The Natchitoches enterprise., 1921-06-09

cases shorld be ''pushed'' in the Fed
eral court, in order that the law abid
lag citizens may receive the protector
to which they are entitled.
! We are advised that Natchitoches
parish is not an exception along this
line. If this be true we see no reason
why the legislature cannot be called in
extra session end ample laws for the
protection of the citizens of this state
be enacted and we so recommend.
We believe that the local officers are
doing all within their power and that
the enactment Of adequate laws IS all
that is necessary.
We find that many bills of indictment
on true bills returned by former Grand
Juries pending. We recommend and
urgently request that the district at
torney dispose of these cases either by
trial or by nolle prosequ and in the
event the parties charged with the
commission of crimes cannot be had
for trial that all bonds be forfeited.
We have visited the officers of the
clerk and assessor and have no criti-
cism. We particularly commend the
clerk fot the vast Improvements shown
We find the Jail in very unsanitary
condition, scch, however, is not due to
the neglect of the officers but to the
fact that the Jail is used partly as
hospital for the insane and through
defective plumbing. We request that
these matters be attended to, and that
if possible the insane be sent to hos
pital for treatment, and that the
plumbing be corrected, and bill for
same be presented to the police jury.
We do not feel that the prisoners are
properly fed. If this be due to an in
sufficient allowance, the police jury
should make other provisions. The
law provides that if there be any ex-
cess over the actual cost of keeping
and feeding such excess should be
credited to the proper fund.
We have visited the Paupers' Home.
and after thorough investigation, We
lind same very unsanitary. House
needs fumigatlng at regular intervals.
We recommend that it be given certain
winter. That medical attention and
clean bed clothes be furnished. We
further recommend that the house be
thoroughly: white washed inside and
out. and sufficient clothes be provided.
We visited the office of the Parish
School Superintendent, and in view of
the fact that representative of the
supervisor of public accounts Office had
just completed an exhaustive examina-
tion of his records, which no doubt will
be given to the public in full, we
confined our efforts to an examination |
of the affairs of the Cypress school in |
school district No. to which our at |
tention had been directed by interested
citizens.
We have endeavored in the state.
ment herewith submitted to give a
brief but complete record and history
OF this entire transaction in simplified
form in order that it might be easily
The system of account
ing that has been used in this office is
neither comprehensive nor complete.
and while you might eventually dig out
The information sought with the assis-
lance Of the memory Of the Office force,
i requires great deal of patience and
time, and it is our opinion that the
yystem in use is altogether INADEQUATE
Tor an office of this Importance and
The plans and specifications of this
school building, which according to the
'erms OF the contract are part there
Il. and which should have been
!ttached thereto, could not be found in
ne office and We were therefore un.
lbie to verify whether the extra labor
nd material for fues were part of the
riginal plans and specifications or not.
"A 86S. 13 in taxes collected for this
ch00l district were deposited to the
redit of the General Fund although
here was special and specific account
pened and kept in the bank for School
district No. 2. This is q direct viola.
on OF the law and we recommend that
1is practice be discontinued. $500, 900
'hich it appears from his report, has
zen contartlysgrowIng since 1918 and
zen this amount does not include some
accounts which are known
exist but are not of record. The
lpervisor's Office thinks now that
dger should also be kept in addition
} the cash book and accordingly one
% opened under date of March 81.
Without desiring to criticise or re-
'ct on the Supervisors representa-
yes, who have been checking and
the records of this office all
ese years, we cannot understand why
ev have not long ago demanded and
stalled q more comprehensive and
orough system Of accounting for this
Ice that handles hundreds Of thous-
ds Of dollars Of the peoples money.
We recommend that School Board
deavor to cut down expenses and
rtail expenditures Of school funds
much as possible to reduce the
ormous deficit, but, that in so doing
It they not jeopardize the education
opportunities Of the children of the
further, That Supervisor of Public
counts be requested to furnish Par
Superintendent of Education com.
te report of every examination or
BIT made by his Office and that
ne be published with recommenda-j
% IN the Official journals of the
b practice Of plsdging funds Of
year to pay debts Of another should