Claiborne guardian. [volume] (Homer, La.) 1877-188?, 1879-06-25
Work Of the Convention.

From our invaluable contempt
rary, the n. .. Democrat, we take
the following summary OF the Work
of the Constitutional Convention to
date:
The following lisa summary OF the
ordinances already passed by the
convention aud, also, OF those on
cir third and last reading. RI.
naliy PASSED: Two articles Of The
constitution dividing the powers OF
government into three distinct de
I uartments-the executive, legisla-
tive and neutrality-suspicious. each
to separate magistracy ana for
bidding either to exercise powers
belonging To the others. The con
vention has also passed three arti'
clts prescribing how the militia
shall be organized and called into
service, and has fixed the appor'
iioulnenf of the senatorial and rep
rpseniative districts of the State,
which are TO remain unchanged un.
iii after the enumeration ut the pop
ulation of the State in 1880.
On third reading: There IL very
large amount of work advanced to
this position on the calendar. 1t
includes tue report of the Commit
tee on Limitations, 80 tar AZ 1t has
been adopted and amended: thepro'
visions of the future constitution re-
lating To the Executive and Lgis
lative departments that portion
which relates to "Parochial Affairs
and Boundaries" and 10 "Public
Education," besides special ordin'
ancc in regard tn the New Basin
Canai ami Shell Road.
, This summary shows that the con
, ven,ion has not been idle by any
means; but. on the contrary, that II
! has done az much rs it could do in
diligently, considering the very
grave, complicated and vexatious
questions that il has had 10 cOnsid
/, or, the laboriuus Investigations IL
has been compelled to make in nna
ny instances in order tn arrive al
, the data required for intelligent &C
ton, aud the vast differences %
opinion that have had to be recon
cilrd.
In regard to that portion of the
work which has already been con
! summaied. We cannot say that there
T is any portion OF it to- which ~rion'
objection can he raised; bat W,
= should like To submit some criticiSm
II upon certain provisions which arr
e now standing upon their third ant
J, last reading.
! For example, under the title o
:. "LimifatioHS of Powers of Govern
: nrnt," we find that the General As
p sembly is torbiillrn Ia pass any ID
i cal oi special law "crcating corpora
:, tions, or amending, renewing, rA
tending or explaining the charte
thereof; provided, that this shall no
apply 10 the corporation of the cit
J. of New Orleans" There are man
l. reasons urged why this shonld nc
, become Il provision ct the constitl
} ton. Ii does not abrogate eXlstin
charters granted 10y the State to il
rs corporate towns, bnt merely serv,
u to leave these charters Oss
fed in their present shape, and I
IF take away from the Legislature !,
= power To amend them as cXigenc
N AMI the interests of those varior
IL communities may require. The col
h. vrniion evidently expects the nc,
Ia Legislature 10 pass general la
. under which all municipal corpor
!, tions shall b chartered without II
~ exercise of Legislative power. TIL
plan does not appear to us TO
: prar,icahlr, aud We are not awal
:, of any instance where the limi,atic
;" upon the legislative power in reEaI
to the creation OF corporations b;
vi been pushed 10 such an extreme.
re the constitution of PennsyIvani
Ms wherein this principle has been ca
nd ricd further than ever before, al
nd which is supposed to cmbOdy Il
or most advanced doctrine upon tn
subject, there is II special excrpti'
to made IN regard 10 municipal corp,
or ations, which are treated of under
he separate and distinct title. This
~ the first attempt. that has been ma,
.n to organize municipal and polite
-, corporations under general law, nj
:, we do not believe the thing to
:, feasible in point of fact. The adva
u, tagr as we'll us the practicabiiity
" establishing a general law unl
ne which all other corporations shall
~ chartered, is apparent. 1t max