The Natchitoches enterprise., 1920-05-20
Parish Commission Form Of
Government
Natchltoches, La, May II, 10;

'jedr EQlCOr.
Dnring the recent election campaign,
! our Representative, Mr.. S. E. Tobin,
made his run on the promise to intro
duce and work for the enactment of
legislation changing our system of
Parish Government to the Commission
form.
This matter was initiated by the
Chamber of Commerce of Natchitoches
which body has had committee ap-
pointed for sometime preparing the
necessary data for embodiment in the
} bill, of which committee l have the
honor to be Chairman.
We have been at it now for some
months gathering data from the var
ious charters in existence in other Sec
tions of the countr! and have at last
prepared the bill which Mr.. Tobin is
ready to'present and of which we be-
licve we have the support of all of our
delegation at Baton Rouge.
There has been, however, some talk
of continuing our present Police Jury
system and asking the Legislature for
the passage of a bill to empower the
Police Jury 60 employ manager. 1t
is not felt that such an arrangement
will be to the best interest of the Par
ish and the taxpayers as there is not
adequate law on the statute books to
insure successful operation under such
system. To bear out the feeling of
myself and others with whom l have
discussed this matter, have letter
from our District Attorney in this con-
nection which is quoted:
Hon. st. Anne Prudhomme
Natchitoches, La,
Dear St. Anne:
Your letter of the 18th regarding the
! selection of a Manager by the Police
Jury Of Natchitoches Parish, will
state, that note you have g. bill al
ready drawn up which provides for a |
Commission Form of Government for
Natchitoches Parish and assuming that
the necessary notice for the passage
of local bill has been given. l rather |
think the better plan would be to go
ahead and pass the bill, which would
be clear and explicit rather than to
attempt to act under present statutes.
which may or may not give as full au
thOrity as we desire or perhaps sub
ject the whole matter to ligitation
which may arise contesting the au-
thority of the Police Jury under pres
ent existing laws. The plan of Com
mission Form of Government l think
we'll of. For long time have
thought the present system of hand
ling the public and financial interest
needed radical changes.
No other corporation under the sun
have their affairs in charge of men
who receive absolutely no salary, who
in the main are busy with their own
affairs and have not, nor can they take
the time to properly manage the thous-
ands or hundreds of thousands of dol
lars which are entrusted to their con-
troll. There is however always the
trouble that any system may be run
into politics or some person elected as
manager who is best liked or who
needs the position. rather than to his
or qualifications.
Of course. if there are sufficient I
number of parishes who desire to have :
the selection of q manager, general +.
statute could be passed on the basis :
III your letter.
Your friend,
(Signed) ]. F. STEPHENS 6
The bill as at present drswn up for 4
by Mr.. Tobin in the il
House and MIR. Cunningham in the t
Senate provides what we think will \
,e marked improvement in many ways
,ver our present system. :
Some of the more important provis-
ons are herewith given for the benefit !;
# the taxpayers who are naturally most
italy interested in seeing that their
'ffairs are placed in the hands of an
which can be relied
pon to properly administer them un-
Ter adequate laws.
First-The bill provides that the
'arish shall be divided into FIVE 5)
istricts or zones, each of which shall
lect . representative to serve on the
'arish Commission, to be known as
he Board of Commissioners of Natchi-
oches Parish.
Second-That the Commission shall
e empowered to select . Parish Man.
ger who shall be the Executive .Head
the Departments Of Public Affairs,
inances. Public Improvement and
ave power to employ such subordin-
.es as are necessary to the proper
'nduct of the Parish Affairs. The
anager shall give bond for the faith
i performance of his duty.
Third That the Commission shall
Joy the same powers and privileges
are now delegated to the Police
Try.
the Commissioners
ID the Parish Manager are subject to
call.
Fifth-That the Parish Manager
all publish quarterly in the official
lrnal Of the parish . sworn state
mt Of all disbursements and the
ndition of the Parish Finances as
ii as progress on work being UNDER
zen.
The bill has been studied and ap-
,ved by several members of the
tchitoches Bar working in conjunc-
n with the Chamber of Commerce
and it is to be hoped the
ne will meet with the approval of
} taxpayers at large. This we are -
lfident Of if the matter Is taken into
inua consideration har fhoun ana -