The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1908-05-15
GOV. BLANGHARD'S
recommendations
Synopsis of Message to LegiSla.
ture Made by New Orleans
Item.

L uc lUCFcdSc Vi dSScSSulcuVS IDS JUS.
titled a greater reduction than one
mill for the State Tax levy. The State
Tax rate should be reduced from ten
mills to seven; this should apply to
the city of New Orleans as we'll as to
the parishes.
The law creating the State Board of
Equalization should be perfected. 1t
should fix penalties against local Of
ficials who fail to carry out the
Boards rulings.
The general property tax is obsolete
and should be abolished. The sources
of State taxation and local taxation
should be separated, the. State. getting
it's revenue. from the:corporations do
ing.business within its borders.
saSome means should be found to tax
the stocksiof the New Orleans Cotton
Exchange, and similar exchanges, at
affair market valuation.
The taxation of mortgages under
the present method is double taxation,
bad in principle, and repulsive to in
vestors of. capital. A suitable tax
should be imposed on mortgages at
the time they are recorded and the
taxation should end there.
The railroads of the. State are not
giving the service they shouldEsgive,
and the corporation commission should
be strengthened to compel them to do
so. Legislation should be instituted
to bring about an interchange of rail-
road mileage.
ElectionS1 frauds are shameful 'at
acknowledgement abroad. Parti-
san Statescommittees should bel given
full power by law to probe fraud, and
the courts of the State should be given
full and explicit power by lawto null
ify and punish fraud.
The just power of the Governor TO
remove State officials from Office, for
good cause, has been nullified by legal
technicalities- He should be clearly
confirmed by law in the exercise of his
executive authority in healthy ways
Grand Juries have arrogated to
themselves the authority to hear both
sides of criminal cases and to relieve
persons from proper trial in court.
This tendency is scandalous and
should be suppressed by law.
|. The Sunday law is ignored by Off.
cials. Its enforcement should be fos-
tered.
Race track gambling is one of the
most pernicious vices in Louisiana;
Observation-Disclosures attention.
The owners of unclaimed deposits
in banks should receive fuller protec-
ton by law.
Life Insurance Companies doing
business in Louisiana should be forced
by law to invest . large part of their
receipts from this State in the State
itself, in spite of their threats to re-
tire from the State.
Legislation should further protect
employees from negligence on the part
of employers.
The road overseers represent an OBJ
solete system. 1T should be abolished
and board of road commissioners
set up in each parish, until such time
as the State itself is able to take up
the entire administration of its high.
ways in a systematic and centralized
plan.
| A State forestry commission is
needed. and laws to stop the indis.
criminate and ruinous cutting o.
young timber at this time.
improvements in the game laws are
recommended.
| A better salary for the State Super
intendent of Education is demanded
by his high qualifications and duties
Health boards should be abolished
in small communities and health Off
cers substituted who would be organ
lied into some State system.
The failure of the physicians to re
port births, deaths and sickness is in
iuring Louisiana. 1t should be mad'
an offense punishable by fine.
| Additional oyster legislation i
needed.
The Federal government should b.
memorialized to keep up its revetmen
of the levees protecting New Orleans
The legislature should authorize tn
Levee Board to issue bonds TO
50, ,OOO, 900 to complete its presen
plans.
Il The Legislature should provide
! constitutional sanction for two mil
D lion dollar bond issue by the Orlean
Dock Board.
The price Of the public lands Q
!. Louisians should be raised. Th