Newspaper Page Text
THE COLFAX CHRONICLE Absorbed the GRANT PARISH DEMOCRAT May 1, 191 A DImocratic Journal, devoted to Local and 6cneral News, Literature, Science, griculture, 6tc. VOL. XXXVI COLFAX, GRANT PARISH, LA., SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1912 NUMBER 50 Capt. Teal Favors the Proposed Tax Amendment. Colfax, La., Oct. 5, 1912. Editor Colfax Chronicle: The only excuse I have for appearing in print at this particular time is the fact that the people of this State are being offered the best tax scheme that they have had the opportunity to em brace since the territory has become a State, and I am afraid it is so little un derstood that they will reject it for that very reason. 1 hav' carefully read and analyzed it from every view point, and the more I think along that line, the more I am J convinced it is good, and the less com plicated it seems, and the object of this communication is to invite criticism through the press. I do not, as a rule, like newspaper controversies. But I do invite this because there is nothing fac tional in it. and it cannot be made per sonal. Blanchard stood for it in his platform, Sanders did likewise, so did Michel and Hall and Aswell, so no one can oppose it on that ground. The scheme addresses itself to me especial ly, because it is local. The police jury of each parish takes charge of all the property in Grant for example, except the railroads, telegraph and telephones, and bank stocks, and fixes a value for the purpose of assess ing, and in order that such value shall be equalized. The Assessor must lo cate the property on the assessment roll geographically, that is to say, you must be next to your neighbor, even though your name commences with "A" and his "Z,"'so that you can see his assessment as well as your own wheb you go to pay your taxes, as well to as sist the police jury when they examine equalization. Again, the land is assess ed separately from improvements to further facilitate equalization. Now this value put upon property can be anything from 25 to 100 per cent of its actual cash value; just so everybody is assessed alike, and "each tax payer when he can see his neighbor's assess ment will look to that." Now, suppose 16 mls on a 50 per cent cash value of the assessment roll does not give you the desired revenue for local improvements as well as cur rent expenses, (I mean to build school houses, pay teachers and build 'model roads, etc.), then the police jury lev ie3 on all the property of the parish, including the railroads, bank stocks, telegraph and telephone properties "which are now known as segregated property," at a uniform, or equalized assessment, a sufficient millage to raise the desired amount. Let us look at Grant applying the new system. The total assessment roll of Grant parish for 1911 is $4,237,498.00. Under the old system you would get for the perish ·-4224 for the State $25,424.88. Under the new system the parish would get on the 16 mills, (now taking out railroads, telegraph and telephones, and bank stocks), $57,906.18, you see again from the State of $15,580.20, and the State has pledged you the revenue shall never be say less. I make my estimates at 16 mills because if the Confederate Veteran tax carries it will be 16 mills for all the future, "or more. " I say more because the institutions of the State must be cared for; and her schools, asylums, etc., have grown fast er than the values on the assessment roll, and there is not money enough to maintain them on the old basis of 15 mills and it must be increased. Again, one of the beauties of the new system is, you pay taxes to yourselves. Not a dollar of it is ever taken out of the parish for any purpose. In other rwords, if you adopt the proposed scheme you will never pay another dollar State taxes as long as you live, yet you get from the State your pro rata of school funds, the same as before, as well as 'the good roads fund, and each are pledged by the State to never be any less than in 1911. Yet the State, ex pecting to raise flve million dollars on her segrqgated property, pledges you a corresponding increase as is 6,800,000 to about $4,900,000 State's revenue in 1911. Under the old system, Grant got for schools something more than $9,500. Under the new system she will get something more than $10,000. Another thing; with the State's oys A Log om the Track of the fast expres means serious trouble ahead if not removed, so does loss of appetite. It means lack of vitality, loss of strength and nerve weakness. If appetite fails, take Electric Bitters quickly to overcome the cause by ton ing up the stomach and curing the in digestion. Michael Hesheimes of Lin coin, Neb., had been sick over three years, but six bottles of Electric Bitterp put him right on his feet again. They have helped thousands. They give pure blood, strong nerves., good dlgestion. Ontly E aes at Dixie Pharmay.