The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1912-10-18
of Louisiana be so amended as to rean
ARTICLE 2S1.

ARTICLE 2S1.
Paragraph /. Municipal corporations
parishes and school. drainage, SUI
drainage. road subroad, navigation, or
sewerage districts. City Of New Ut
leans excepted. hereinafter referred 70
as subdivisions of the State. when au-
thOriZed by q vote Of Il majority, III
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 eiec-
ton has been published for thirty days
in the official journal Of the municlpal
corporation or parish or where there IS
no official journal. in newspaper pup
lisheds 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 SHAT
impose and collect annually. in excess
Of all other taxes, tax Suiilclcit ~
pay the interest annually or semi
annually. and the principal falling due
each year. or such amount as may De
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 snail nov
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 the
submission of the proposition to the
taxpayers, and published for thirty (So1
days as aforesaid or for greater
amount than therein mentioned; nor
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-
gether with all necessary equipments
and furnishing, bridges and other
to which shall rest in the subdivision
creating the debt. as the case may be;
nor shall such bonds run for longer
period than forty (40) years from their
date or bear a greater rate of interest
than five per centum CD per annum.
or be sold for less than par. The total
issue OF bonds by any subdivision for
all purposes shall never exceed ten
per centum 10) of the assessed valua-
ton of the property in such subdivis-
ions. Municipal councils are granted the
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
power and authority to provide and
maintain drainage systems and the
authorities of such districts,
when authorized by a majority in num-
har IF fba
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
riod not exceeding forty years forced
or acreage taxes not en-
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 total
amount Of debts thus incurred or bonds
issued, shall never exceed in principal
and interest the aggregate amount to
De raised by said annual contributions
Or acreage taxes during the period for
which the same are imposed and that
10 such bonds shall be- issued for any
other purpose than that for which said
or acreage taxes were
forty years, bear greater rate of in
.erest than five per centum per an
1um or be sold for less than par. All
)ond issues heretofore authorized by
taxpayers in any subdivision at any
election not contested on any ground
IF fraud are hereby recognized and
1alidated.
Paragraph 3. When the character of
any land is such that it must be leveed
and reclaimed the Board Of Drainage
Commissioners Of the District in which
the land is situated. shall, upon the
petition of not less than a majority in
acreage Of the property taxpayers,
resident and nonresident in the area
to be affected, ascertain the cost Of
drainage. and retaining said land and
incur debt against said land for an
amount sufficient to drain and reclaim
It, and issue for such debt negotiable
bonds running not longer than forty
(40) years from their date and bearing
interest at a rate not exceeding five
per centum per annum payable annually
Or semi-annually, which bonds shall not
be sold for less than par: and said Board
Of Drainage Commissioners shall levy
annually upon said land forced contribu-
tons or acreage taxes in an amount
sufficient to maintain the drainage Of
said land. to pay the interest, annually
Or semi-annually. and the principal fall
may be required for any sinking fund
provided for payment of said bonds at
provided. that such forced
or acreage taxes. for all
purposes shall never exceed Three Dol
lars and Fifty Cents $3.50 per acre
per annum.
Paragraph 4. The police juries Of the
various parishes throughout the State,
Tor the purpose of constructing high
ways and public buildings for the par
lsh. and the governing authorities Of
corporations, for the purpose
Of paving or improving streets or al
leys. and for all municipal improve
ments. after making provision for the
payment of all statutory and ordinary
charges, may fund into bonds running
for a period not exceeding ten (0)
years. and bearing interest at rate not
five (5) per centum per an
num-, which bonds shall not be sold
for less than par. the avails Of the
thorized by Article 232 of the Constitu-
ton of Louisiana.
Paragraph 6. Should any of the SUBJ
divisions of the State neglect or fail for
any reason to impose or collect the
taxes provided for in the foregoing sec
tons. any person in interest may by
summary proceedings in the district
court having jurisdiction. enforce the
imposition or collection of such taxes.
Or both, and such proceedings shall he
filed and triable free to any cost to the
|itigant.
Paragraph 6. Municipal corporations,
parishes and school. drainage. SUBJ
drainage. road, subroad, navigation and
sewerage districts (the City Of New
Orleans excepted), hereinafter referred
to as subdivisions, when authorized to
DO SO in the manner herein provided,
may for the purpose of readjusting.
extending or unifying Their
bonded Indebtedness. issue new bonds,
covering any particular issue or issues
Of bonds or the whole outstanding
bonded Indebtedness incurred by such
subdivision for the purposes specified
in Paragraph l Of this article or any
issue or refund issue bonds or renewal
Or refuniing bonds issued by such SUBJ