The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1897-06-05

None but those who believe that
the people are not taxed enough can
urge amy serious objection to this lin
itatinn, and we oplne few will take
tina. position. The general complaint
is rather that Of over taxation, aud
tat il the refrain which demagognes
usually sing to the people. It il
hardly probable that the directors to
Il limited constitutional convention
will make much of this limitation.
Moreover, an exception is made iii
favor Of increased taxation by parishes
and municipalities to aid public
schools and for other public improve
ments, upon the approval Of the tax
payers affected by such increase.
What objection could there be to this 7
We shall pass owe the third pro-
hibitiop, relating to the levee system
as it refers to several articles If the
present constitution which it will be
necessary to review in orGer to under
stand fully the limitation. and for
that reason we shall relegate the dis
cussian of this subject to a future
day.
The fourth prohibition restraints the
convention from adopting any ,rdi-
nance
d. Whereby the terms Of office Of the
General Assembly or any of the
present State, District. ParocIlial or
Municipal officers. whether elected OF
appointed. shall he reduced or short
ened. or the salary thereof reduced or
diminished. prinr to the first Tuesday
after the third Monday III April, 1900.
None but prospective offi.e seekers
could possibly offer any serious
objection to this restriction.
The present officials we're elected
for four years, aud common fairness
dictates that they should be allowed
to serve mt their term. To prccipi-
tate another election Of officers before
the end Of the term for which they
we're elected would he to invite i
recurrence of the strife and acrimnuy
which have characterized our elections
in the last few years and embarrass
the selection Of proper delegates to
the convention and, it may be, C
Der the deliberations of said
ton with matters foreign 10 tue pur-
poses for which it is called. Ii il be
true, as many charge, but which we
believe not, and still less admit. that
tie .ins," as they are vulgarly called,
control and manipulate the elections
to suit their purpose, then it would be
the height of folly to call d constitu-
tional convention to put them out Of
office aud expect them not TO take Il
hand in the selection and election of
delegates to control said convention.
By limiting the powers of the
ton, so as TO protect these Gins" in
the enjoyment Of their full term of
office you take away from them the
powerful incentive to actively inter-
fere in the election of delegates to
protect their interests, and CORES
pondingly increase the chances of
electing delegates who will have truly
at heart, the greatest good for the
greatest number. So that it would
seem that those who believe, and who
continually assert, that the .'ins'' have
it always their " way. are the very
ones who should be the first to defend
ana commend this very limitation
which seems to be for many the most
fearful bugaboo of this limited consti-
tutioDal convention.
The mex limitation refers to the
judges Of the supreme court and their
tenure of office, and Its consideration.
in view of the Importance of the sub
ject, is postponed to orr next issue.
The remaining prohibitions are that
the convention shall not adopt asy
article or ordinance.
f. Whereby the present constitutional.
prohibition Of lotteries shall be chang
ed. altered or amended.
z. Removing the capitol from Baton
Rouge"
The mere statement oftile propositions
are sufficient to satisfy the ordinary
man that, ever if they were not proper
limitations, they are not of such Il
nature as to determine Il sensible man
to vote against the proposed constitu-
tional convention, if he otherwise
believes the calling of a convention to
he necessary, simply because such
convention will be restrained froft
passing upon those two subjects.
But Whatever may be said about the
second Of these limitations, certain il
is that the first is quite proper /: for
no one has yet forgotten what the
people of this State have gone through
on account Of the very question 81
lotteries which it is forbidden to
reopen. This paper. and the writer
hereof. III that great struggle which
rent the State in twain, divided tanli-
lies, setting sons against fathers, and
brothers against brothers, espoused tue
cause Of the recharter Of the lottery
ard fought hard Tor the success of that
cause, and neither have any apollo
gies to make FIR tile part taken 10 that
fight. But now that thing il settled.