-Adv. ter bottom, of which she has 4,500,000 acres, worth more than her public lands before she parted with one dollar's worth, will be developed and pay thou sands of dollars per annum into the State treasury. This amendment is so worded that the State at any time by two-thirds vote of the Legislature can return to the parish any portion of the segregated property to be used by them for local taxing purposes. Now if this scheme carries, in order that the sher iffs and assessors shall not lose one dollar in commissions, the State agrees to refund to them every dollar they lose based on the roll of 1911. I think I heard some one say, "what will become of our present special tax es?" We will go right on collecting them. I have already told you how to get new ones. In the foregoing I have attempted to show that in the future we will pay taxes only to ourselves if the new sys tem was adopted, and that we have 16 mills instead of 10 as heretofore to draw from, which difference makes a gain in Grant of more than $15,000.00. One more idea I forgot, that the par-, ishes are interested in. That is, thi practical passing away of the pernic ious system of licenses- putting a tax on man's industry or enterprise. The State will impose no license except on such business as will fall within the do main of the police power (I mean sa loons.) They cannot impose licenses on persons engaged in trades, occupations or callings involving personal labor or skill-nor on those engaged in industrial or manufacturing pursuits, whose capi tal stock or capital and business is less than $5000. Nor those engaged in agri cultural or horticultural pursuits. As a safeguard to the revenues of the parishes, the power to license cer tain occupations now taxed by local gov ernment was allowed to remain, but it cannot be exercised until the local tax ing power (police jury or town council) have exhausted its other resources on a basis of 60 per cent. It is conceded by well advised think ers that if the assessment is made geo graphically, on a basis not greater than the 1911 assessment, it will produce am ple revenue without the license tax. Now, the trouble that has brought about the new system by the State, is to obtain more revenue for the State, lnd after careful thought it is conclud ed that under the segregation plan that seventeen enterprises would furnish the needed revenue. They are, the rail roads, telegraphs, telephones, express and sleeping car companies, banks, street railroads, canal and pipe lines, pumping stations, steamboats, sugar refineries, petroleum refineries, rice mills, cotton oil companies, mills, and railroads taxable in 1914. Then comes mines, stone quarries, sand and gravel beds, shale, and oil or gas wells. Thp one subject-mines. It seems the sulphur output in Calcasieu parish aggregates more than $5,000,000 per annum. Its output is taxed 3 per cent, 1150,000. Now; I have been asked why this cannot be done under the old sys tem. Simply because this great mine of wealth would accrue to Calcasieu only, while under the segregated idea it accrues to the whole State, and through it to all the parishes. When I speak of sugar refineries, I do not mean the ordinary refinery, of which we have in south Louisiana very many, but factories like Gramacy, that cost several million(, and are assessed under the old system for only a few hundred thousand. These under the new system would be assessed by a board at Baton Rouge that would con sider the cost and assess them on the same basis as other property of its kind, say 60 per cent of its first cost. It is this class of property, property under the old system that escaped tax ation altogether, that will bring up the State's revenues fully one million more than the rolls this season will earn. There are 'other good things offered to the parishes, too. My friend Walter Burke, of New Iberia. proposes an amendment exempting from taxation all institutiona that will lend money to the farmer on country farms at six per cent, and on long terms for lessathan that; my friend, Senator Pavrot, offers an amendment exempting from taxa tion any money you have in bank; and my friend, Bertrand Well, of Aiexan dria, an amendment exempting from taxation homesteads, by a vote of the locally interested people. Another amendment by Senator Bar row authorizes the police juries, on proper petition, to submit the question as to exemption of municipalities from parish taxes. In conclusion, let me say these pro posed changes are not experimental, they have been tried suceeesftlly in quite a number of States, and I am sure they will do well here. Sicremmly yous, C. H. TaL. Official Proceedings of the Police Jury of Grant Parish. Colfax, La., Oct. 7, 1912. The police jury met in regular ses sion at the court house in Colfax, R. W. Richardson, president, and all the members present. The minutes of the last meeting were read and approved. Dr. J. D. Bqucum, of the State Board of Health, came