The herald., 1912-09-26
Article V.

AlllCIe '.
l. All assessments of property for
| State purposes shall be made by a
| State Tax Commission, composed OF
/ three members To be elected, not later
| than July LIST. 1913, by Board COM
| posed OF the Governor the state Au-
| dltor and the State Treasurer from
| among the qualified electors of the re-
| spectlVe railroad Commission Dis
| trlcts, as constituted at this date, and
| they shall not be subject 10 removal
except for the causes and in the man
ner provided for the removal Of dis
| trict Judges.
,. The terms OF the first commits
slonerS shall be for two, four and six
years. The period each is to serve
shall be determined by lot. AT the eN-
pIration of such terms. election shall
be for the period of six years; and
commissioners shall be elected and va
cancies filled for any uneXpired term
by the qualified electors of the respec-
tive railroad Commission Districts at
the regular congressional elections held
in this State the first Tuesday after
the first Monday in November every
two years; and at the said congression-
al election held just prior TO the eN-
piration of their respective terms.
3. The Commission shall maintain
an Office and have its domicile at Ba-
ton Rouge. and the members shall re-
side i'll Baton Rouge and devote their
time exclusively to the discharge ot
their duties.
4. They shall each receive a salary
of Five Thousand Dollars per annum
beginning January l, 1914, and their
travelling expenses, not exceeding
maximum amount to be fixed from time
to time by the General Assembly, an
itemiZed account of which shall be
rendered in an annual report.
3. The chairman of the first Com
mission shall be named by the APP
pointing Board and serve until the eN-
piration of his term of office, and there
after the Commission shall select its
own chairman.
6. The Commission and the individ-
ual members thereof shall perform such
duties in respect to assessment and tax
alton as are herein prescribed, and
such other and further duties as the
General Assembly may from time to
time prescribe
:. The General Assembly shall pro-
vide said Commission with an adequate
clerical force.
g. The Commission shall have pow
er TO adopt and enforce such reason
able rules. regulations, and modes OF
procedure. not inconsistent with law, |
as il may deem proper for the dis |
charge of its duties, and to hear and |
determine complaints that may be made |
against assessments. and other of its |
act, required or authorized by law.
8. The Commission shall have pow
er to summon and compel the attend |
ance of witnesses, to swear witnesses, |
and to compel the production of books
and papers, to take testimony under
commission, and to punish for con-
.empt, as fully as is provided by law
Tor the district courts. The General
Assembly may provide other penalties |
'or violating the orders Of the Com
mission.
10. If any person. firm, association
n corporation shall be dissatisfied with
he assessment made or action taken
~ the Commission, such party may
lie a petition setting forth the cause
# objection to such assessment or &C
ion of the Commission or to either or
10Th in a Court of competent Jurisdlc-
ion. at the domicile of the Commits
ion, against said Commission as de-
endant. Either party may appeal TO
he Supreme Court of the State with
UGH appeals to be returnable within
en- days after the date that the deci-
ion of the lower Court becomes final.
Ill such cases. both in the trial and
ppeIlate court, shall be tried sum- |
larily and by preference over all other
ases. Such cases may be tried in the
curt of the first instance either in
hambers or at term time.
IL. No bond shall be required OF sald
in any case in any court, S
or shall advance costs, or security
Or costs, be required of ii.
H. 1t shall be the duty OF the Attor-
ey General, and the various district |
ttorneys, on proper request or dlrec-
on by the Commission or the Govern
r to aid the said Commission in all I
gal matters, and to prosecute and |
Ich requests and directions. A failure |
n the part of such law officers, When 7
} requested or directed to perform the q
uties here imposed upon them, snail =
institute misfeasance in Office.