Natchitoches spectator., 1868-01-16
Contention Tax Ordinance.

ficerS of this Convention, and to delray
all other expenses necessary for the use
of said Convention, the following tax is
hereby levied on the property Of this
State, both real and movable, VIZ: a tax
of one mill per cent.
SEC. .. The Sheriffs of the State,
except the parish of Orleans, shall col
lect the above mentioned tax, and that
they refer to the assessment rolls made
by the State of Louisiana for the year
eighteen hundred and sixty-seven (l86I)
as the basis for assessing the tax herein
levied on real and movable property,
and in order to facilitate them in the
collection of said tax, they are hereby
authorized to employ all summary rem
edies now given by law for the coiiec-
| ton Of State taxes, and shall receive TOR
their services the same compensation
paid them by the State for like services.
SEC. 3. The tax herein leyied, and
which shall be due by the parish Of Or
leans, shall be collected by persons now
charged with the collection OF State
taxes in said parish, and they shall pos
sess the same powers and receive the
same compensation.
SEC. 4. The Sherifs and other per-
sons charged with the collection OF the
fax levied by this ordinance shall pay
TO the Treasurer of the State, at the end
lectors Of the parishes of Orleans and
Jefferson and Orleans right bank, all
sums collected by them under this ordi-
nance, and shall settle finally with the
Treasurer on the 1st day of April, eigh-
| leen hundred and siXty-eight (1S6S.)
But in no case shall the State Treasurer
give Il receipt for either partial or final
settlement without requiring the sherlt
or other collector to take or subscribe
an oath that he has paid all the money
collected by him to date of settlement,
[ less his commission.
| SEC. 5 The tax collectors of the pa
rish of Orleans shall settle with the
| Treasurer of the State every ten days,
reckoning from the day of notice which
the said Auditor shall give said collector
of the said ordinance and the tax there
| in LEVIED.
Sec. 6. So much of the tax levied
| as may be required TO pay the delegates
and officers of this Convention, and TO
pay all other expenses necessary for the
use OF said Convention, shall be paid by
the State Treasurer upon warrants sign
ed by the warrant clerk and counter
signed by the President of this Conven-
tion. The balance of the tax levied
shallabe placed by the State Treasurer to
the credit of the general fund, aud re-
served until the meeting Of the General
Assembly elected under the provisions
of the Constitution adopted by this
Convention, to be used as they may
direct.
SEC. Z. AS soon as the Treasurer Of
the State shall be notified of q loan hav-
ing been effected by this Convention he
shall place the funds received by him
under this ordinance to the credit Of
said loan, and the said fund, or as much
tbnrnof nav hn n NOV 81 ia
loan shall remain specially pledged to
repay said loan.
SEC. s. The tax levied by this ordi-
nance shall be paid only in the legal
currency of the United States.
On the Tth instant, Mr.. Cooley, Of
Pointe Coupee, offered the following re-
port, signed by himself and Judge Talia-
ferro, majority of the committee to whom
was reierle ed the above Ordinance:
To the Constitutional COnrention Of the
State Of Louisiana: The undersigned,
appointed a special COMMITTEES by this
honorable body to consider and report
upon the ordinance introduced by the
Hon. w. Jasper Black burn, in relation
to the warrants issued by the Couvep
tion for the pay Of members and officers,
which said ordinance proposes to make
said warrants receivable in payment of
all taxes that are levied by this Conven-
ton, the different State taxes, municipal
and parochial taxes, and the purchase
Of public lands; and also the substitute
offered TO said ordinance by the Hon.
w. II. Cooley, forcing the SheriffS and
tax collectors throughout the State to
! pay into the State treasury only such
| funds as were actually received by them
in payment Of the tax levied by the
| Convention, and requiring the Auditor
of Public Accounts to exact evidence
! from each tax collector or sheriff to the
effect that the funds or warrants offered
to be paid into the treasury by them
were in payment of tax referred to, beg
| leave 80 report as follows:
They are of the opinion that this Con-
vention has not the power to make the
warrants it issues for the pay of mem
beTs and officers receivable in payment
of any other tax than that levied for the
purpose Of defraying the expenses OF
this Convention.
Practically, this Convention cannot
carry ont the ordinance it passed on the
24th of December, levYing the mill tax,
which they undoubtedly had the power
TO pass under the reconstruction laws.
The Courts of the State would enioin
=