The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-02-24
ron THE CONVENTION.
An EaucatIou Tax urged.

To the Editor Of the Democrat.
/ am glad to see that your estimable jour-
nal has offered the use Of its columns for tho
purpose oil discussing and Offering sugge5-
tions to the candidates for the convention to-
be held In April next.
Tie people, the taxpayers and all good
citizens should see to IL that none but our
best and most capable citizens should be
elected as members OF the convention. select
Ing taxpayers and large pioperty-owners In
preference TO the pepnilpss and shiftless bum
mers and politicians who have had control of
the state aud city for some years past, and
brought us to our present condition.
We have an opportunity TO expunge every
traes OF Radieallsm which has been fastened
upon us by those carpst-baggers, Warmoth.
Kellogg n Co, from which we have suffered
so long. and TO make better constitution
than any State In the Union has. Let me
suggest In my crude way these features
which seem to me to be the most conservative
and best which will be most beneficial 10 our
whole people and to the property OF the State.
and ought to be most carefully considered.
The first duty after organization, which
seems TO me most important, would be TO ap-
point committee Of the most able members
| to examine the constitution Of every State In
| the Union, and TO embody In their report all
the best and most conservative clauses they
| can find which are adapted to our State and
city.
| One OF the best features which could lbe
| adopted would be to make our State Sena-
tors the representatives OF the property OF
the state, and only property owners TO be
qualified to hold such Office, and 30 be elected
only by the votes Of taxpayers even
II necessary TO elect them on differ
ent day than officers voted for by the
universal suffrage. This would be the
surest and safest check upon extrava-
ganee and improper use OF the peoples
money and credit that could be adopted, TO
assure the creditors OF the State. and the
citizens of our State, that In future all APP
preparations Of money would pass the sertl-
tiny of those interested In paying taxes.
| Every officer in the State should be paid by
o salary, all fees reduced to the minimum,
Just sufficient to pay the salaries OF such OH
| GERS In the office where they are imposed, and
any faes collected over the amount sufficient
| to pay the expenses Of ths office to bs paid
into the parish or city treasury where col.
leetsd, and all salaries reduced to reasOna-
| bis remuneration for ths labor performed. No
snecures, such as the recorder Uf mortgages
and register OF conyeyances, should be al
| Lowell
In all suits in all our courts where the
State, parish, cities or towns are plaintiff or
| defendant, no costs or fees to bs assessed or
charged to either plaintiff or defendant by
any officer necessary In the proceeding.
| All taxes, State city and parish not PAID De-
| fore the first OF January OF each year to be-
| come q preferred mortgage over oil, and to
bear 10 per cent interest for one. year, after
which. II the taxes are not paid, the property
| to become liable to selzurs and sals to the
highest bidder, with privilege of redemption
by the owner by payiug so per cent penalty
| upon amount of tax due. The Delinquent tax
| list published to be notice OF seizure and sale
| to owner, and no costs Of any kind tn be im~
posed further than the expense Of ADVERTISE
| meDt.
| An education tax to be imposed In place of
the school tax to be fixed by the Legislators
per capita, to be paid by the electors, each
and every year at ths tins of registry to the
Registrar Of Voters, who shall pay the amount
| into the parish or city treasury wherein coli
leeted for the support of the schools In said
parish, the tax to be not less than two dollars
and fifty cents nor more than ten dollars, but
sufficient to pay the expenses OF the schools.
| The schools TO be restrese ed to teaching the
elementary branches OF Eng lish-reading.
writing, geography and arithmetic. NO child
under ten years old nor over fourteen years
| tn be admitted tn the schools after the year
| 1883; up to 1888 all ages to be admissible. No
high schools to be supported at public ex-
peDss.
Each elector, being qualified citizsn living
one year In the State six months In the par
ish and ten days In the precinct, shall be en-
titled to vote only at his precinct, or voting
place nearest his residences, upon the presen-
tatlon OF his certificate Of rsgistry, which
shall also be the receipt for his education
tax. At the time of voting the certificate
shall be stamped voted" aud dated, 50 as to
prevent double voting. Fines and penalties
To be imposed upon the commissioners OF
election who shall permit any one TO vote
without his certificate or who may omit To
stamp the certificate.
The Registrar of Voters and coromissloners
and clerks Of election In each parish ana az
every precinct, to be well-known citizens ana
residents Of the precinct who are properly
owners In the preciuct, or ward In wnlcn thsy
serve and, In case they own no properly. 70
give nndoubted security and bonds 10 the
State and parish for the honest fulfllment o.
their duties, and liable to fine ana impt.5oh- ss9