St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1919-10-11

ing our elective parish assessors re-
duced to the status of a mere clerk
with authority to do no more than list
the objects of taxation, furnishes alum
dant food for thought, particularly SO
at a time when our people have under
taken heavy obligations in the form OF
special taxes for roads, schools, drain
age and other distinctly local and nee
essary public improvements.
In 1906, in response to a popular de-
mand the legislature in special session
made the parish assessors elective.
The appointive power of the governor
in the selection and appointment of as
SCISSORS was then recognized as undem
ocratic and dangerous. Since that
time assessors have been selected by
the people, but during the present ad-
ministration there has come into ex-
istence the State Board of Affairs,
composed of three members all ap-
pointed by the present governor n
armed with more autocratic power
than all the other boards, commits
sons and elective officials of the state
combined and vested with authority
that is supreme in matters OF assess
ment even to the extent of multiplying
the acts of the assessors elected by
the voters of your parish.
In consequence, the assessor you
have elected is an unimportant Off
cial without discretion or power and
performs merely CLERICAL service-th1s
because he is subservient to an ap-
pointiye state board of affairs possess
ing extraordinary powers.
The principle involved in this sys-
tenn is vicious and should be correct
ed without delay.
That an appointive board, particular
" one whose entire membership is ap-
pointed by one governor as is now the
case should have supreme authority
over elective officials is unthinkable
and violative of the traditions OF
democracy.
| believe that all functions now
lodged in the appointive state board
of Affairs should be vested with cleo
tive state officials elected by the peo-
pie and who can be better trusted to
represent the interests of the whole
people in the matter of taxation, rath-
er than a board or commission ap-
pointed by the governor.
l am on record as fayoring an I'M
limited Constitution Convention, and
l shall advocate and strongly urge as
one of the reforms pressing for atten-
ton by that body-that of making all
the members of the State Board of
Affairs elective.
If the voters of Louisiana cannot be
trusted to select a board exercising
such absolute and autocratc powers as
are now vested n the State Board of
Affairs, we may as well abandon all
pretext of democratic form of govern
ment, select a permanent ruler and
pass under the paternal influence and
control of a 'roya1 master" who
thinks as does Mr.. Thomas and the
others who stand sponsor for this new
order of things.
We need a new constitution, and we
need it badly. and an unlimited Con-
stitutional Convention should be call
ed as soon as possible after the adj
vent of the next administration.
Then our judicial system should be
improved and tho salaries of u
judges should be increased in harmony
with the present high cost of living.
The present scale of salaries paid to
our judicial officials is manifestly in
adequate and unfair. and if this con
dtion is not speedily corrected, it will
soon be impossible to secure the serv-
ices of those qualified by character,
attainments and experience to serve
this important department of our
state.
But we should set about these tasks
| with due deliberation and only after
intelligent Investigation and serious
thought and with the one purpose to
serve and promote the public interest.
Believing that the matters to which
| have alluded thsu far were of chief
Importance and really vital to the fu-
ture welfare, property and happiness
of the people of Louisian, / had alb
stained from a discussion of the es-
sentiaIly political phase of the situa-
tion until teh recent past when the en-
try of another contestant and the
method of his campaign rendered it
necessary and proper that ] should
meet the issue raised by him fairly
and squarely.
1t is true that previous to the entry
Of my present opponent, some of the
gentlemen, who have since retired
from the contest, had criticised the
Democratic organization of this city
and had advanced in opposition to my
candidacy the support of that organi-
cation. | did not then hesitate to
make known frankly and clearly my
position in that regard, nor shall | do
SO now. Even if l did not have may
strong PERSONAL and political friends
some of a lifetime-in the rank and
file of that organization, l would not
refuse, but on the contrary have well
coined and sincerely appreciate the