The Opelousas courier., 1896-12-05

The Constitutional Convention,

Owing to the far-reaching issues in
VOWED in the presidential campaign
just closed, and the intense feeling nat
urally engendered over their considera-
ton, the question of Il constitutional
convention to frame IL new organic law
Tor the State has been somewhat OBJ
scured
Although matters pertaining to the
calling OF this convention occupied
much pnb'ic attention prio. to and dur
ing the last session of the legislature,
there are many persons who are not ia
mllar with the provisions of the act
as finally promulgated calling for IFS
assembling. An impression prevails in
The minds nt many persons that the
convention has been already called, and
what remains for the electors to to is
to select the delegates who ar3 to COM
pose the body. This is entirely erro-
neous The first section of the act un-
der which the convention IS authorized
provides that there shall be submitted
to the duly qualified electors o! the
State, at an election to be held on the
second Tuesday of January, 1893, for
their approval or. rejection, Il PROPOSE
tiOn to hold "a convention to franc a
new Constitution for the State"
The act of the legislature further
| at the same time, there shall be held an
election Of delegates to the proposed
conventions; and if II majority of the
votes cast be III favor of said PROPOSE
tlnn, then the delegates who shalt re
celve Il plurality of the votes cast at
said election shat! compose the conven-
ton" The convention is to consist of
154 delegates, 90 OF wh:.n shall be elect
cd from the parishes -. representative
districts, as now Dr" ed for in the
representation of the H3uSe Of Repre-
sentatives and 36 from the State at
large. The delegates are TO meet in the
city OF New Orleans, at II place to be
designated by the Governor. on the sec
ond Tuesday of February, 1898.
Tie convention, if it is called by a
vote of the people, is given full power
to frame and adopt Il new Constitution
for the State. without submission to the
people, except iD the following particu-
lars, wherein the convention is pIOtihit
ed from cn"cting or framing any article
or ordinance, and every delegate to the
convention il required to take an oath
that he will obey the limitations i'm
posed before he is qualified to act:
With the bonded indebtedness of the
State, or of amy parnchiai, municipal,
levee or other political corporation.
With the rate OF taxation as now lin
tied 10y the Constitution, other than for
the purpose Of aid by parishes and mu-
inequalities to public schools and public
Improvements, upon the approval of
the taxpayers affected by such increase.
With the ievee system as now organ
ICED nndcr Articles 213, 214, 215, 217 and
970 ut the present Constitution and laws
enacted IN pursuance thereof.
w terms OF iltfiEt4 GT the i1nnp-
raj Assembly, or any nf the present
State, district, l,arnchial or municipal
officers, whether elected OF appointed !;
nor with the present salaries of said Of
ficers prior to the first Tuesday after
the third Monday in April, 1900.
With the officers of Chief Justice and
Associate Justices of the Supreme
Court, whereby the terms of office of
the then incumhcnts shall be shortened
or their salaries diminished, or these
positions made elective
,;H,nn M',n the nt ,;t n'r;fnt constitutional . pro-
With the presehA law raking Baton
Rouge the capitol n&.be SIate.
existing election INV, and x11ae Chief
Justice, or, in his bsenceF the Senior
Justice of the Sup,to7e ca 3nrt, will at
tend the opening of the 1pdvention aud
administer the oath atsve alluded to
and preside until prfsiding officer is
elected. II
The Secretary of StateJwill attend the
opening of the convention and call the
roll Of Delegates: O.
and travelling expenses; but compensa-
ton is limited to seventy days. The
sum of $4,000 is appropriated for the
expenses OF the conyention.-New Or
leans Times Democrat.