The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1896-12-17
CHARTER OF the TOWN
OF BENTON.

OF BENTON.
FIlhe inhabitants of the Town of Benton, in
l. the Parish of Bossier, State OF Louisiana,
are hereby created and made a body corporate
and polite in law, with perpetual succession,
to have aud to be known by the name and
style Of the ''Town of Benton" and by that
name they and their successors shall be capa-
BILE of suing and being sued in all Courts of
competent Jurisdiction, shall or may have an
official seal and may alter same at pleasure,
shall have the right Of acquiring, receiving,
holding, farming, leasing or conveying proper
ty, whether real or personal, within aud with
out the limits of the Town, for the use aud
benefit of said Corporation, and shall have the
power to raise money by taxstion on the prop
erty situated in the limits Of said Corporation,
and by Licenses on trades. professions and COR
poratiOns pursued and carried on within said
limits. said money 50 raised to be applied to
the use, benefit and good government of said
Town or corporation of the 'eTOwu of Benton
and to provide for and maintain competent
police force for the same; and, generally, shall
have and possess all inherent rights and pow
ers pertaining and belonging to municipal cor
porations not in violation Of, or inconsistent
with, the Constitution and laws of Louisiana.
SECTION2. The limits and boundaries of said
Corporation, or Town of Benton, shall be and
are hereby fixed and established US follows, to-
wit: All that territory lying and embraced
within the east half of section thirty (30l and
the west half Of section twenty mine coy, in
township twenty Coy North, of range thirteen
u3) West, Northwestern Land District of
Louisiana.
SDcrIoN 3. The officers of said CORPORATION
shall consist of Mayor and five Councilmeu.
who shall be elected by the qualified voters of
said Town, and shall hold their Offices for a
period of two years, and one Secretary. who
shall be ex -otfcio Assessor, one Treasurer, one
Marshal, who shall be ex-officio Collector, and
such Police officers, not to exceed two in num-
Der. unless in cases of emergency, as the Mayor
and Council shall deem necessary; said officers,
namely: Secretary, Treasurer and Marshal,
shall be elected bi-annually by the Council, and
any one of them may be removed for sufficient
canse by q majority of the Council.
SECTION 4. The first election for Mayor and
Counci]men shall be held on the same day that
this Charter is submitted for adoption, or re-
lection. and to be conducted by the same CON-
missiOners appointed for holding the Charter
election; and in case the Charter is adopted,
the Mayor and Councilmen elected shall hold
office until the next regular election, which
1898, and bi-annually, ION the same day. there
after.
SEC. S. The Mayor and Councilmen of said
Corporation, before entering upon the dis
charge of their duties, shall take and subscribe
the oath of office required OF all officers under
hle same in manner prescribed by law.
SEC. 6: That the Mayor of said Town shall
be ex-officio Justice of the Peace, and as such
| be and is hereby vested with all the power
necessary to carry out the provisions Of this
| act of incorporation, and to execute and en-
| the same, and shall hold his municipal Courts
at such times as he may think proper. He shall
preside at all meetings of the Council, and
shall call special meetings thereof at such times
as he may deem necessary. He shall execute
or cause to be enforced all laws, regulations
and ordinances legally passed by the Council
He shall hold the right to vote on questions
and matters before the Council only when
there is a tie vote in that body. He shall sign
| officially all laws and ordinances passed by the
Council, and the same shall be attested by the
Secretary. In the absence of the Mayor, tenn
Porarily. the oldest member of the Council
| shall preside and perform the duties of Mayor
and in case Of his death or resignation, or his
refusal to act, tho Board Of Counciimen, by d
| majority vote of a quorum present, shall choose
a Mayor, who shall continue in Office until, a,
the next election for officers of said Town, his
successor shall have been elected and indicted
| into Office
SECT. The Mayor shall have full and ex
elusive power to try and determine all viola
tiOns and Offenses against the laws, rules, ordi
nances and bylaws of said Corporation, and
on conviction of any person or persons, shall
have power to impose and infict punishments
as hereinafter provided. He shall have power
and it is hereby made his duty, to quell and
suppress all riots, routs, unlawful assemblies
ARRAYS and tumults, or cause the same to b.
done through the proper police officers, and
shall have power to cause to be arrested anG
brought before him for trial, all offenders
against the laws, ordinances and bylaws OF
said Corporation. All persons accused and
brought to trial in pursuance of the provisions
Of this act of incorporation, or BY virtue OF any
law, regulation or ordinance of this Corpora
ton shall be entitled to compulsory process
allowed BY State laws, to compel the attend
poration shall also have power to compel tn,
attedance of witnesses against all defendants
and, in either case, the Mayor shall issue ant
enforce the necessary process.
SEC. .. Whenever any person shall be triet
and committed for any offense against tn
laws, rules, bylaws, ordinances or regulation
said person to pay fine not to exceed the sun
Of one hundred dollars and costs of trial, an,
in default Of payment Of said fine an,
costs, the person 80 Onvicted shall be impris
oned in the Jail of the Parish of Bossier, or il
the Jail of said Corporation, for a period not t.
work out said fine on the streets or publ
works of said Town, at the rate of one dolla
per day.
Sec. 9. The Mayor shall cause the laws, by
laws and ordinances Of said corporation to 5
published in some newspaper in said Town,
there be one, or shall promulgate the same b.
posting written copies thereon on the door o
the Hall in which the Council holds its meet
ings, as the Council may elect. He shall receiv
such salary as the Council may fix, not to e1
coed fifty dollars per year.
Sec. 10. The Councilmen of this Corpora
ton, as Board, majority of whom shal
constitute quorum for the transaction of bus
| inaaa ahall hold rnoular ruaatiuu at Loo
once every month on q day to be fixed by then
| Their sessions shall he nIhlic and THAR nrf