The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1876-02-02
THE ORLEANS BULLETIN WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY ? 1876
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS.

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS.
Hon. John Young, Of the House, Repr,
r sentative from the parish Of Claiborne an
chairman Of the Committee on the judiciary
has introduced, IS We learn, with the appre
baton of that committee, bill, No. 214. en-
titled "An act proposing amendments to tn
Constitution Of the State Of Louisiana" Th
amendments proposed are ten in number.
l. The creation or extension Of monopolie
is prohibited.
The effect of this amendment will be t.
prevent existing monopolies from enlarg ne
the field of their operations and from using
their money and influence in extending the
time of their privileges while forbidding new
monopolies. A field Of debate will be left
open as to what constitutes q monopoly, and
IS to what may be construed as an extension
of a monopoly. An article of the Constitution
can not from its nature go into details, but
future Legislatures may pass such acts in
pursuance of this amendment as may be
deemed necessary.
q The Legislature shall not by special act
emancipate any minor, change the name or
names OF any person, nor authorize the adop-
ton OF any child; but may provide by gen.
eral laws for the emancipation of minors, the
change OF names, and the adoption Of chill
dren.
The necessity of such an amendment has
long been felt by all who have taken note of
the amount Of time spent by the General As
sembly in considering. debating and passing
bills of the special character referred to ia |
the proposed prohibition. The annual |
'aving to the State by this amendment will be
arge. 1t will relieve the Legislature Of much
work in no manner relevant to its general
unctlons and refer the subjects of emancipa-
Ion, adoption, etc., to the local courts, where
hey properly belong.
.. The Legislature shall not by special act
reate, alter or extend any corporation. pub.
g or private, municipal, civil, political or
ecclesiastical, except such as relate to par ;
'hes; but shall provide by general laws for
heir creation, extension, alteration and
the powers they shall exercise: 4
10 mode in which they shall be governed and
9gulated; the limit to their duration and the ,
. dissolution.
The scope and effect Of this amendment 9
N not be easily foreseen. It will certainly l
'cessitate general laws on the subject Of Q
operations of most elaborate character. II
til provisions IS varied as are the interests p
volved in or affected by them. For ex ample, u
would be difficult to provide in any one II
neral act under this amendment, for the u
vernment OF several cities, differently cir o.
mstanced IS to their location, importance
interests. What might be q good and 81
hcient law for Shreveport, Monroe, Alexan. ie
.. Baton Rouge, Opelousas. Clinton, St. as
rt'nville or BrasheAr, might still be in. n'
hcient for New Orleans. In fact, whenever XII
State has constitutional convention, We 81
% to see just, proper, ample, and liberal O.
rter OF the city of New Orleans, incorpo- kn
ID in it, 50 that our local government may tn
er again become the subject Of the caprice re-
legislators, or the sport of political mounte. so
ks. sci
No State aid in cash, credit, bonds or "a. lie
lty shall ever be granted to any private evs
poration, nor to any public corporation. vh
spt those for educational or charitable 49,,
poses which are under the exclusive con- "'e
of the State. sw'
No parish or municipal corporation shall par
authorized to take stock il or extend aid in
Ash, credit, bonds or security to any pr,- M.
corporation whatever. ="
1e fourth and fifth amendments are 40 ''i'
akin that they might be embodied in o"'
The purpose of both is to prevent the 80
ey of the people of he whole State from Wv.
8 employed for the benefit of few only, o.. :.
lopted the check on legislative favoritism ~Du
be saluary. 'alo
No parish or municipal corporation shall -
'thorized to contract any Indebtedness in "n
V Of the amount of one years revenues 6gu
or no purpose beyond the scope Of its e.
mate objects. ,.-.
is check to the power of creating debt -
have an effect entirely salutary. 1t is 20 :,
time that the power of one generation to an.
9 its successor with an enormous load OF A.,
should be taken away. The boys who
tain majority during the frs. quarter Of A
cond century Of the life of the Republic IA