The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1882-04-19
TIE LEGISLATURE.

Tor the assembling OF the flrst regu-
lar biennial session of the State Leg
islature. The members of the pres
ent Legislature, as body, have in.
Cured great deal of distrust and
disrespect, not to say contempt,
among their constituents throughout
the State.
AS this win be the last session Of
the Legislature elected in 1879, it
behooves the members, in view of
the general odfum resting upon
them, in all seriousness, to devote
their best intelligence and energies
to the difficult and important work
that will come before them. They
owe this to the voters who elected
them, as we'll as to themselves, by
way of clearing their own records.
1t is probable that good deal OF
dissatisfaction at the labors OF the
last Legislature was due TO q degree
of arrogance and stubbornness on
the part Of some members In the
serious businesr that will command
their attention at the coming session
they should endeavor to exercise for
bearance as well as wisdom and
sound Judgment The people have
entrusted all their law-making pow
er, their general interest and their
welfare to the hands Of these repre-
sentstives, as their agents, and they
have right to expect Of them intsg-
rity and a conscientious discharge Of
duty. Among the many important
subjects of legislation are some Of a
local nature that will claim atten-
ton.
The City of New Orleans has been
clamoring for years for a new char
ter. The people there have, by pub
lie meetings, committees, press In
fluence, etc, been endeavoring for
months past to digest the most i'm
portant features OF a charter In order
to aid their representatives and "a
cilitate the passage of a Law chang
ing their city government. This
business will consume at least a week
or more of wrangling and discussion.
OF local matters nearer home that
should command the attention of
Messrs. Luckett, Wise and Hatha-
way, are the exemption Of our little
city from any control or jurisdiction
for the purpose of taxation or other
purpose, by the Police Jury Of the
Parish; reducing the size of this ju
dicial district and making Rapides
Parish comprise judicial and Sena-
torial district entire. Any Police
Jury legislation that tends to apply
to the citizens of Alexandria-who
have their own legislative body dis
tinct under the LAWS, to. say the
least, superAuous. Alexandria should
not be subject to any control what
ever by the Parish authorities. The
introduction of a bill in the Legisla-
ture to exempt the citizens from Pa
rish taxes has already been adver
tised as required by law.
Such bill could, perhaps, extend
entire exemption of the Corporation
from legislative control of the Police
Jury.
Another serious inconvenience, il
not injustice, and one which our
constitutional delegates should have
struggled streuuously against, is the
combining three large Parishes, Ra-
pides, Ayoyelles and Grant, in one
judicial district. There is neither
economy nor wisdom in uniting'these
three large, wealthy and central Pa
rishes Of the State under one juris-
diction. Any one will admit that
this is not only an imposition upon
the presiding Judge but an actual
embarrassment Of the aims of justice.
Rapides is geographically cen
trail Parish, possessing an extensive
area of territory, and large, refined
and wealthy population. She is tied
to Avoyelles and Grant Parishes IS
part of a judicial district, and to the
Parish Of Vernon as a Senatorial
district, whereas she is OF sufficient
size and Importance to constitute one
entire district. The citizens Of these
Parishes are anxious for the district
to be renodeled.
The Constitution provides for such
change being made by the Legisla.
ture on certain conditions. Such a
bill could not properly be considered
one of that class of local laws re-
quiring thirty days advertisement,
hence the Legislature that ASSEMBLIES
on the 9th OF next month can make
the change. The Constitution en-.
joins that law making alterations
in any judicial district shall not az
feet the term of the present iucum
bent, therefore a change
making one separate district of Ra.
pides Parish would not take effect
until April, 1884. If the Legislature
- NJ, 1000 r.:y.