The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1876-11-01
THE FIVE AMEND MENT s.


tuition is so excellent that improve
ment is impossible, or that the desire
| for reform now so loudly expressed is
insincere. And yet as a matter OF
fact every one knows the Constitu-
ton is not excellent in itself, nor
satisfactory to those who live under
it, and as matter of opinion we may
believe that the popular cry for re-
form is not only sincere but that it is
so powerful that it will make its
voice be heard.
One Of the most Truthful sources
of wasteful extravaganza in the last
eight years is the unlimited appro-
priations Of the Legislature to its own
personal uses, that is, to the pay Of
it's members and employees, to the
contingent and extra expenses and
such like which have been increased
as the cupidity of members or their
necessities required. The expendi-
ture for these purposes one year
reached the stupendous sum of three
quarters of a million of dollars, while
in contrast to this the ante, bellum
Legislatures had never appropriated
a larger sum than seventy-fve thou
sand dollars to the same purposes,
and did not always use the whole
of that.
The first Amendment to the Con-
stitution proposed now for adoption,
and upon which every voter will have
an opportunity to display the SINGER
ity of his professions for reform, re-
stricts the Legislature in its expen-
ditures for the purposes we have ex-
planned and forbids the annual ap-
preparation to exceed one hundred
and seventy-five thousand dollars.
Since the formation of our Govern
ments, both State and National, until
recent period, every legislative Act
had to be submitted to the Executive
and approved and returned to the
Legislature before it adjourned.--
This uniform rule, the excellence Of
which we in Louisiana appreciate
fully now, is still adhered to in the
National Government. Every Act of
Congress is approved by the Presi-
dent while the Congress is in ses-
sion or it does not become law, and
the President attends on the last
night of the session in his room in
the Capitol for the purpose of affix-
ing his signature without delay
The same rule prevails in every State
except three, and Louisiana is one of
them.
The second Constitutional Amend
ment allows the Governor only TWEEN
ty days after the adjournment to sign
and promulgate Legislative Acts in
stead of all the year, as has been the
pernicious custom of the Radical
regime, by which means the two Gov
errors who alone have practiced it
have been enabled to hold up Bills
until sufficient price was paid for
their signatures.
The third Amendment abolishes
the Parish Courts, the annual cost of
which is one hundred and thirty two
thousand dollars, and as the same
Amendment provides for reduction
of the salary Of the District Judge,
the total outlay saved each year will
be one hundred and fifty-one thou
sand dollars. The adoption of this
Amendment restores to the District
Court precisely the jurisdiction it
formerly had. Before 1858 the Dis
trict Judges did not find themselves
oppressed with labor when they dis
patched all the civil, all the criminal
and all the probate business of the
District. Justice was as speedily
and well administered then as now,
and under system less complex than
the present. Next Winter the Leg
islature will increase the terms of
the District Court to four for each
Parish, or six if need be, to supply
the place of the terms of the Parish
Courts, and this is returning to the
old routine. Before the war Rapides
had five terms of the District Court
every year, and she can have them
again.
The fourth Amendment reduces the
salary of the Governor from eight to
six thousand dollars.
The fifth forbids certain officers
from receiving fees or perquisites of
office, and when we consider that
these officers are furnished largely
increased salaries, it will be seen no
injustice is done them. The Treasu-
rer formerly received $4,000 salary
now bo hoo 6ouh1a tbot euno Tho