The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1871-06-24

plantation of Mrs. Nancy Bry, deceased; ;
thence castwardly to point intersected by
the extension of the eastern line of jackson
street; thence up said line to the upper
line Of the said plantation Of Mrs. Nancy
Bry, deceased, so as to include the addition
to the city of Monroe, made by Robert
Layton, according to the survey Of Frank
Moore. surveyor of Ouachita parish thence
along said plantation line to the eastern
line Of the North Louisiana and Texas
Railroad Company's right of way; thence
on line running at right angles with sad
plantation line to the lower Of De Siard
street; thence down said street to the east
bank, inclusive Of the west fork of Youngs
bayou thence up the eastern hank Of said
bayou to point inters' ctcd by an extension
of the upper line of Olive street; thence
along the lire Of Olive street to the eastern
line of Sixth street; thence up Sixth street
to the upper line of Pine street: thence
along the upper line of Pine street to the
middle of the Ouachita river: thence
down the middle of said river to point
opposite to and insected by the extension
of the southern boundary line, and thence
to- the point of beginning
Sec. 9. Be it further enacted, etc, That
to provide for the government Of the city
of Monroe, there shall be elected on the
first Monday in May Of each year. by the
qualified voters of said corporation, from
among themselves, one mayor and seven
councilmen, with the powers and duties
hereinafter set forth.
Sec. 8. Be it further enacted etc, That
the election for the officers, created by the
second section of this act, shall be held hy
the same commissioners appointed to hold
the last preceding general election of the
State, residents of sad city, Or any three
IF them, designated by the Mayor and city
counci!mcn; and that said election shall
be conducted in all respects according to
the laws of the State regulating elections,
except as to counting the ballots, which,
shall be counted and returns thereof made
by said commissioners to the clerk of the
district court in and for the parish of
Ouachita. who shall issue certificates Of
election to the persons elected, and said
certificates shall be sufficient authority for
the persons elected to enter upon the dis
charge of their duties. after they shall have
qualified by taking an oath to discharge
said duties faithfully; provided, that moth
ing in this act shall be 50 construed as to
require or enforce the closing of any
houses of business in said city on the day
of election, or to require the opening of the
polls before the hour of nine O'Clock A. NJ.
on the day Of election; ard provided fur
ther, that in the event no commissioners,
as aforesaid, should reside in the city of
Monroe, or the same should be disqualified,
ho ppnh1a IN nt than H., ~,
Judge of Ouachita parish shall. upon the
application of any citizen of said city, ap-
point three competent residents Of said
city to hold said election.
SEC 4. Be it further enacted, ETC., That
it shall be the duty of the clerk of the court
aforesaid or his deputy to give notice of
said election by publication ten entire days
in the newspapers published iu said city
and if there be none he shall post notice of
said election at three public places in said
city ten entire days beforehand "a
Sec 5. Be it further enacted, etc, That
in case Of tie vote at said election, or in
case of the death OR resignation of any Of
the officers mentioned in the second section
of this act, the clerk ofthe district court or
his deputy shall order an election in the
lllllllCt ScL lUi lA lil tiiC fOuIbu StEtIOU Ol
this act, and plurality of votes at all cleo
tons shall be sufficient to elect
SEC 6. Be it further enacted, etc, That
Immediately on receiving their certificates
of election the Mayor aud coqncilmen shall
meet and organize themselves into body,
to be known as 1.-The Mayor and City
Council of Monroe" and shall proceed to
elect one suitable person to be assessor and
collector Of the city taxes and licenses, and
to elect treasurer Of the city of Monroe,
who shall be ex officio secretary of the
City Council.
Sec 7. Be it further enacted, ETC., That
the Mayor shall preside at all meetings of
the City Council; shall call meetings of the
Council when he deems it necessary; shall
approve all laws, ordinances and resolutions
of the City Council shall vote only in the
case OF tie; shall in no case exercise iu-
dcial powers shall see that the laws are
faithfully executed, and shall perform all
the duties required of him by the City
Council.
Sec s. Be it further enacted etc., That
the Mayor and City Council, and their duly
elected and qualified successors in Office,
| shall have perpetual succession; that they
shall be capable OF instituting and deferd-
| ing snts in all the courts of this State un-
der the title of "The Mayor and City
| Council of Monroe" and that citation and
| other legal process shall be served on the
Mayor.
| SEC. 9. Be it further enacted, ETC., That
the Mayor and City Council shall have full
power and authority to make and pass
such laws and ordinances as are necessary
and proper.
First-To regulate and preserve the peace
| and good order of the city, and provide for
and maintain its cleanliness and salubrity
in manner not inconsistent with the laws.
second-To adopt and use common seal.
Third-To purchase, hold, convey and
ALLEVIATE any estate, real or personal to
accept any gift, grant or inheritance ofprop-
erty for public or charitable purposes; to
erect school. market and fire engine houses,
and such other buildings as may be for the
public benefit; and to build q city prison
provided, that the parish Jail may at all
times be used by said City Council for the
confinement or punishment of persons who
shall violate the laws and ordinances of the
city, until said city shall have erected a city
prison.
Fourth-To establish quarantine for the
protection of the city against contagious
diseases and epidemics.
Fifth-To levy and collect such annual
and specia! taxes on the real and personal
movable and immovable property of the city
of Monroe as shall be- deemed necessary by
them; provided, that snch taxes shall be
assessed equally and uniformly on all prop.
erty subject to taxation by the laws Of the
State, and on no other.