mo ale un•Ltttr ( thiel -------- I Entered in the postofflce at Donaldsonville. La.. as second-class man matter. JAS. VON LOTTEN AND G. D. BENTLEY Proprietors SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1919. hlelp St. Vincen.s Institute by at- tending the minstrel show at the' Grand Theatre next Wednesday. Interesting Lecture. Owing to the inclemency of the weather, a small-sized audience greeted Sergeant Munro, when he ap- peared at the auditorium of the Don- aldsonville High School, Wednesday night, to deliver his famous lecture, "Eighteen Months in German Pris- ons." The lecture was on of the best on the subject of the 'eat war delivered in this city, and was listen- ed to with marked attention by those present, and it is very much regretted that the weather prevented a large number of people from hearing the distinguished speaker tell of his thrilling experiences with the IHuns. Lady Minstrels Next Wednesday. 1'here will no doubt be a large au- dience, at the Grand Thettre next Wednesday night to witness the per- formance of the Lady Minstrels, composed of girl students of St. Vin- cent's Institute. The entertainment will consist of the latest song hits, choruses, jokes, tableaux, monologues, etc. There are eight funny and well trained comediennes in the show and they will keep you laughing all the time, The affair, which is to be given for the benefit of the institute, will prove the most novel of the sea- son. Don't fail to see it. Admis- sion, 25 cents. An Artistic Display. * The large show window on the east front of the Fashion store, at the corner of Railroad avenue and Mis- sissippi street, beautifully dressed with a full line of feminine spring wearing apparel, is attracting much favorable attention. A wax figure of a fine looking woman, attired in one of the latest, moderate priced s •ng creations, occupies the center oT he window, and cs surrounded by dresses of the latest styles and hats and shoes. The artistic and tasteful dis- play is the work of Leon Bloch, the progressive young manager of ;the store, who has much talent in the art of window dressing. Levee Board Delegates Return. The delegation from the Lafourche and Atchafalaya levee boards, which went to Washington to attend the the latter part of the week, arriving in New Orleans Sunday. C. C. Web- er, secretary of the Lafourche board, and one of the delegates representing that body, was met in the Crescent City by his wife and they returned to Donaldsonville together Monday. Mr. Weber reports that the delega- tion was most highly and royally en- tertained and shown every courtesy possible by Senator Edward J. Gay, who spared po effort to make their visit to Washington pleasant and :agreeable. Mr. Weber is also i-o- fuse in his compliments to Congress- man J. Y. Sanders of this district, for the many courtesies shown him and the other members of the dele- gation while in the capital city. Death of Mrs. Henry Cohn, Jr. Mrs. Alex Bloomenstiel, of this city, has the sympathy of her •any friends-in the great loss which shy has sustained in the death of her sister, Mrs. Henry Cohn, Jr., nee So- phie Farrnbacher, who died last Mon- day, at Charolotte, N. C., where she had been sojourning for tle benefit of her health. Deceased was the wife of Henry Cohn, Jr., a prominent citi- zen of Baton Rouge, who conducts a wholesale grocery in that city. She was a kind-hearted and charitable woman and her demise has cast a gloom over the entire community in which she lived. She is survived by one son, Dr. Isidore Cohn of New Or- leans, and six sisters and one brother. Mr. and Mrs. Alex Bloomenstiel went to Baton Rouge. Wednesday to at- tend the funeral, which took place there Thursday forenoon, at 10 o'clock. Death of Louis Sterken. Louis Sterken, son of A. J. Sterken, died at his home in Houma, on Mon- day, February 3, from pneumonia fol- lowing influenza. The fu ral took place from the Catholic 'anrch in that town. Deceased was 29 years of age, and resided here for many years with his father, who was engaged in the wood, coal and drayage business. lie was a hard working young man, of steady and industrious habits, and proved of invaluable assistance to his father in the conduct of his busi- ness here. He was well known and enjoyed the esteem and confidence of all who knew him. At the time of his death he was employed as motor Sruck driver for Wl R. J. Younger Oyster Company of Houma, which po- ition he had filled for several years, and had proved a most valuable em- ployee. He is survived by his young wife whom he married Dec. 21 last; his father and several brothers and sisters. To the afflicted widow. father and other relatives, the Chief tenders its sincerest sympathy. WIHY WE PAY PARISH TAXES. The question has often been asked, why are the taxpayers of the city of Donaldsonville required to pay parish taxes, when many other cities in the state are exempt from the pay- ment of this tax? The reason is not very clear. Prior to the year 1900 the tax- payers within the corporate