Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1881-01-15
: A NEW CONSTITUTION.

going on for some time among the
newspapers Of the State relative to
the subject. OF late, however, the
criticisms applied to the Constitution
have become so violent in their char
acter that, we feel, the time has ar
rived when the protective features OF
that much abused instrument should
be made known to the people ere
they are led to join in a clamor that
might in time result in causing an
other convention to be called, which
would frame constitution that would
destroy the safeguards in the present
one and place the people at the mer-
cy of any corrupt majority that might
be organized in our General Assem-
blies.
Have our contemporaries forgotten
the outrageous constitution OF 1868,
with a broad gap in almost its every
clause, through which our Radical
Legislators taxed the people as high,
at one time, AS 2ld mills?
Have they forgotten that the time
of the General Assemblies was,spent
in passing special acts to incorporate
this or that village; to frame or
amend the charter of this or that
town; to authorize the Police Jury
of this or that parish to do this thing
or the other; to incorporate this or
that wild cat railroad company, and
to issue millions upon millions of
bonds to fill the pockets Of the swim
dlers; to authorize this or that mon
opoly; to organize the Metropolitan
Police Militia at the expense Of the
city of New Orleans and the Estate !;
to orgar ize a constabulary and COM
pei the people Of the parishes to pay
for the luxury to abolish and create
parishes to suit the schemes Of the
robbers who bore the title of Legisla-
tors-in word, to put Louisiana at
the mercy of the land pirates'
Though the penalties on delin-
quents were removed and warrants
were received in very great proper
ton for the back taxes, have uot our
people had a bitter after taste, lately,
of the radical regime, under the mis-
cradle constitution of 1867
The present constitution forbids
the General Assembly from levying q
tax of more than six mills; and the
Police Juries and City Councils more
than ten mills.
Who has forgotten that the tax of
the Police Jury Of this parish was mp
to l41 mills, and might have been
more had they desired to make it
so?
IT'S true that the present constitu-
ton provides for Circuit Courts at a
cost of $4,000 annually, which, for
the reason that thus far but a limited
number of cases appear before them,
some argue that they should be
abolished; whereas, by an amend
ment extending the scope of their
jurisdiction, these courts would prove
of great benefit in facilitating the
prompt execution Of the laws.
1t should not be forgotten that the
Circuit Courts have superseded the
costly Parish Judge system, at the
same time that the salaries of District
Judges have been reduced from five
to three thousand dollars.
The abuse in popular suffrage
which allowed men to vote after a
residence of ten days in any parish
has been superseded by the require
ment in the present Constitution that
demands a residence Of six months,
while in the interest of immigration
a foreigner can vote after two years
residence in the State, upon the de-
claration of bis intention to become a
citizen.
The principle Of local self-govern-
ment has been recognized in the con-
stitution by ordaining that none but
general laws shall control the char
tering of towns and cities, allowing
thus the people themselves to frame
their charters.
Legislators can no longer fix their
per diem at will nor receive the fancy
mileages of old. The salaries and