The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-05-03
THE COMMITTEE ON LIMITATIONS.

There was report yesterday in Conven-
ton circles to the effect that the Committee
on Limitations, Of which Mr.. l. ID. Moore OF
I.afourche, is chairman, was prepared already
to submit report recommending that the
limit Of State taxation be fixed at five mills
on the dollar, which sum 1t should never OK
coed. The apparent authenticity OF this
statement induces us to mention 1t, but, In
doing this, we must at the same time declare
that 1t appears to us to be utterly incredible.
To begin with, we conceive this to be mat
ter with which Mr.. Moore's committee has
nothing whatever to do, and that In assuming
to consider 1T or make any recommendations
concerning 1t that committee goes entirely
without it's province, and takes upon itself
the duties of an entirely different committee
that on Taxation, Exemption and Equaliza-
ton.
Although the resolution of the Convention
providing for the appointment Of the standing
committees does not define the duties OF the
Committee on Limitations, we feel assured
that the questions it was appointed to con-
slider are of an entirely different nature and
that 1t has nothing to do, however remotely,
with the fixing of q limit which State taxation
shall not exceed. There has never been q
Constitutional Convention without it's Com
mittee on Limitations, but the matters
this committee has always been called upon
| to consider are of q specific character, and
| among them this question has not been usual
| ly included. The duty usually imposed upon
this committee Is the consideration OF proper
restrictions upon the several depart
| nfu nf oil txy
upon the legislative power relative
to general laws and special acts. This COM
mittee is also expected to consider and report
upon the proper limitation Of State, parish
and municipal pouers Of taxation and of
creating debts, and the limitation of official
salaries, fees of office and public expenses
These are all matters entirely distinct from
the determination of the actual limit of taxa
ton, which, we insist. belongs to the Commit
tee on Taxation, Exemption and Equaliza-
| ton. .a@=
| But, conceding this to be question proper
ly belonging to the Committee on Limita-
tions and entirely within its scope of consid-
Grafton and report, we submit that it Is i'm
possible for an intelligent and fair report to
be made upon this matter at this early day.
There are several committees that must re-
port, and vast amount of investigation that
must be made, before any just idea OF the
basis or limitation of taxation can be arrived
at. There Is very general and well-founded
belief that the people cannot and will not
stand above five or six mills on the dollar;
but 1t will not do for the Convention, without
any sort of inquiry as to the amount and
value Of the taxable property Of the State,
without any intelligent approximation of the
cost Of maintaining the government, and
without any showing OF our assets, to arbi-
trarily say that taxation shall be limited to
a certain amount and all things must be ac-
commodated to that limitation. Let us go
about this thing In a sensible way, and allow
matters to develop themselves In their proper
order. We must first find out our avail
able resources and absolutely necessary
expenses before we can form any intelligent
idea Of what amount Of revenue certain
rate OF taxation will yield. 1t is very well
for the Convention to keep Its mind welded
to a certain very low rate but we want an in
telligent report, based on well ascertained
facts and incontroverCible figures, before we
take any final action on this most important
question. There Is plenty of time for the
fullest investigation and reflection, and re-
port reached by any other process will be en-
titled to no weight whatever.
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