New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-08-15

AN ACT

To incorporate the city of Natchitoches,
and provide for the government of the
same.
SECTION l. Be it enacted by the Senate
and House of Representatives of the State
of Louisiana in General Assembly convened,
That all that portion of land within the fol
lowing boundaries, to wit: bounded on the
east by Red river, including the left bank
of said river; on the south by the lower
line of the land belonging to Auguste Mar
tin; on the north by line beginning at Red
river, and running due west across the high
est point of Badin's Hill to Bayou Ides or
Yaco; thence ON the west by line running
due south until it intersects the southern
line, shall be known and distinguished by
the name of the city of NatchitOches.
SEC. 2. Be it further enacted, ETC., That
to provide for the government of the city of
NatchitOches, there shall be elected on the
first Monday in May of every year, by the
qualified voters of said corporation from
among themselves one mayor and six cOun-
cilmen, with the powers and duties herein
after set forth.
SEC. 3. Be it further enacted, etc, That
the election of the officers created by the
second section of this act shall be held
at the courthouse in said city, and be pre-
viOusly notified to the Inhabitants by pub
lie advertisement at the door of the court
house and two other public places in said
city, which notice shall be given by the
mayor of said city, ten days before holding
the election: and said election shall com
o'clock P. NJ. of the same day, and the said
election shall be conducted in all respects
according to the laws of the State regulat-
ing elections, and the returns to be made
and commissions issued according to the
election laws of the State, which may be in
force at such time.
d. SEC. 4. 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 i'll the third section
of this act the clerk of the district court OR
his deputy shall order an election in the
manner set forth in the third section of this
act, and plurality of votes at all elections
shall be sufficient.
SEC 5. Be it further enacted, etc, That
on receiving their commissions of election
the mayor and cOuncilmen shall meet and
organize themselves into body to be known
as the 'mayOr and council of Natchitoches,"
and shall proceed to elect one suitable per-
son to be assessor and collector of the city
taxes and licenses, and to elect a treasurer
of the city of NatchitOches, who shall be
ex OficiO secretary of the city council.
SEC. 6. Be it further enacted, etc, That
the Mayor shall preside at all meetings of
city council, shall call meetings of the COun-
ell when he deems necessary, shall approve
all laws, ordinances and resolutions of
the city council, shall vote as other
members of the council upon all qUes-
tons, and shall be vested with the
same powers as are now exercised by the
recorders Of the city OF New Orleans. He
shall be committing magistrate, with full
power to examine and commit in all cases
arising under the laws of the State, for all
crimes, Offenses and misdemeanOrs against
the State in the same manner and to the
same extent as justices Of the peace now
or hereafter may do. He is hereby
try and sentence persons for violation
of the laws and ordinances of the cor
pOratiOn of the city of NatchitOches, and
Otfenses against the same; and shall hold
his court daily, from nine O'Clock A. NJ. I'M
til three o'clock p. NJ, or longer if neces-
sary. Ali fines collected by said mayors
court under the provisions of this act, shall
be paid into the treasury of the city Of
NatChitOChes monthly.
SEC. T. Be it further enacted, etc, That
the mayor shall hold his Office for the term
of one year from the first Monday in May,
eighteen hundred and seYentY-two, or until
his successor shall have been elected and
duly qualified, and he shall be entitled to
and receive an annual salary to be fixed by
Jl6 CITY council, winch small De u6lLncF III
creased nor diminished during the term of
Office in which it shall be established.
SEC, 8. Be it further enacted, etc, That
the mayor of the city of NatChitOches is
hereby authorized to appoint one court
officer, who shall be at all times subject to
the orders of the mayor; and said court
officer shall be empowered and authorized
to serve warrants, summons, search war
rants, attachments and mittimus issued by
the mayor in Otfenses against the State and
city incorporation, and shall receive the
same fees for such services as are by law
allowed to cOnstables, to be paid by the
city of NatchitOches.
SEC 9. Be it further enacted, etc, That
that the mayor and city council, and their
duly elected and qualified successors in
Office. shall have perpetual succession; that
thev-sball be capable of instituting and de-
Tending suits in all courts of this State, I'M
der the title of "The Mayor and City COUn-
Gil of NatchitOches,' and that citations and
other legal process shall be served on the
mayor.
SEC. 10. Be it further enacted, etc, That
the MAYOR and city council shall have full
mower 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 pro-
vide for and maintain its cleanliness and
saIubrity, In a manner not inconsistent
with the laws of this State; second, to adopt
and use a common seal; third, to purchase,
hold and convey, ALLEVIATE any estate, real
or personal, to accept any gift, grant or
inheritance of property for public or