The star-progress. (Opelousas, La.) 1917-1921, 1921-10-05
FIRE FIRST SHOTS
In FIGHT AGAINST
HIGHER SALARIES
Legislators Take Advant-
age of Clause in New
Constitution
JUDGES AND OFFICIALS
TARGET FOR ISSUE
Raid on State Treasury
Must Stop, Shouts Judge
: Dupre Of st. Landry

Secretary of State Jim Bailey jo-
cularly SAID, during the session Of The
constitutional convention. that Judge
Dupre of St. Landry could see a
salary-raiser across the Atlantic" He
must overlooked the Fact that there
are other prominent mea Tho IRE in
the same class as the .'St. Landry
Hornet, and that the Judge is s.np-
ly the bell-wether of the flock.
This fact leads out and became
prominent last Friday when segsral
members of the legislature seized tie
occasion to take advantage of a
clause in the new constitution, Civ
ing the legislature the right, by a
two-thirds vote, to reduce the sa;ary
of any judge or other official that was
fixed by the constitutional convention
This change was made after the con-
vention had written the fixed sal
aries OF certain Officials in the new
organic law and evidently eame as an
afterthought.
Someone in the house of represen-
tatives nosed this beautiful little jok-
er out of the constitution and imme-
diately brought it into active play.
and that. too. before the favored Off
cials had begun to enjoy the first
fruits of their victory in getting a
substantial hike in their measly pay.
The district attorney salary bill. in
troduced. ''by request" by Mr.. Chap
puis of Acadia, was the signal for
Judge Dupre and his followers to un-
Timber and get into action and they
didn't lose any time in becoming busy
on the job, for first one and then ard
another fired a resolution or some
other legislative document at the as
founded members. CONSERVATION
reigned supreme and at the crucial
moment Mr. Chappuis asked permis-
sion to withdraw his district attorney
bill from the calendar and this re-
quest was granted without any long.
drawn squabble.
Bills wiping out the increase in sal
aries granted to state officials, judge
of the courts Of appeal. district judges
ETC., had been drawn overnight and
were shot into the legislative hopper
at wonderful rate and along with
this rising tide Of anti-salary raisers
came concurrent resolution calling
on the Jefferson parish probe COM
mission to also get busy and probe a
recent house party staged by Dis
trict Attorney jeff B. Snyder of Madi-
son.
Messrs. Guillot, Tobin and Copeler
were the bomb-throwers Friday, send
ing their anti-salary raisers into the
hopper in rapid-fire order. 1t is re-
ported that Mr.. Guillot has similar
other bills in the confecting and at
the proper time will shoot them at
the opposition Three were receiv-
ed this (Friday) morning. he said,
''and the others win be ready by
Monday. These bills speak for them
selves and the press win be given an
opportunity to pass judgment on their
merits" A laconic statement that por
tends much for the office holders ef-
fected by the dire threat against the
size of their monthly pay check!
He feels sure all bills Of this cha
racter win pass because Of the gen.
eral demand from all over the state
for a reduction in governmental ex-
penses. The administration, he be.
lieves, viii back the measures in or.
der to refute the charge that this ad
ministration is the most expensive in
the history Of the state. Someone
charged recently that there would be
a deficit of seven hundred thousand
dollars in the state treasury the cur
rent year, and this statement whether
it be fact or not, has given the anti
salary raisers in the legislature q
plentiful supply Of high-powered am
munition with which to wage Their
war against the beneficiaries Of ths
constitutional convention.