New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-03-07
No. 2:S.
AN ACT

AN AL
To incorporate the town of Benton in the
parish of Bossier, to provide for the cleo
+. ton of its officers, to define their powers
.ment of the came.
SECTION L. Be it enacted by the Senate
and House of Representatives of the State
of Louisiana, in General Assembly con-
vened, That all that portion or district
known as the town of Benton in the parish
of Bossier, comprising one mile square with
the crossing Of the Shreveport and Ar
kansas, and Monroe and Red river roads,
as q centre, be and the same is hereby
created body corporate and polite in fact
and law by the name and style of the town
of Benton, and by the same name shall
have perpetual succession, shall be capable
of sueirg and being sued, and of prose
cutting and defending in all courts all &C.
.tions and matters whatever, may purchase,
and receive by donation, and hold property
of all kinds within and without the limits
of the town; also, may have and use COM
mon seal.
SEC. 9 Be it further enacted, etc., That
the municipal government of the town of
Benton shall consist Of mayor, who shall
be ex ofioio justice of the peace Of
the town of Benton, and five coun-
cilmen, any three of whom. with the
mayor, shall constitute a quorum for the
transaction of business. No person shall
be eligible for the Office of mayor or coun-
Gilman unless he be qualified elector and
reside within the limits of said corporation.
The said mayor and councilmen shall be
elected bv the qualified electors of the
town of Benton, and hold their office for
two years. The Governor shall, by and
with the consent of the Senate, appoint a
MAYOR and five councilmen, who shall hold
their offices until the first Monday in No
vember, 1876. or until their successors are
elected and qualified.
SEC. 3. Be it further enacted, ETC., That
the first election for mayor and councilmen
shall be held at the town of Benton on the
first Monday in November, 1876. Then all
legal voters within the limits Of said corpo-
ration shall meet at some place as may be
designated by the magistrate residing in
said town, and shall then and there pro-
coed to elect by ballot a mayor and five
councilmen, who shall hold their Offices for
two years, or until their successors be
elected and qualified. The said election
shall be held after fifteen days notice by pub
lie advertisement, and it shall be presided
over by any acting magistrate of the town
subsequent elections the said mayor and
councilmen, or majority of them, shall
preside after ten days notice by public adj
vertisement.
Sec. 4. Be it further enacted, etc That
the said mayor and councilmen shall have
the following powers, to wit:
Firsu-To levy a tax upon all taxable
property within the corpoate limits, not to
exceed tho parish tax upon the same prop
erty, and to provide for the collection Of the
same.
Second-To impose fines for all breaches
of the peace, Of this law, or of the Or
dinances passed by said board, not to ex
coed fifty dollars, and to sue for and collect
the same for the use of said town.
Third-TO remove all nuisances. to i'm
pose taxes on the sale Of spirituous liquors
by retail, on billiard tables: and any species
Of plays or games not prohibited by law;
provided, said tax shall not exceed one
hundred dollars on each.
Fourth-To appoint treasurer, a score
tary, and such other officers a. may be
necessary for the administration of said
town, and to require from them bond and
security for the faithful performance of
their duty. They shall also have the power
to suppress riots and unlawful assemblages,
and all breaches of the peace. to make ar