Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1878-06-22

ballot box. There are certain members OF
the "art-preserva,ive" who have super
abundance Of top-lpttiness, and "Nspole-
onic; share Of dctatorial ideas. aud they.
mark OUT proscriptve, policy, and set up
their pet hobbie. rs guide posts for the LeRis-
lative body, and for the people ut large over
the State, am, when their policy is not adopted
and their hobbies moi ridden. they swear ven.
gcabce upon The heads OF those who were 10
ride and to adop,, and they forthwith begin
and continuously larry on a trade Of abuse
and falIacious arguments srains, them.
The policy adopted by portion Of tho
press of this State in trying to heap up 30
much obliqny upon the acts Of the last Legi,-.
lature. deem to be not only Inconsistent
with the true mission Of the press, but huy.
ful to the Democratic party. and to the GENERAL
welfare Of our people. ] do not set myself
up As the champion Of the last Legislature,
nor do pretend to eulo.ize its every act; for
some Of its measures | condemn, and for
which ] think its members are justly liable I"
the censure Of their constituents. Neither do
propose now to discuss the policy which led
to the submitting Of the amendments. or tho
causes that may have prevented the submit
Ing Of others which might have been more
In accord with my views than some Of those
proposed. But ] think the amendments
ought to be placed prominently. by the press.
before the people, and let there he fair and
free discussion Of their merits. believe that
their adoptien would prove "a more prudent
measure than to reject them. and await for
the assembling OF IL Constitutional Conven-
ton aud its ultimate AMI uncertain results.
The correctness Of this proposition is obviou.
in my mind for several reasons lst. The tax.
payers cannot well wait for an Out and out
new Constitution to give them the relief
which is offered nediatcly by these amend.
ments. I'd. 1t is by no means certain that u
document framed by a Convention for the
ganc law will be adopted WHEN put TO tho
test at the polls. Sd. IL is not n fact by any
means that Constitution framed At this iimo
will be any better than our present COnstiiu-
lion with the amendments proposed engraite,f
into its body. And then there 10 another
thing to take into consideration, aud that is
this: The adoption OF tEese amendments
will cost nOthing-but will save great deal
before a new Constitution could possibly gO
into effect; and besides their adoption will
not be any harricr whatever to the hol,lin.
of Constitutional Convention o. any time the
people see proper to do 80.
The following statement is a synopsis OF
the proposed ame en,inenis-for which |
bespeak the consideration of the readers of
the Sentinel:
AMENDMENTS.
No. l provides for biennial sessions Of the
Legislature, (which will b. saving Of near
ly tive hundred thousand dollars every other
yeat
No. fixes limit on taxation to one pcr
! ,s,,n IN, a.l, NJ all RAal
| and personal properly.
No. 3 fixes the salary Of the members Of
the Geueral Assembly at tive hundred dollars
per session, and actual travelling expenses not
! to exceed fifty dollars (Any one conveIsant
with the present law Oii the subject will see
that This proposes a great reduction in tho
compensation OF Legislators
! No. I prohibits the Legislature from pass
ing certain laws-such as exeInpting property
from taxation, creating any monopoly, grant.
ing any extra compensation to public officers.
changing any parish seat or creating any new
parish except by the assent Of u majority Of
the voters affected. ,..
No s reduces the salary of the Governor TO
$1,000.
No. FIXES the salary Of the Lieutenant.
| Governor ui double that Of . member o( tho
General Assembly. instead Of $1,000 per
| annum.
No. prescribes certain duties of the Gov.
ernor, relative to signing bills Of tho Legisls-
ture, and how they shall become laws when
he fails 10 sign and return them - the law
directs:
! No. 8 prohibits any officer whose salary 10
fixed by the Constitution, from receiving any
perqusi,es Of office.
No. 2 provides for new judiciary system,
doing away with tho Parish Courts I do
not like this system; but it would be ss Ell.
cent as the one we have, and less expensive }
No. 10 reduces the salaries Of the Supreme
Judges Of the Stale, 1--WE hundred dollars
eacli.
No. IL refers to the arrangement Of Dis.
tricis, the qualifications Of Ds,ric, Judges.
providing for Circuit CSuits composed Of the
Dis,ric, Judges.
No. Io fixes the salary Of the District Judges
50 that il shall not be less than two thousand
dollars nor more than thres thousand dollars
instead Of i've thousand dollars pet AMMAN.
No. Is provides for States Attorney, win
is to dnehafse he dutieS of both District and
Parish Attorney, and 6xes the compensation
he is To receive.
No. II provides for the secusa,ion Of judges
No. l5 arranges for tho establishing Of the
new Judiciary system.
No. Ii abross,es article i62 Of the Consti
tuition.
No. II fixes the salary Of Superintendent
Of Public Education u ,biry.6vs hundred dol
lars.
No Is prohibits the taxation Of mechsn,
ical trades, msnufactoriss, except where IL il
necessary TO carry on police fsvtlAtiohS in
towns and cities.
No. 10 authorizes the Leg .la,nre 70 exsmp
certain household go'ds-not 70 exceed il
value five bundled dolars-fIom uxa:ion.
The two folIowm. were proposed ia sep
sra,e bills:
. No. proposes 10 change tie State Csp
irai from New Orleans to Baton Rouge.
! No. makes provision lnr 0ne branch o
} the State University outside Of the city Q
New Orlesn:.
Now. Mr.. Editor. in conclusion I hats d
say that believe my views Up0n The matte
undeI discussion-shough they ,nsy differ ftou
e yours will b. welcome il, tho columns 4
. your pspef. The Sentinel has besn couAbc,
Q ed 20 fat BY you with 'hsi csndoi wLiel
5 always comes from IN boness besst, snd wit
q that fz.rnsss which slwsys results from
u well.balanced mind, and, ,herslose ! pssser
5 ,hese view, tor publication in your paper.
i am, fe.I eetfuliy..