before the police jury and asked that the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars ($150) be appropriated for the purpose of aiding and assisting in the work of eradicating the disease of hook worms. On motion by Mr. Watson, seconded by Mr. Dunn, the appropriation was made. Dr. F. O. Maxwell came before the police jury and asked that his salary as president of the parish board of health be fixed at the sum of three hundred dollars ($300) per annum. Mr. Dunn moved that the consideration of Dr. Maxwell's proposal be postponed until the next meeting of the police jury. The motion was defeated. On motion by Mr. Blewster, seconded by Mr. LaCroix, the salary of the presi dent of the parish board of health was fixed at the sum of one hundred dollars ($100) per annum from and after July 1, 1912, and for all such extra services as he shall render in case of an outbreak of epidemic sickness, he shall be paid in addition to the said salary. A petition was presented asking that a public road be created leading from near Bentley to the parish line. On motion action was deferred on the pe tition until the next meeting of the po lice jury. Mr. Hays, representing Austin Bros., of Dallas, Texas, bridge builders, came before the police jury for the purpose of offering a bid for the contract to construct a bridge across Bayou Darro, on the model roaid leading from Colfax east. Mr. Blewster moved the adoption of the following ordinance: Section 1. Be it ordained by the po lice jury of the parish of Grant, Louisi ana, in regular session convened, That the fees to be paid for the public print ing for the parish of Grant shall be as follows: Thirty-five cents per square of one hundred words for the first in sertion, and twelve and a half cents for each subsequent insertion, to be pay able quarterly at the regular meetings of the police jury. Section 2. And be it further ordain ed, That all ordinances and parts of ordinances in conflict with or contrary to the provisions of this ordinance be and the same are hereby repealed, and that this ordinance shall go into effect at once upon adoption. Mr. Blewster's motion to adopt the ordinance was seconded by Mr. LaCroix. Thereupon Mr. Watson moved as a substitute that the police jury shall contract with the lowest eligible bidder for the parish printing, after having advertised for bids, provided such bids are within the requirements of the law. Mr. Watson's substitute was second ed by Mr. Preuett, and when put to the vote was defeated by four to two. Upon the defeat of the substitute, the ordinance proposed by Mr. Blewster was put to the vote and was adopted. On motion the police jury proceeded to elect a parish printer. The names of H. G. Goodwyn and E. A. Mathis were put in nomination, and H. G. Goodwyn was elected parish printer, the vote being four for Goodwyn and two for Mathis. A petition was presented asking that the public road leading from Rochelle to Pollock be changed so as to leave the model road just west of the Iron Moun tain railroad, and running parallel with said railroad to the road crossing south of Lincecum where it intersects said Rochelle and Pollock road. On motion the petition was granted, and Ransom Rambo, J. L. Kent and T. H. West named as reviewers to locate and es tablish the road. Mr. W. H. Rexler came before the police jury and proposed to make cer tain necessary repairs to the plumbing in the jail and the court house for the sumn of fifty-one dollars ($51). On mo tion the proposal was accepted. The police jury then took up the con sideration of the bid of Austin Brothers to build the steel bridge across Bayou Darro. On motion the president was author ised and empowered to sign a contract Saves Leg of Boy. "It seemed that my 14 year old boy would have to lose his leg, on account of an ugly ulcer, caused by a bad bruise," wrote D. F. Howard, Aquone, N. C. "All remedies and doctors treatment failed till we tried Bucklen's Arnica Salve, and cured him with one box." Cures burns, boils, skin eruptions, piles. 29c at Dixie Pharmacy. -Adv. with Austin Brothers for the construc tion of said bridge, for the-price and sum of two thousand three hundred and fifty dollars ($2350), the same to be completed on or before Jan. 1, 1913. On motion the president was author ized to purchase from Austin Brothers twelve steel road drags at twenty-two dollars ($22) each. The police'jury then adjourned until 9 a. m. October 8, 1912. R. W. RICHARDSON, R. S. CAMERON, President. Clerk. Continued next week. H. M. Beatty, Little Rock, Ark, says: "For the past two years I suf fered with kidney trouble, had severe pains across my back and over my hips that almost meant death to me at times. I used several well known kidney rem edies, but got no relief until I used Fol ey Kidney Pills. These I can truthful ly say made me a sound and well man." J. W. Duncan Co., Ltd:-Adv. Syrup cans at J. W. Duncan Co., Ltd. Offcial