. |
as you can readily discern in a
1t is in the interest of |
fair play and correct equalization
and abolishes two boards with a
of sixteen.
Amendment No. i3-This is a To- |
cal amendment affecting New Or |
leans and provides for erecting a !,
seawall and good road along Lake j
pontchartrain. / can see no rea- /
sonable objection to same, ! be-
ieve it could have been done by a
legislative act and that the amend /
nent was not altogether necessary. /
However. we should support this
!
amendment No. i4-This is for
he purpose of compelling all rail-
'oads to maintain general offices
n t.ais state. IL ought to be adopted