limits of .)onaldsonville paid parish taxes the name as the taxpayers of all other wards. In 1900 the town was re- incorporated by an act of the general assembly of Louisiana, known as Act No. 139, approved July 12 of that year, and entitled, "An act to in- :-orporate the town of Donaldsonville, in the parish of Ascension, etc." The closing sentence of section one of this act reads as follows: "Provid- ed further, that the police jury of the parish of Ascension shall not impose any taxes or licenses on persons, business or property within the cor- porate limits of said town of Don- aldsonville; provided further, that said corporation shall pay all crimin- al expenses incurred in said town and its just proportion for the sup- port' of the public schools and the proper maintenance of the court- house and other public buildings." There being considerable diversity of opinion regarding the constitu- tionality of the act at the time of its passage, its provisions relative to the exemption of the town from the pac- ish tax were disregarded by the po- lice jury and the property situated within the town limits was listed for parish taxation purposes the same as before. A test case was made by one of the taxpayers of the city, who in- voked the aid of the courts in claim- ing exemption. The district court de- cided against him and he stopped, and the judgment obtained by the parish against this taxpayer became final. Subsequently the town of Donald- sonville filed suit against the police jury of the parish of Ascension, claiming that the latter body was ex- ceeding its jurisdiction and power in attempting to collect this tax in the face of the exemption provisions of the act of 1900. The town was re- presented by Attorneys E. N. Pugh and Walter Lemann. The police jury, represented by the late G. A. Gondran, who waS then district torney, and the late Senator R. c Culloh, filed an exception to the suit of the town, based upon the grounds that the town as such had no in- terest in the issue involved and there- fore was without right to bring the suit, and that if anyone had any right to resist the payment of the tax, it was the individual tax payers against whom the tax was levied and assessed. And in the same proceed- ing, the constitutionality of the act was att eked by the defendants. Sort 7 1'ie exception of no cause nor right of action was maintained, whereupon the town took a i appeal to the supreme court. This latter tribunal, in a judgment ren- dered June 22, 1904, which is report- ed in the 113 La. at page 15, Chief Justice Breaux being the organ of the court, affirmed the judgment of the lower court, and declared that WRIGLEY'S The Flavor lasts All three kinds. sealed in air-tight, impurity- proof packages. Be SURE to set WRIGLEYS "AFTER EVERY MEAL" S.a "the right to defend against payment of a tax is a personal one, and 's not to be assumed by the municipal- ity." The constitutionality of the ex- emption was not passed upon by the district court, and the supreme court .lecirion, referring to this question saye, "We desire particularly to state before concluding that we express no opinion in regard to the other ques- tions raised relating to the asserted exemption from prment of taxes. If ever they are brought before us, it will be time to decide those is- sues, when presented by parties with authority to stand in judgment." In other words, the supreme court decided that the town of Donaldson- ville had no right to bring the suit in question, that it should have been brought by individual taxpayers, and as no suit by individual taxpayers on the subject was ever brought to the notice of the highest court, the right Iof the +lxpayers of Donaldsonville to exemptsi from the payment of parish taxes under the provisions of the charter of 1900,has never been finally adjudicated and passed upon. In 1912, the general assembly pass- ed an act to authorize cities and towns to re-incorporate under what is known as the "commission form of government." This act, designated as Act No. 208 of 1912, contains among its provisions the following, which is taken from section 20: "And all cities which are under their present charters exempted from the payment of parish taxes should re- main exempt after the adoption of the form of charter herein provided." At the time of the adoption by Donaldsonville of the commission form j hL nment, its property holders• Pt under the pro- visions o h~e e ter from the payment of par es, were in fact paying the Tstaxes. They were-paying for the reason that the police jury, under whose authority the tax was levied, had refused to ecognize the legality of the exemp- tion, and the taxpayers had. neglect- ed and failed to take steps to vindi- cate and enforce their rights, in the kind of proceeding suggested by the supreme court, which would have brought all issues involved to its at- tention in proper shape for final ad- judication. And they have continued to pay the tax the same as before. Gone , Cuba. Fred Werner, Sr., the