The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1912-08-31

Senate Bill No. 1877. By Mr.. Beals.
JOINT RESOLUTION

d2S1J two eighty-one of the Consti-
tuition of the State OF Louisiana re-
lative to the mourning of debt AMI
issuing bonds for work of public inn
provement. and to the valuation. and
refunding of bonds issued for such
improvements. by municipal corpora
tons. parishes and school, drainage
sewerage and other districts tthe CITY
of New Orleans excepted and the
assessment of special taxes and forced
contributions to pay for same.
Section l. Be it resolved by the Gen
eral Assembly of the State of Louisiana
two-thirds t2-3J Of all the members
elected to each House. concurring. That
Article two hundred and eighty-ona
esd of the Constitution of the State
Of Louisiana be amended as to read
as follows
ARTICLE PSI
Paragraph l. Municipal corporations.
parishes and school. drainage. sub
drainage. road. subroad. navigation, or
sewerage districts. City of New Or
leans excepted hereinafter referred to
as subdivisions OF the State. when au-
thoriZed by a vote of a majority. in
number and amount of the property
taxpayers. qualified to vote under the
Constitution and laws of this State.
who vote at an election held for that
purpose. after due notice of said cleo
ton has been published for thirty days
in the official journal Of the municipal
no official journal, in newspaper pub
lished therein. may. through their re
spective governing authorities. incur
debt and issue negotiable bonds there
for. and each year while any bonds thus
issued are outstanding. the governing
authorities OF such subdivisions shall
impose and collect annually. in excess
of all other taxes, a tax sufficient t.
pay the interest, annually or semi
annually and the principal falling due
each year. or such amount as may he
required for any sinking fund necessary
to retire said bonds at maturity; pro.
vided that such special taxes. FOR all
purposes as above set forth shall not
in any year exceed ten mills on the dol
lar of assessed valuation of the prop
erty in such subdivisions.
No bonds shall be issued for any
other purpose than that stated in tho
submission of the proposition TO the
taxpayers and published for thirty go
days as aforesaid or for greater
amount than therein mentioned; non
shall such bonds be issued for any
other purpose than for constructing.
improving and maintaining public roads
and highways. paving and improving
streets. roads and alleys, purchasing
and constructing systems of water
works. sewerage. drainage, navigation
lights, public parks and buildings. to-
and furnishing, bridges and other
works of public Improvement. the title
to which shall rest in the subdivision
creating the debt, as the case may be,
nor shall such bonds run for fonger
period than forty (40) years from their
date or bear a greater rate of interest
than five per centum to- per annum
or be sold for less than par, The total
issue of bonds by any subdivision tor
all purposes shall never exceed ten
per centum GO) of the assessed valua-
ton of the property in such subdlvis-
ions. Municipal councils are granted the
h nj m
one or more sewerage districts.
Paragraph 2. Police juries in any
parish or parishes may in accordance
with law create drainage districts
which in addition to the powers here
inabove granted. shall, have further
maintain drainage systems and the
governing authorities of such districts.
when authorized by majority in num-
Der and amount of the property tax
payers of said district qualified to vote
under the Constitution and laws. who
vote at an election held for that pur-
pose, may impose and collect for a pc
Rod not exceeding forty years forced
contributions or acreage taxes not eX-
ceeding fifty cents per acre per year
on every acre of land In the subdivision
where such an election is held. The
governing authority of such subdivision
when authorized as set forth. may in
cur debt and issue negotiable bonds to
represent same, secured by the taxes
above described provided that the tota
amount of debts thus incurred or bonds
issued. shall never exceed in principal
and interest the aggregate amount t.
be raised by said annual contributions
or acreage taxes during the period fof
which the same are imposed and that
no such bonds shall be issued for any
other purpose than that for which said
contributions or acreage taxes Were
voted run for longer period than
forty years bear a greater rate of in
terest than five per centum per an,
mum or be sold for less than par. Al
bond issues heretofore authorized by
taxpayers in any subdivision at any
election not contested on any grounf
of fraud are hereby recognized anc
validated.
Paragraph g. When the character OF
any land is such that it must be leveef
and reclaimed. the Board of Drainage
| Commissioners of the District in which
| the land is situated, shall. upon th'
| petition of not less than majority IL
| resident and nonresident, in the are;
| to be affected, ascertain the cost o
| drainage, and retaining said land an(
| incur debt against said land for al
amount sufficient to drain and reclaim
it. and issue for such debt negotiable
| bonds running not longer than fort.
| (4O) years from their date and bearing
| interest at rate not exceeding ny
per Centum per annu1l pdyaoie diiiudi.
| or Semi-annually, which bonds shall no
be sold for less than par; and said Boar
| of Drainage Commissioners shall lev.
annually upon said land forced contribu
tions or acreage taxes in an amour
| sufficient to maintain the drainage o
said land, to pay the interest. annual:
or semi annually. and the principal fall
ing due each year. or such amount
may be required for any sinking fun
| provided for payment of said bonds a
maturity. provided. that such force
contributions or acreage taxes. for al
| purposes shall never exceed Three Dol
| lars and Fifty Cents ($3.50) per acr
| per annum.
Paragraph 4. The police juries of tn
| various parishes throughout the State
for the purpose of constructing high
ways and public buildings for the par
ish, and the governing authorities o
| municipal corporations, for the purpos
of paving or improving streets or a
leys. and for all municipal improve