St. Landry democrat., 1878-02-23

pOsed by joint c0mmttee Oh tiie oeh-
ate and House, composed of Messrs.
Ed. White, Chairman, {. j. Boatner'
&c. Zacharie, Frank P. Stubbs. Henry
+. Garland, F. S. Goode, A. Dumont'
C.B. Wheeler, T. B. Stamps on the
part of the Senate, and Messrs. 1. b.
LYONS. R. j. Walker, J. B. McGehee'
John Young, w. NJ. Washhnrn, u. A.
Breard, Jr., B. F. Jonas, Albert Voor-
hies. w, H. Wise, A. H. Leonard and
Gracien and Drury Oh the part OF the
House. All signed the report save
the |, ST three named, as will be seen
the Joint committee includes some OF
the leading lawyers OF the State ana
undoubtedly embOdies as much capacity
and fitness for the work as would oe
apt to he found in unconstitutional con-
yention were one called. The COM
mittee in making their report estimate
the reduction in governmental expenses
wt,icl. will be made by the amendments
il adopted. at $25O,O0O yearly or half the
sum annually placed to the credit OF the
general fund.
These amendments passed the Senate,
almost without discussion and with only
one additional amendment. The COM
mittee reporting them was composed OF
one-fourth Of the Senate. They
had had ample time to discuss them III
committee, and we for one see no rea-
son why any prolonged discussion should
have followed tlIeir adoption by the
Senate. II discussion were shortened
in both branches of the Legislature, on
all questions the taxpayers would GER
tainly be benefited. In committee Is
the proper place to discuss questions
coming before either House and We
may rest assured that with such men on
the committee as Garland, Goode, Boat
ner. White, Stubbs, Lyons and Wheeler,
no one of the proposed amendments was
adopted without thorough discussion.
Tn the House the amendments were
taken up ON Monday and it is evident
we think that the House will pass
nearly all of them adding certain other
amendments. On the 14th MIR. Leeds
nroposed an amendment which was
adopted almost unanimously. 1t pro-
hibits the General Assembly, after
the wear 1878, from buying any tax over
one per cent for all State purposes.
It limits the city to a tax OF one
and a half per cent ON the actual cash
valuation of real and personal property
No parish or municipal corporation
New Orleans excepted) shall collect
a tax in excess of one per cent. The
General Assembly is prohibited from
issuiug bonds for any purpose, corpora
tions and parishes are prohibited iron
issuing bonds or creating a debt.
AS our readers will see by reference
to our last issue, where the amendments
are published in extenso, the contem
plated amendments make reduction IL
the salaries of all officers from Cover
nor down. They provide for blennla
sessions of the Legislature, and for pay
ing the members salary instead OF thu
DER diem now allowed; prohibit tin
Legislature from special legislation il
all cases when the end can be attained
by general legislation, cnt down tin
Governors salary to $1,000; the Lieu
tenant Governors to $1,000; Auditor o
Public Accounts and Treasurel's t.
$4,000; Secretary of States to $4,000
Superintendent of Public Education t
$500 prohibit officers whose salary i
fixed by the Constitution from receivin!
amy fees or perquisites, restores as near
ly as possible the judicial system ex
listing previous to 1868, abolisiing tn
Parish Courts, and providing for Dis
trict Courts, Supreme Courts and Jus
tices of the Peace fixes the salaries o
Judges of the Supreme Court as follow
Chief Justices, $1,000, and Associat
Justices at $6500; District Judges, o
whom there shall not be less than l
nnr more than 80; salaries to be ike
by Law and not be less than $2500 pc
annCm; abolishes article 132 of Consti
tuition OF 1868 and prohibits license take
being imposed on any mechanical trad
rnanufactory or factory except such a
may be required by public regulation
in town and cities,
In order to prevent an interregnum
the judicial system the General Assem-
bly, which meets next January is re
quired to reiistrict the State provid
for authority of Clerks and crinlinf
jurisdiction of Justices of the Peac,
and then the Governor is required t
order an election for Judges, Distrit
Attorneys, &C., whose terms Of offlc
shall expire in November, 1880.
As stated in our first issue three mode
of amending the Constitution wer
open TO the Legislature: LIST. BY callin
a convention; I'd. BY remitting the sui
iect matter of the formation of a new cor
gtitution to select committee to /
elected by the Senate and House or 8
by proposing amendments two-third
OF the Houses concnrring to be sui
saaitted to the people for adoption at tf
next general election in November, 1871
The 1st method was open to many. an
serious objections principal amongt
which was its expense to the over-taxe
people of the State. No one suppose
it would bare cost less than $4,000