St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1898-01-08
A Limited Constitutional
Convention.


Picay une. Gov. Foster gives clear
and concise statement in which he
gives reasons why the coming Con-
stitutional Convention should be
limited, if held. A careful reading
of this review will, no doubt, prove
interesting. The Governor says:
There seems to be popular error
on this subject. The legislature
has placed nc limitation upon the
convention. In fact, the legislature
has not even called convention.
The legislative act simply provides
for an election by the people to de
;ermine whether they desire con-
yention, limited in certain respects,
or not. II majority OF the peo-
pie vote ''yea," they vote for a
limited convention and SO instruct
their delegates who are bousd by
these instructions. II on the other
hand, a majority OF the people do
not favor a limited convention, they
vote ano." So YOU will see that
the legislature has confined this
entire subject to the people and
their decision will be final. AS a
matter of historical interest, it
might here be stated that when the
subject Of calling a constitu tional
convention was under decision at
the last session of the general as
semb.y, there was an honest differ
ence of opinion. among Democrats,
az to The wisdom Of this move.
Some thought the Australian ballot
system offered sufficient remedy
for the evils of unrestricted suffrage
and the proper conduct OF elections !;
others believed that this remedy was
only temporary, and that the suf-
frage should permanently fixed in
the organic law.
The Republicans and Populists'
for political reasons, then as now,
favored the calling of convention
with unlimited power.
As a compromise between the
| conflicting views of she Democrats,
the present act was passed, sub
| hitting the whole question to the
| people. l do not think that there
was single true Democrat IN the
legislature nho favored conven-
ton with an unlimited power. BE
that as it may, believe the restric-
tons, upon careful consideration,
will be found cminently wise and
proper and will commend them
selves to the favorable action OF the
people. Let us see: The first limi-
tation prevents the sealing or re-
pudiation of the public debt, princi-
pal or interest, state, parish, dis
trict or municipal. I am sure NO
right thinking man wishes to ais
turb the adjustment OF the state
debt or m AXE it possible to shake
the public confidence in our district,
parish or municipal obligations.
After years of struggle, the public
credit, both state and local has
been placed upon q solid footing.
Millions OF dollars have been in
vested in these securities, and they
underlie every financial institution
in the State. If they were open to
attack we would have months Of f.
nancial and business disturbance,
even il nothing worse came Of the
agitation.
The second limitation refers to
the rate of taxation as now fixed
BY the constitution, declaring tina,
such rate shah not be increased.
The present constitution limits tax
alton, for state purposes, to siS
mills, and the revenues derived
from this tax and the licenses are
amply sufficient to meet all the ex-
penses of fine state government
honestly and economically admin
istered. And l am confident thai
no taxpayer would object to this
manifestly just restriction. There
is an exception, however, in favor
Of parishes and municipalities
which can he given power to levy
additional rates for schools anc
public improvements upon the ap
prevail Of the property taxpayers
The third limitation prohibite The
overturning of the levee system a
now organized. The protection o.
the alluvial districts against over
flow is the very life OF the richest
and most fertile districts OF oul
State. The present system, By
which the levees are maintained, j:
the out.growth of many years o.
experience, and the district organi
cations have established credit
and issued many hundred thousand
dollars Of obligations, which arr