The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1920-01-29

70 rae tft~eh* ~ bOSStef idffsH.
Now that the election is over and
Hon. John NJ. Parker has been over
whelmingly nominated for Governor of
Louisiana. trust that any statement
l may make in answer to the many
vicious attacks made upon myself dur
ing the campaign will he listened to
and judged from an unbiased and nom
partisan standpoint,
From the inception of this campaign
the writer has been made personally
the object of many assaults by Col.
Stnhbs and all of his supporters. There
have been many gross miSrepreSenta
lions made by campaign orators in
order to mislead and deceive the public
concerning the matters Of taxation.
Personally, had nothing whatever to
do with the preparation Of the Board
of Affairs law. was not in Baton
Rouge when it was considered. and
not even in the State of Louisiana
when it wlS passed by the Legislature.
and never saw the law until it had
been enacted by the Legislature.
wish to further say that l never
solicited an appointment upon II e
Board as its Chairman. and it was at
considerable sacrifice that l accepted
the appointment. which was urged
upon he by the Governor of the State
more than six weeks prior to its ac-
ceptance.
There was not much pleasure or sat
i$factiOlh in reSigning /; good position
in the bank at Shreveport and leaving
my comfortable home to live in il
hoardin: house in Baton Rouge for
three years. and almost work my eyes
out trying to solve some of the difficult
problems with which we We're con-
fronted. and in return receive no
thanks-but only abuse.
l undertook to leave this position il
year ago. but. at the earnest request
Of the Governor. remained on until last
years assessments We're completed he
fore reSiglling | now have 10 connec-
ton with the Board. and would never
have again under any consideration.
no matter what the compensation
might be. l realize that deep-Seated
prejudice has been created for political
effect against the work Of the Board.
and that much INSTRUMENTATION has
been given out concerning its powers
and duties
The Board has nothing to do Thh
the parish and local tardtion. and
ncrcr has hal. This was entirely con-
trollcd by the police ynry. which f.red
the rate Ut tdrafiOn. as rell as the per-
ccntdgc NJ assessment on rhich the tar
rate ras computed. The average .citi-
zen is made to believe that the Board
of State Affairs did it all. when it had
nothing whatever to do with it. Thc
Bodrd dcaH only with state taration.
and has placed upon the rolls Of this
state orcr tT0 hMndred million dollars
w0rlh Of property that rax not paying
cent If tar to either the state Or
parish.
Every one knows that it costs more
to feed and clothe five thousand sick
| and insane people at the present time
than it did when this administration
Went into office. and any fair-minded
man will admit that. Furthermore.
there has been some reduction in our
revenues caused by universal prohibit
! ton. eliminating the saloon license.
which revenue had to be made up from
other sources. | further make the
! statement that ut the earnest solicita-
ton of the Superintendent of Public
Education. in November. 1913. the pee-
pie themselves voted large increase
in taxation for schools. in order to pay
the teachers fair salaries. The Board
Of State Affairs was held responsible
for all of this. and l appeal to any
fair-minded man If it was either right
or just to have made such an acctis;l-
ton. the Board having had no more to
do with any Of these matters than the
man in the moon. -
| 1t did undertake. in Il fair manner,
| to equalize as far as possible all the
different parishes that We're totally out
Of proportion with each other 1t did
undertake to require full rendition