Proceedings of Grant Parish School Board. Colfax, La., Oct. 5, 1912. On the above date the Parish Board of School Directors for the parish of Grant met in regular session with all members present, except W. N. Creed, of ward three, and T. M. Bradford of ward five. The minutes of the previous meeting read and adopted as read. The field report of the parish super intendent was read and approved. On motion of Mr. Stewart, duly sec onded by Mr. Jackson and carried, $150.00 was approprinted for the build ing of a school house at Willow Crove, and the Willow Grove and Summerfield schools were ordered run four months each instead of eight. On motiou of Mr. Nugent, duly sec onded by Mr. Stewart and carried, Messrs. H. A. Roshto, N. S. Roberts and I. McMills were appointed as a building committee to act with the par ish superintendent and the ward mem ber in the erection of a house at Wil low Grove. The question of making some repairs on the school house at Simms and the consolidation of the two schools of that district into one came up for consider ation, and after being discussed by Messrs. Robertson, Williams, Miller, Curry, Dove and Hazel, it was finally decided to have all necessary repairs made on the Simms school house and to co-operate with the citizens of that district in their efforts towards con solidation. On motion of Mr. Nugent, duly sec onded by Mr. Stewart and carried, Mr. Ligon was appointed on they local school board for the Rochelle school, vice Mr. Greenor, removed from the district. On motion of Mr. St. Andre, duly seconded by Mr. Nugent and carried, H. A. Carpenter and C. C. Chapman were ippointed as a committee to as sist the superintendent in arranging the premium list of the club members, also for drawing and writing for all of the schools of the parish. On motion of Mr. Stewart, duly sec onded by Mr. St. Andre and carried, the claims of Mr. E. S. Murrell for list ing polls and extending special school taxes on the rolls were allowed and or dered paid. A nnmber of other claims were ex amined by the board and ordered paid. On motion of Mr. Stewart, duly sec onded by Mr. Jackson and carried, the request from some citizens of the Big Creek school for a change of trustees of that school was laid over until a fu ture meeting. There being no further business be fore the board it adjourned subject to the call of the president J. H. McNEELY, J. N. WARNER, President Secretary. Paint Put-On Think of paint put-on and not by the gallon. A gallon of paint in the can is of no account to anybody. Put it on. Now reckon its cost and value. The secret is: one paint goes twice as far as another. A good one goes twice as far as a bad one. You have a job, say an average job. It'll take 10 gallons Devoe and 12 or 15 or 18 or 20 of middling poor very-poor and trash. You know paipter's wages in your town. Put the price of a gallon of paint and the painter's day-wage to gether. You can, we can't Devoe costs less than any inferior paint; there are hundreds of them. One paint is as good as another, so long as it laste good; one lasts months and another years; and the one that goes furthest lasts longest DEVOE Valley Drug Store sells it-AdM. RESOLVED TIMES MAY CHANGE AND MEN MAY CHANGE WITH THEM.AND TASTES MAY CHANGE Too- BUTSQUARE DEALING NEVER CHANGES- WE KEEP UP WITH THE TIMES BUSTERJ BRo4N " { Ch ed, No SUN-DIAL METHODS-IN OUR STORE. WE DON'T CARE To CARRY OUR STUrr UNTIL IT GETS OUT-of-DATE. WE WOULD RATHER SELL AT LOW PRICES NOW AND SELL oVR GooDS, AND SELL MANY or THEM, THAN To SELL NOW AT HIGH PRICES AND NOT SELL MANY. STYLE, QUALITY AND THE SQUARE DEAL ARE THE THREE THINGS THIS STORE STANDS-FoR. COME IN AND WE WILL DO BUSINESS WITH YOU RIGdHT. THAT'S, ALL. PEOPLE'S CASH SToRE, LTD. RAILRoAD AVE. COLrAX, LA. "TrE IIT EAT SOT LE COLLEGE. ssL SF BUSI NSS.' NEW ORLEANS, LA. hoae ýavs ý ý sNo Is a seee dwae, l"eti le s a a dets. e ti seses of its Mn ic F cwa6 6e101166e MANSFIELD, LOUISIANA Offers Domestic Science, Teacher Traiin, Piano, Voice, Violin, French, German, and the usual Colege branches Each member of faculty choeen for her training, experience, Scholar ship, Culture and Chriptian Characseter Fine buildings and beautiful campus. Expenses reasonable. Number limited. 57th session begins September 4 WRITE FOR CATALOGUE * R. E. ROBBITT, : Presldent ÷-~~~ ~ - ,. :::::::::::::::: Every Business M an should conduct all of his outside affairs over the long distance lines of the Cumberland Telephone & Telegraph Company, RATES REASONABLE, SERVICE PROMPT For information, call Long Distance Operater Gu mberlnd TdIone _r Te"leg ra b GO. ' Cool Colorado Can now be reached in through car via the OBSERVATION SLEEPER ON TIER TEXASCOLRADO I .LIMITED PUEBLO, COLORADO SPRINGs and DENVFER I THE BEST SUMMER ROUTE TO SECa lifori " I EXCURSION TICKETS ON SALE DAILY SEE T. & P. AGENT, OR WRITE Aset. Gen. Pasegr. At General Paseager 4gent * Dt ALLAS, - - TEXAS £ wwwwwwwwww*wwwg