The Rice belt journal., 1914-09-01

as Act No. 1873 Of the General Assem-
bly, of the State of Louisiana OF the
year 1912. and adopted, at the Con
greSsional election held on the bth
day Of November, 1912. and as readop-
ted by the Constitutional Convention
of the State of Louisiana for the year
1918.
Section l. Be 1t resolved by the Cen
eral Assembly of the State Of louisiana
two-thirds (2-3) Of all the members cleo
paragraphs two (2) and three CD of
Article Two Hundred and Etghty-one
(2Sl) Of the Constitution Of the State OF
Louisiana be amended 80 as to read as
follows:
ARTICLE PSI.
Paragraph 2. Police JurIes m any par
1sh or parishes may in accordance with
law create drainage districts, which in
addition to the powers hereiRaboVe
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 majority in number and
amount of the property taxpayers OF said
district qualified to vote under the Con-
stttution 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 period not exceeding forty
| (40) years forced contributions or acre
age taxes not exceeding fifty cents 600
! cts.) per acre per year on each and every
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 r.
| represent same, secured by the forced
nJof fri ih1if nr oh q
scrihed 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 contributions or
acreage taxes during the period for
such bonds shall be issued for any other
purpose than that for which the said
contributions or acreage taxes, are vo-
ter to run for longer period than for
! ty (40) years bear a greater rate OF In
| terest than five per centum per annum
payable annually or semi-annually. or
| to be sold for less than ninety per CEN
tum $50 per cent? of par. And the Board
OF Commissioners Of 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 perfecting
| anu CuIIlplbilllS any SNSlbIH VI VII dllidSS
| eighty per cent of which shall have been
accomplished at the time of said adfi-
! tional levy of taxes. and to fund the
ayails of said additional levy of taxes
! into bonds under the terms and cOnd1-
tions set forth in the present article.
Paragraph g. When the character of
any land is such that it must he levied
! and pumped in order to be drained and
! reclaimed the Board Of Drainage Com
| Of 70 krio iot in, rybi inh he
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
| each and every acre of land thus situa-
| ted for an amount sufficient to drain
| and reclaim 1t, and to issue for such
| debt negotiable bonds for the total ag-
| gregate amount of the total cost Of
! such drainage. which bonds shall run
not longer than forty (40) years from
| their date and beaS interest at rate
not exceeding five per centum per an
mum, payable annually or semi-annualIy
| and shall be sold for not less than
ninety per centum $50 per cent? Of par;
! and said Board of Drainage Commits
sioners shall each year as long as any
| bonds are outstanding levy annually up-
| y
er public or private, situated in sah'
| 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
! amount as may be required for anv
| 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 (S3 50)
! per acre per annum.
| All bonds heretofore issued under and
| by virtue of this Article PSI of the Con
| stitutiOn 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 sixty f6O)
| days have elapsed since the promulga-
| ton of the proceedings eyidencing the
issuing of said bonds are hereby recog-
! niZed and declared to be valid and exist
/ ing bonds and obligations of the district
/ or subdivision issuing the same. and no
court shall have jurisdiction to enter
! tain any contest wherein ,neir validity
| or constitut1Onality is questioned.
Section >. Be it further resolved etc
/ That this proposed amendement shall
be submitted to the qualified voters of
/ tnlS state Tor adoption or rejection at
| the Congressional election to- he held
! in November, 1914 and, if adopted the
. same shall take effect Immediately
thereafter.
Section 3. Be it further resolved etc
That on the official ballots to be issued
at said election there shall he placed
I the words For the Proposed Amend
ment to Paragraphs Two (2) and Three
( CD of Article Two Hundred ard EIGHTY
ore of the Constitution of Louisiana
and the words Against the PronoseA
| Amendment to Paragraphs Two (2l and
Threa CD of Article Two Hundred and
Etghty-one of the Constitution Of Lou
isiana," and Zach elector shall indicate
! is provided in the general election laws
Of the State which of the propositions,
"For" or "Aeairst," he votes
THOMAS G. BARRETT,
Lieutenant Governor and President of
the Senate.
l.. r. THOMAS.
Speaker Of the House of Representatives.
Approved; July ., 1914.
l.. f. HALL
Governor of the State Of Louisiana.
true cOpv:
ALVIN