The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1877-09-22
Constitutional.

The Opelousas Courier hat,es thu
following as the work for constitu
t!bnal Convention:
]. Limiting the appropriations fol
expenses of the General Assembly
aba liking the per diem aud mileage
of members.
2. Amending Article &c oftl'e pres
ent Constitution with reference to the
signing and PRONUNCIATION of act Of
the Legislature by the Governor; also
authorizing the application of the
Governors veto to a section or part
of bill.
3. Abolition of the present system
of Parish Courts and of the Office OF
District Judge.
4. Extending the jurisdiction Of the
Parish Courts so that it shall EN-.
braced the jurisdiction now exercised
by the District Courts.
5. Creating Circuits Courts of Ap.
peal, tho circuits to embrace six OF
eight parisbes-sail courts to pass
upon matters of fact and of law, to be
composed of the Parish Judges of the
several parishes of the circuit, and
their respective salaries not to exceed
$500 nor be less than $500.
6. Abolislling the country sessions
of the Supreme Court, combining their
jurisdiction to questions of law, and
reducing their salaries to four thou
sand dollars.
!. Taking the judicial offices en-
tircly out of the theatre of politics,
by giving to the Governor the auth
ority to appoint the judges, by and
with the approval and consent of the
Senate, and making their terms of
office sutficientl! long to compensate
men of the proper standing and cap
acity for the abandonment of their
private pursuits.
8. Taking away all fees Of office
from the Auditor, Treasurer, Attor-
ney General and Prosecuting Atto1.
neys, and limiting their compensa.
ton to their salaries.
8. Fixing the Governors salary at
$4,000.
10. Restricting the legislative pow
or to matters Of a general nature re-.
curing the enactment of a uniform
law for the charter and government
of municipal corporations ; prohibit
ing personal statutes and special leg
fslation abolisling monopolies and
prohibiting their creation restricting
the taxing power of the Legislature to
raising a revenue to support the State
government and public schools, pay
the capital and interest of the State
debt and pension the veterans of 1872.
II. Prohibiting the Legislature
from passing any law authorizing the
Governor to remove an officer, either
elected or appointed.
~. Prohibiting a member Of the
House or Senate from holding any
Federal office, or any office of trnst
or profit IN the State, the tenure, dn-
ties or emoluments of which may be-
come the subject of legislation.
l3. Extending the term of office of
Sheriffs to four years.
IA. Prohibiting taxation by the
municipal authorities Of the several
parishes beyond the rate of the State
tax.
Is. Prohibiting persons from voting
who have not paid their annual poll
tax.
l6. Abolishing Art. ]32 of the pres
ent Constitution prohibiting sale Of
land at judicial sales 10 quantities
larger than fifty acres.
II. Abolition of the office of Dis
trict Attorney, substituting in each
parish States Attorney to be ap-
pointed by the Police Jurics, for four
years, to be paid annual salaries by
the several parishes, to he regulated
by them.
l6. Requiring the Legislature to
pass law prohibiting justices of the
peace and constables from receiving
any fee or peIQuisite in criminal cases,
and providing for their compensation
otherwise; also fixing their term OF Of
flee at four years.
ID: Guaranteeing to all citizens
equal civil and political rights, and
eQual participation in the pablic
schools, and making it felony for any
officer or custodian of the school funds
to speculate in, or use for his private
benefit, said funds.
20. Requiring the Legislature to
pass law making it felony in any
tax collector or custodian of the pub
lie funds who shall fail to account for
and pay over tho same, and prohibit
ing the Legislature from relieving
such officials or their sureties, in nny
case in which they incur liability to
the State.
81. Adopting tho provisions!o the
Pennsylvania Constitution against
lobbying 10 the Legislature:
%. Providing a mode and manner