The Natchitoches enterprise. (Natchitoches, La.) 1888-1965, 1914-10-08

aa Act No. 1872 of the General Assem-
bIy of the State of Louisiana of the
. YEAR 1912. and adopted, at the Con-
rreSsional election held on the otn
day of November 1912. and as readop-
ted by the Constitutional Convention
of the State of Louisiana for the year
1913.
Section l. Be il resolved by the Cen
eraI Assembly of the state Of LOUISIANA
two-thirds (2-3) of all the nembers cleo
ted to each house epgeuTrrag end tbrne 6sj ne of
Article Two Fundre5 and Eightv-one
(2S1) of the Constitution Of the State of
Louisiana be amended so as TO read as
ARTICLE 2S1.
Paragraph 2 Police Juries IN any par
ish or parishes may in accordance with
law create drainage districts. which IN
addition to the powers ierelnapoVe
granted. shall have further power ana
authority to establish and maintain
drainage systems ara the governing au-
thorities of such districts when au-
thorized BY a majority in number ana
amount of the property taxpayers cf saIo
district qualified to vote under the toh-
stitutton and laws of the State of Louis
lana who vote in an election held FOR
that purpose, may, Tor the purpose ol
establishing and maintaining gravity
drainage in such districts, impose ana
collect for a period not ev"ending forty
(4g) years forced contributions or acre
age taxes not exceeding fiftv cectS (9o
cts per acre per wear on earh ana every
acre of land which is suSeentibie OF
gravity drainage. in the subdivision
where such an election is held the
governing authoritv of such suhdlVl-
sions when authorized as set forth may
incur debt end issue negotiable bonds to
renresent same, secured by the forced
contribution or acroa~e taxes above de-
scrihed provided that the total amount
of debts thus incurre7 or hords issued
shall not exceed in principal and inter-
kIa amount
bv said annual contributions or
acreage taxes during the period 1or
which the same are ir?noset anu that no
such bonds shall he issued for any other
nnrnose than that for which the said
coDtributiorsser a"reage taxes. are Vo-
ter to run for a IonSer period than tor-
ty (40) years. bear a greater rate ot IN
terest than five per centum per annuin.
rayable annually or semi-annually. or
to be sold for less than ninety per cen
tum 600 per cent? of rar. And the Board
of commissioners of Drainage District
without submission to the taTpaNeHs
under the terms AMI condi TINS OF tn 8
article and within the limits fixed
thereby for the purpose OF pe"te"tlhs
and completing any system OF drainage
eighty per cent of which shall have been
accomplished at the time OF said ad IL
tfonal levy of taxes. and to fund the
avaiIs of said additional levy of taxes
ITO bonds under the terms and condl-
tions set forth in the present article
Paragraph 8 When the character of
any land is such that it 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
corporatfons. resident or nonresident.
owning not tess than a majority OF
acres in the area to be affeeted, ascer.
tain the cost per acre of draining ana
j ,,,l fv1ar dahA atyoi inc
Q lch and every acre of land thus situa-
led for an amour sufficient to drain
and reclaim 1t, and TO issue Tor 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 t4O) years from
their date and bear interest at rate
not exceeding five per centum per an
mum. payable annually or semi-annually,
and shall be sold for not less than
niF1etx per eentuTn 90 peT@centl Of par
and eaid Board OF Dfainagess commits
gfoners shall each year as long as any
bonds are outstanding levy annually up-
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 mainte,.I
the drainage of the said district or sub
drainage district, to pay the interest an
nually or semi-annuafly and the princi-
pal falling due each year, or such
amount as may be required for any
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 ($3.50)
per acre per annum
All bonds heretofore Issued under and
nv virtue of this Article PSI of the Con-
stitution by the governing authority of
any subdivision. which have heretofore
NOT been declared invalid by a judgment
of a court of last resort in the State of
NI.AR, e-swr ArvAf
days have elapsed since the promulga-
tfon of the proceedings evidencing 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 constitutionality is questioned.
Section .. Be 1T further resolved, ETC..
That this proposed amendment shall
be submitted to the qualified voters or
this State for adoption or rejection at
the Congressional election TO be held
same shall take effect Immediately
thereafter.
Section g. Be it further resolved, etc,
That on the official ballots to be issued
at said election there shall be placed
the words For the Proposed Amend
ment to Paragraphs Two (2) and Three
(3) of Article Two Hrn5red and Eighty
one OF the Constitution OF Louisiana;
and the words "AEatnst the proposed
Amendment to Paragraphs Two Cd and
Three t3) of Article Two Hundred and
Eighty-one OF the Constitution Of Lou
isiana.v and each elector shall indicate.
al provided in the general election laws
OF the State, which of the propositions,
For or AGAINST" he votes.
THOMAS c.. BARRETT,
Lieutenant Governor and President OF
the Senate
L. E THOMAS.
Speaker of the House of Representa tiyes
Approved: July 9, 1914
L. E. HALL.
Governor of the State of Louisiana.
A true copy: