The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1917-09-29
Mr.. Kemppr'S View.

Franklin papers contained an ac-
count of these proceedings. |
judge, howev-r. that you will
print hem. and hat you very
likely will also have letter from
the Clerk Of the Court for this
same issue.
Il any event, | wish you to give
-pic. to this copy Of letter sAnt to
the Morgan City Daily Review,
aud be- assured that very much
appreciate the courtesy.
Yours very truly,
c. D <EMPER
"FRANKL1N. LA S p.. %. 1917.
Morgan City Daily Review,
Morgan City, La
Gentlemen:-I just received
copy OF your paper ia which was
reported the proc ceilings of the
Grand Jury, aud following which
report there appears a puoiic
statement Of the Clerk Of Court.
II note the complaint of the
Clerk of Court of not being given
the opportunity of stating to the
members of the Grand Jury his
reason for not ,llecsing poll taxes
from the witness and jury fees.
and wish to explain to the public
that when the Grand Jury Was in
vestigating tn. poll tax matter it
called upon the Clerk Of Court for
c. rtain inform alton with reference
to the collection of poll taxes in
the Parish, asking that We be ad.
vised how many poll taxes were
collected from negroes in each
ward of the Parish. The Clerk OF
Court appeared in person at the
door of the Jury Room and baud
ed the forem ~ a list of the names
Of those from whom poll taxes had
been collected, apologizing at the
same time for not segrega ing the
report, so as to comply fully with
our request. The Clerk explained
his inaoliity to furnish this COM
oiled Information, due to the fac.
that he was busy, aud would be
busy FIR the balance OF the day.
with the handling Of those men
who had been drafted for the
United States Army. The Grand
July proceeded with the investi-
CATION Of the poll tax matter for
the balance of that day. intervi W.
INK the Assessor and the Sheriff
the District Attorney and the Su-
perintendent of Pubic Schools
That we failed to Gail the Clerk OF
Court before US later was due to
our being busy with other matters,
all of which was explained to the
CLERK of Court in the Court Room
| ia the presence of the entire Grand
Jury and the Court of1ci ais, i'm
| mediately after our report Wal
read.
Every member Of the Crane
Jury knows the Conditions sur
Founding school IN alters In thi:
Parish, and the letter of the Clerl
If Court throws 10 new light or
the subj ct. We received frou
the School Board fR:ials, assur'
ances that the educ.tion of oOloreG
caildren would receive better at
tentiou Ian It has heretofore, ant
that an endeavor would be mad
60 expend on the operation q
colored schools, q cum equal q
least to the proportion sscurcs
from the State Fund. based on pc
capita prorata, Piu, the sum col
| |. cited from colored people In pol
tax payments.
Zine Clerk OF Court h ID sub
mitted to tn. Grand Jury q list Q
pol tax payments upon which lis
marginal rotations 1.-THE wor
Colored) had been made opposit
the name of eacn oolJred person
Members of the GrAud Jusy dis
covered th4t this list was no
properly mad, as il did not 10
dictate oDe-half of the names Q
cvlored persons who had pal
their poll taxes.
"Af.er considering the constant
iy Increasing deficit and after tax
, ing iuto seflous account the iu
Justice being done the negro. b
using his funds for the eduoatio
Pour white children, We recon
| meuded voting a special tax. "
made no puo.ic mention OF II
. colored school situation In our r.
. port; and 1t seems . pity that tt
= Jerk of Court sought to advertts
this dcplorable condition, az
means Of airing his injured fee
/, inxp. and az al exouee Tor fallin
to collect poll taxes from whi
( men az we'll as negroes.
Az u citizen of this Parish. ! q
& going 70 Aaveeass the voting Of