The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-06-21
OFFICIAL JOURNAL
--oF THE
CONVENTION
OF THU
STATE OF LOUISIANA.
r,fty.f,r.t pays proceedings.

FIFTY first pays proceedings.
NEW ORLEANS, wednesday, June 10. 1879
The Convention was called to order at 10
O'Clock a. m. Hon L. A. Witt, President In
the chair. and 13t members present
Abaent-Messrs Bridger and Favrot.
PRAYER by the Rev. j. C.. Davidson.
On motion Of Mr.. Robertson the eonsidera-
tion Of yesterday's journal was postponed Tor
ten minutes, and he presented d memorial on
the subject OF the State debt, praying for an
equitable settlement by lowering the interest
without scaling the face OF the debt, signed
by Messrs. =. r.. Southmayd Fred. N. Ogden,
q. A. Beard. D. Dixon Bruins and II. B. Pleas
ants.
The memorial lies over.
MIR. Forman asked and obtained leave to
present OF this time the petition Of q large
number OF the citizens Of New Orleans, pray
ing for relief from taxation, and the rejection
Of fraudulent or illegal debts Of the State, as
evidenced by the report of the COMMITTEES to
Investigate the State Debt
Referred to the COMMITTEES on State Debt.
The journal Of yesterday was read and ap-
proved.
Mr.. Lyons offered the following motion:
For the purpose OF ascertaining definitely,
and making arrangements to pay the trust
fund due the Agricultural ind Mechanical
College;
Moyed--That the matter Of the State debt
be recommltted to tho special committees OF
eighteen on that subject, and that said com
mittee may have full power To reconsider the
whole subject Of the State debt.
And on its adoption called for the previous
question, which was seconded by the Conyen-
tion, and the motion was carried.
Mr.. Chiapella presented the following petit
ton:
10 the Honorable the President and Members
Of the Constitutional Convention OF the State
OF Louisiana:
The petition Of the Louisiana Agricultural
laws OF this State, and having for It's object
the advancement Of the agricultural interests
OF the State, respectfully shows.
Tint 1t Is Of the highest Importance for The
development OF agriculture lin this State that
d provision should be inserted tn the organic
law requiring the Legislature TO establish q
department OF agriculture, and TO provide for
it's management
Wherefore your petitioner prays that .
constitutional provision be enacted requiring
session To create department OF agriculture
and provide for Its management.
=. M. HUDSON.
President Louisiana Agricultural Society.
Ct. w. TERRELL, Secretary.
New Orleans, June 8, 1879.
Under suspension OF the rules it was re-
ferred to the COMMITTEES on Agriculture.
FROM THE TABLE.
The memorial OF citizens asking for female
suffrage was, ON motion OF Mr.. Demas, re-
committed to the Committee on Elective
Franchise.
The memorial OF more than 5000 citizens and
taxpayers OF New Orleans, relative to State
debt, was taken up, and on motion Of Mr.. For
man was referred to the Committee to Inves-
tigate the State Debt.
The memorial of the Chamber of Commerce
In regard to thespublic debt was, on motion
Of Mr.. Forman, referred to the Committee to
Investigate the State Debt.
The resolution of Mr.. Lott relative to print
Ing one thousand copies Of the report Of the
Committee to Investigate the State Debt was,
by consent, Withdrawn.
Mr.. Robertson offered the following mo-
tion:
That the committee to investigate the State
debt be- instructed to ascertain whether or
not an equitable adjustment OF the CONSOLE
dated debt OF the State, contracted under the
legislation OF the year 1874 can be effected,
and report thereon as soon as practicable.
Mr.. Watkins moved to lay on the table the
motion OF Mr.. Robertson, and his motion
prevailed by rising vote OF 7s yeas to no
nays and the motion Of Mr.. Robertson was
laid upon the table.
Mr.. Simon asked and obtained leave at this
time TO introduce the following resolution:
Whereas, the actual oppressive sG-called,
State debt, has, for the greater part thereof,
been imposed upon the people without their
lawful consent, and Is destructive OF their
prosperity; and,
Whereas. the larger portion of said debt is
In the hands OF third parties, whomay or not
be considered as innocent holders thereof,
and among whom it may be impossible to
discriminate,
Beitresolued, That this Convention, through
the Committee on State Debt will consider
bondholders for the settlement and compro-
mise Of said debt at fifty cents on the dollar,
evidenced by bonds bearing four per cent In
terest.
The resolution lies over.
The resolution of Mr.. Robertson, relative to
allowing the right Of suffrage to women was
taken up.
Mr.. Robertson moved Its adoption.
On motion OF Mr.. Blanchard, the motion of
Mr.. Robertson was laid on the table.
The preamble and resolutions of the City
Council in reference to the report OF the Com
mittee to Investigate the State Debt was taken
up, and on motion of Mr.. Robertson, referred
to the Committee to Investigate the State
Debt.
The bills of the printer Of the Convention
and Of A. Roy and George ANTI were taken
up, and referred to the Committee on Print
ing.
The morning hour having arrived, the re-
port OF the Committee ON Taxation, Equaliza-
ton and Exemption was taken up, being
Ordinance No. 412, concerning revenue and
taxation.
On motion Of Mr.. Forman, the ordinance
was considered section by section.
Article was read and adopted as follows:
ARTICLE 1. The taxing power may be exer-
cised by the General Assembly for State pur-