The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1879-02-28
THE CONVENTION ACT.

THE CONVENTION ACT.
No. 3. AN ACT
To provide for a convention to frame q
new constitution OF the State of Lou
isiana, and making an appropriation
to pay the expenses of the same.
SECTION 1. BE IL enacted By the Senate
and House Of Representatives. Of the State
Of Louisiana, i,e General Assembly con-
venetl, That an election of delegates to
meet in convention to frame a new
constitution of the State, shall be held
on Tuesday, the eighteenth day of
March, eighteen hundred and seventy
nine. 1t shall be the duty Of the Gov
ernor, Immediately upon the passage of
this act, to issue his proclamation or
dering said election in accordance with
the provisions of the same, and to cause
in the official journal of the State until
the day fixed for said election.
Sec. 2. Be it further enacted, etc.,
That the number of delegates to be
chosen to such convention shall be one
hundred and thirty-four, to be appor-
toned as the members of the General
Assembly of the State are now appor-
toned by law and the several senate
rial districts and parishes of the State,
and the Representative districts of the
city of New Orleans, shall elect the
same number of delegates and in the
same manner US by existing laws, each
is entitled to Senators and Representa-
tives in the General Assembly of the
State.
Sec. 3. Be it further enacted, etc.,
That ali duly qualified electors under
| the then existing laws shall be entitled
to vote at said election in their respec-
| tive election districts and such election
shall be governed and regulated in all
| respects by the general election laws of
the State in force at the time, 50 far as
the Same may be applicable to and con-
sistent with the provisions of this act,
| and be held and conducted by the pro-
per election officers of tho several cleo
ton districts OF tho State. That the
several returning officers of the several
parishes and of the city of New Orleans
shall compile and make returns of said
election in accordance with the general
election laws then existing, and the
Secretary of State, and, in his default,
the State Auditor, shall Immediately
upon the receipt of the returns from
said returning officers open and compile
said returns, and shall immediately
publish IN the official Journal of the
State the names of those elected dele
gates to said convention. Any neglect
or refusal Of the Secretary of State or
Auditor to count or compile said re-
turns shall subject them, OR either of
them, to tho penalties prescribed by
the general election laws for such
neglect or refusal in other elections
therein provided for, and no such fail
cato elected to take his seat in said
convention.
SEC. 4. BE it fttrther enacted, etc,
That the delegates so chosen shall! meet
in convention in the State-Housc ut
Now Orleans on the twenty-first (2lst)
day of April, eighteen hundred and
seventy-nine, Mt twelve o'clock m, and
elect such officers as they may deem
necessary. The delegates to the con.
vention shall receive four dollars per
diem during their attendance on the
convention, and necessary travelling
expenses to and from the same, not to
exceed In any one case the sum of fifty
dollars 2's'ovio1et2, that no compensation
shall be allowed to delegates after sixty
days. No pay shall be allowed for any
recess. 1t shall be the duty of the Gov
ernor to attend said convention ut the
opening thereof aud preside until a
presiding officer shall have been elected,
but the Governor shall have no vote
therein. The Secretary of State shall
attend the opening of the convention,
and call the roll of delegates.
SEC. S. Be IL FURTHER enacted, etc.,
That the sum of forty thousand dollars,
or SO much thereof as may be necessary,
is hereby appropriated out of any
money in the Treasury, not otherwise
appropriated, to pay the expenses of
the convention provided by this act.
SEC. 6. Be it .fttHlttT enacted, etc.,
That the constitution framed by said
convention shall be submitted to the
people for their adoption or rejection.
SEC. Z. Be It further enacted, etc,
Ihat this act shall take effect from and
after its passage.
Approved January %, 1879.
| FRANCIS T. NICHOLS,
Governor of the State of Louisiana