expert su- gar boiler of this city, who had charge of the vacuum pan at the big Gay Union factory in Iberville parish during the recent grinding season, left Wednesday of last week for Cuba, where he will be employed in a similar capacity at the big Hershey Central house at Santa Cruz del Norte, in Havana province. Mr. Werner will be assisted by his son, several days before. This is the sec- ond crop which Mr. Werner will boil for the same concern, having made sugar there last year. The Chief wishes its good friend a pleasant so- journ, unqualified success and 'a safe return home. See the Lady Minstrels next Wed- nesday at the Grand Theatre. AUCTION SALE A SUCCESS. The Sum of $165 Raised for Relief of Armenian Sufferers. Despite the inclement weather which prevailed, a large crowd of peo- ple gathered in front of the Grand Theatre last Sunday afternoon at 3 o'clock, for the auction sale for the relief of the Armenians, which took place' there at that hour. To the highest bidders were given, in addi- tion to the article purchased, a "'Save a Life Button," showing that the in- dividual had helped in this most worthy cause. Jasmin Tobias, the enterprising auctioneer, conducted the auction, and through his skill all articles brought full values. One dozen eggs were sold for $5. The bidding in many instances was very .spirited, and it took several hours to dispose of the chickens, eggs, pictures, laundry soap~, sewing machine, meal tickets, shave tickets, pop, tables, su- gar, wine, cigars, etc., which had been generously donated by citizens of the town and parish. The person who had jokingly of- fered to dispose of his mother-in-law for the benefit of the cause, failed to put in an appearance, the mother- in-law having at the last moment ob- jected to leaving her happy home, and it b eme necessary for the auc- tioneer to put up an order fW a mother-in-law, with wife or husband thrown in. Some of the young la- dies offered bids in the hope, no doubt, of landing a husband, but final- ly the order was * adjudicated to Claude Himel for thirty cents. When everything had been sold, the chairman of the drive announced that a money prize of $1 would be given the person present making the nearest guess to the amount taken in at the sale. Thirty-five entered the contest, each putting up a dime for the privilege, and when the money was counted it was found that the sale had brought $165. The nearest guess was that of Jos. Cire, who guessed $165.35, and he was awarded the prize. Other guesses ranged from $60 to $700. Donaldsonville is way over the top with its guota of this fund. Ascen- sion paris will follow as soons the roads permit travel. Much crktit is due the lalies for the manner in which they handled the Armenian Relief drive, and especial- ly is credit due to Mrs. A. W. Mar- tin, Mrs. Percy Lemann, Miss Jennie Duffel, Mrs. A. Ark Sarradet, Miss Dora Kaffile, Miss filly Bloomenstiel and Mrs. Jacob Blin for their suc- cessful efforts in tlng Donaldson- ville over the top••, Sugar Plantation nges Hands. A. I. Picard, minent mer- represen 1 tve m eg-m a re ong this parish, and o er leading agri- culturalists and busi ess men, recent- ly organized the ~eenfield Planting and Manufacturi ig Company, Inc., at Plaquemine, with a capital stock of $30,000. The new corporation acquired from the Metropolitan Bank of New Orleans, the Allemania plan- tation, consisting of 1600 acres of most valuable land with an up-to- date sugar factory. A large and very profitable crop was made on this place last year. The place will continue oFrations under te man- agement and control of the new own- ers. MrAPicard is one of tliblead- ing planters in the state, and is heavily interested in other sugar planting and- manufacturing enter- prises, among them being the Belle Helene plantation in the sixth ward of this parish, of which he is manager. Sugar Boiler 'Returns. H. J. Savoy, of Paincourtville, re- turned last Tuesday from Madison, Wisconsin, where he. was employed for the past four months as sugar boiler for the United States Sugar Refining Company, a large beet su- gar factory of that place, which ground 20,000 tons of beets and made 5,000,000 pounds of sugar. Mr. Sa- voy left Madison January 1, and visited several large cities and points of interest on his way home, includ- ing Milwaukee, Chicago, St. Louis, Decatur, Joliet, Cairo and Me phis, and he r orts having found tE en- tire country which li traversed in a most prosperous condition and to have had a most delightful trip. He brought the Chief three samples of the beet sugar manufactured by the concern where he was employed, which is of the standard granulated grade. Will Make Rice in Assumption. Edmond Richard, who last year cultivated rice on the Geo. B. Reuss Germnania plantation in upper As- cension, has made arrangements with Thomas Toups, a well known planter and merchant of Assumption parish, to cultivate about 500 acres of land in rice this year. The land is situ- ated on the left descending bank of Bayou