The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1912-09-28


l ana an amendment to the Con
l stitution recognizing and re
modelling the States system O.
assessment and taxation.
Section 1. Be it resolved by the
General Assembly of the State OF
louisiana, two-thirds of all the mem.
bers elected to each House concur.
ring, That the following amendment
to the Constitution Of the State OF
Louisiana be and the same is hereby
submitted to the qualified electors
OF the State at the Congressional
election to be held on the first Tues.
DAY after the first Monday in the
month of November, in the year 1912
tO-Wit: &
Article |.
l. The taxing power shall be exer-
clsed by the State and by it's sub
divisions for public purposes only.
z. The taxing power shall never be
surrendered, suspended, given, com.
muted or contracted away; but where
parishes or municipal corporations
shall grant exemptions from parish
or municipal taxes for a period not
20 exceed ten years from date of
completion to encourage the estab-
IlShment Of industrial enterprises or
similar exemption to immigrants
OF the value added by them to vacant
property owned and occupied as p
homestead, such exemptions shall not
De Withdrawn either as to enter
pFlSes established or substantially be.
gun IN good faith, Or as to immigrants
VINO nave actually acquired and i'm
proved or in good faith begun to i'm
prove their homesteads. since the
granting of the exemption. The Cen
eral Assembly on behalf of the State
and the governing authorities Of ali
SUBDIVISIONS Of the State on behalf
OF such subdivision, may defer for |
not more than three years the col |
Iectlon OF taxes in localities subject
ed to overflow or other public ca
Iamity.
D.. The General Assembly shall have
power to classify all property for tax
alton, and to adopt different ruies
ana rates for different classes, but
Such rules and rates shall be equal
ana uniform on all subjects of the
same class throughout the territorial
illnltS OF the authority levying the
TAX All such classifications shall he
pdSed on the characteristics of the :
itself or its use, and new
er on persons or ownership.
f. Except in case of foreign inva-
sion or domestic revolution the Cen.
7IaI assembly shall not have power $
% levy any ad Valorem property tax r
n excess of four per cent: but the :
General Assembly shall not exceed
ne rate OF two and One-half per cent +
except by vote of two-thirds of all :
ne members elected to each house =
hereof. o'0
Article II. h
L. The sources of State and local =
eVenue shall be segregated and az. =
ept as hereinafter specified. or as
nay be hereafter permitted bv a .
ote OF tWo-thirds of all the members -
iected to each House of the Gener. n
! Assembly, each taxing authority r
nall be restricted in taxation to it's -,
Wn sources of revenue as herein II
ssigned. u u
2. Until otherwise provided by e,
ote of two-thirds of all of the mem. ia
7rs elected to each House of the er
e1eral Assembly, the following
lali De the sources of State reve. ia
lie: =,
LIST. The special taxes hereinafter be
divided for. ~ wi n
md All corporations, private per. TO
rs and unincorporated associations
at operate any railroad falling I'M SD
r the jurisdiction of the Railroad ca
admission of Louisiana; street rail- th
al; combined street railroad and ce
7ctrlc light and power business: si1
'atlng Or refrigeration plant, mot So!
elusive Of cold storage plant: tel 70,
none line; telegraph line, wheth- !
wireless or otherwise: express Sc,
e: dining car, sleeping car, oil car, mic
So1S VI cars IOr any The
Ter purpose operating upon rail. an
ADS in this state; steamboat, mot. an,
boat, steamship, ferry, barge and ito
), or other water craft, where op- 7
lted for hire, canal for transporta- thi
Il or irrigation, and pipe line for ME
or gas. When the electric light an
power business conducted in con. T
ctlon with any street railroad can tito,
practically severed from the street siv,
lroad business for purposes of as +
sment then such severance shall rel,
made by the Tax Commission and wit
n electric light and power business T
IL not be a source Of State reve- sivf
I'd. All banks, State and Nation con
including savings banks, trust ner
ks and trust companies, and all five
'ate bankers, whether individuals and
partnerships, save that the real ma,
tie of all banks and bankers shall anv
locally assessed and taxed. The evc.
essments Of the real estate Of A
KS and bankers shall be euualiz- tav
annually by the Tax Commission frs,