The Natchitoches enterprise. (Natchitoches, La.) 1888-1965, 1914-09-03


bly, of the State of Louisiana of the
year 1919, and adopted. at the Con-
gressional election held on the 5th
day of November 1912. and as readop-
ted by the Constitutional Convention
of the State of Louisiana for the year
1918.
Section l. Be it resolved by the Cen
eral Assembly of the State of Louisiana,
two-thirds (2-3) of all the members cleo
ted to each house concurring, That
para graphs two CD and three CD of
Article Two Hundred and Eighty one
(2S1) of the Constitution of the State of
Louisiana be amended so as to read as
follows:
ARTICLE PSI.
Paragraph q Police JurIes IN any par
ish or parishes may in accordance with
law create drainage districts which in
addition to the powers hereinabove
granted. shall have further power and
authority to establish and maintain
drainage systems and the governing au-
thoritieS of such districts. when au-
thoriZed by a majority in number and
amount of the property taxpayers CO said
district qualified to vote under the Con
stitution and laws of the State of Louis
lana who vote in an election held for
that purpose may. for the purpose of
establishing and maintaining gravity
drainage in such districts. impose and
collect for a peried RHi exceeding forty
(40) years forced tOHtfif+utioHa or acre
age taxes not exceeding fifty sents go
acre of land, which is susceptible of
gravity drainage. in the subdivision
where such an election is held. The
governing authority of such subdivi-
sions, when authorized as set forth. may
incur debt and issue negotiable bonds to
represent same, secured by the forced
contribution or acreage taxes above de
Scribed provided that the total amount
of debts thus incurred or bonds issued
shall not exceed in principal and inter
est the aggregate amount TO be raised
by said annual contrtbutions or
acreage taxes during the period for
which the same are imposed and that no
such bonds shall be issued for any other
purpose than that for which the said
contributions or acreage taxes. are No-
ter, to run for a longer period than for
~ (4Q) years. bear a greater rate of in
terest than five per centum per annum,
payable annually er Seml-annuaily. or
to be sold for less than ninety per cen
tum go per cent? of par. And the Board
of Commissioners oil Drainage District
without submission to the taxpayers
are authorized to levy additional taxes
under the terms and conditions of this
article and within the limits fixed
thereby for the purpose of pe"fecting
and completing any system of drainage
eighty per cent OF WHICH shall have beer
accomplished at the tin.e of said addi-
tionaI levy of taxes. and to fund The
avails of said additional levy of taxes
into bonds under the terms and condi-
tions set forth in the present article,
Paragraph 5 When the character of
any land is such that il must be levied
and pumped in order to be drained and
reclaimed the Board of Drainage Com
missioners of the district in which the
land is situated. shall upon the petition
of land owners, whether individuals or
corporations, resident or nonresident.
owning not less than majority of
acres in the area to be affected, aScer-
tain the cost per acre of draining and
reclaiming said land incur debt against
Afl los, rsSk
ted for an amount sufficient to drain
and reclaim it, and to issue for such
debt negotiable bonds for the total ag
gFegate amount of the total cost of
such drainage which bonds shall run
not longer than forty (40) years from
their date and bear interest at rate
not exceeding five per centum per an
nun. payable annually e se'7i7annually,
ninety per centum t90 per cent? of par;
and eaid Board of Drainage Commits
sioners shall each year as long as any |
bonds are outstanding levy annually uD-
on each and every acre of land. wheth-
er public or private, situated in said !
drainage or subdrainage district, forced |
contributions or acreage taxes in an
amount per acre sufficient to mainta.;, |
the drainage of the said district or sub |
drainage district, to pay the interest an |
nually or semi-annually and the princi- |
pal falling due @ each year or such
sinking fund for the payment of said |
bonds at maturity, provided, that such |
forced contributions or acreage taxes
for all purposes shall never exceed |
Three Dollars and Fifty Cents ($3.5O) |
per acre per annum.
All bonds heretofore issued under. and
by virtue of this Article 2S1 OF the Con-
by the governing authority of
any subdivision. which have heretofore |
not been declared invalid by judgment
of a court of last resort in the State of
Louisiana and more than SiXtv f6O) |
have nlanSp1 IN 1,1r1
ton of the proceedings evidencing the
issuing of said bonds. are hereby recog-
niGed and declared to be valid and exist-
ing bonds and obligations of the district |
or subdivision issuing the same. and no I
court shall have jurisdiction to enter
tain any contest wherein tneir validity
or const1tutionality is questioned
Section .. Be it further resolved. ETC.
That this proposed amendement shall
he submitted to the qualified voters of
this State for adoption or rejection at
the Congressional election to be held
in November 1914, and, il adopted, the
same shall take effect Immediately
thereafter.
Section 8. BE it further resolved, etc,
That on the official ballots TO be issued
1T said election there shall be placed
the words For the Proposed Amend
ment to Paragraphs Two (2) and Three
90 OF Article Two Hundred and Eighty
ons OF the Constitution Of Louisiana,
ana the words Against the Proposed
amendment to Paragraphs Two (2) and
Three CD of Article Two Hundred and
fighty-one of the Constitution Of Lou
siana," and each elector shall indicate
rs provided in the general election laws
IF the State, which of the propositions,
For" or Against" he votes
THOMAS c. BARRETT
Lieutenant Governor and President of
the Senate.
L. F. THOMAS
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Approved: July Q, 1914
L. F. HALL
Governor of the State of Louisiana.
true copy:
ALVIN f. HEBERT
Secretary of State.