Lafourche, about four miles below Napoleonville, -and'is said to be well adapted to thiegrowing of the cereal. The work- of plowing and preparing the land is already well under way, and is being done with two Fordson tractors and plows in addition to several mule teams. The Chief wishes Mr. Richard the same unqualified success with his crop in Assumption that he enjoyed in the parish of Ascension. Now is the time to advertise I Why Swift & Company Handle Poultry, Eggs, Butter and Cheese Swift & Company went into the produce business because they saw a crying need for the kind of service they were equipped uce business was in chaos. Collecting, transporta- ti eparation and distribution was hit-or-miss, with delay, deterioration and loss on every hand. The farmer was at the mercy of an uncertain, localized market. He had re way of reaching through to the peo~le who needed what he was raising for them. There was no premium upon improving his stocks, for grading was lax or lacking. The consumer had to accept produce that, as a rule, had no known responsible name behind it, He had no way of knowing how long the eggs or the butter he was buying had been lying around in miscellaneous lots in the back room of a country store. Much of the poultr3 s not properly refrigerated bcfore ship- menteor properly protected by refrigeration in transit. Swift & Company's initiative brought system to this chaos. Their organization, equipment, and experience in handling perish- able food products were already adjusted to the .task. .Their refrigerator cars, branch houses;-central points, far-reaching con- nections, trained sales force, supplied just what was demanded. Now the farmer has a daily cash market in touch with the nation's needs with better . daidlr Nothing suffers from this save inefficiency, which has no claim upon public support. Swift & Company, U. S. A. Donaldsonville Local Branch J. C. Dabadie, Manager New River Notes. Jerome Bourgeois, son of Clerville Bourgeois, died at the residence of his father on Black Bayou, on Feb. 3, after a long and lingering illness. The funeral took place on Feb. 4, with services at Mou m church and nterment in th e ceme- tery, at of- iciate w- ing re ves and riends folio the remains to their last resting place. Mr. and Mrs. Solomon Barman and little daughter, Hazel, of Baton Rouge, spent the day visiting Mr. and Mrs. M. G. Sevario, at Acy, last Sunday, returning to their home Sunday night. Mr. and Mrs. L. J. DeHass and Mr. and Mrs. Sam Boudreaux, of Sorren- :o, spent the day in New Orleans last Sunday. Willie Gonzales, the popular young son of Sims Gonzales, a prominent farmer of St. Amant, and Miss Ter- celia Guedry, the attractive young daughter of Joseph Guedry, also a progressive farmer of the same place, were married at the residence of the bride's parents Wednesday of %st week in the presence of a large num- ber of relatives and friends. Justice of the Peace Victor P. Mire officiat- ing. After the ceremony a reception was held at which many toasts were offered to the young couple. Among the Donaldsonvillians who visited New Orleans during the week were Mr. and Mrs. Arnaud Bloch and their children, Miss Sophie and Leo Bloch, Mr. and Mrs. John Maher, E. N. Pugh, Sandy TruxiWo, Percy Le- mann, A. A. Sarradet, and Joseph T. Cafiero. Mrs. Sidney A. Marchand and her bright and interesting little son, Sid- ney, left Saturday night for Ruston, where they will spend some time vis- iting Mrs. Marechand's parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Edwards. Health FIRST, Means a New Warm Suit or Overcoat Get your "weather-eye" on these hand- some pneumonia preventives-the best' line we've ever carried-Style-Plus and all the good makes you know so well. Don't take chances with a cheap garment. SHOES, TOO-- 0 yes, this department is a complete shoe store. Ask to see the new line just- received. ADOLPHE NETTER Department Store Donaldsonville, La. Draft Boards Close Offices. Acting upon instructions from the office .of the adjutant general of the state. all of the local draft boards throughout the state, recently sealed their records and closed up their of- fices. The Chief learns from R. Mel- ancon, the competent young clerk of the draft board of Ascension parish, that the adjutant general has notified the clerks of all of the local boards that at some date in the near future he would cull them to Baton Rouge, presumably to receive instructions for the completion of their work. FOR SALE. UPRIGHT FISCHER PIANO, second hand, in excellent condition. IRON SAFE, Mosler make, 32 inches high by 22 inches wide. KITCHEN RANGE, six holes. All may be bought at a bargain. For further particulars, apply to or address, MRS. G. D. BENTLEY. Ildsonville, La. FOR RENT. A LARGE SPACE in the Vega Building, Donaldsonville, next to the postoffice. Apply to or address, SOL. KLOTZ, Na- poleonville, La. WANTED. SALESMEN to solicit orders for lubricating oils, greases and paints. Salary or commission. Address THE VICTOR OIL CO., Cleveland, O.