The Natchitoches enterprise., 1914-10-22

a. Act No l3a Of the General Assem-
bly, OF the State of Louisiana of the
year 1917. and adopted. at the Con
gressional election held on the 9th
day OF November. 1912. and as rea lop-
ted by the Constitutional Convention
of the State of Louisiana for the year
1918.
Section 1. Be 1t resolved by the Gem
eraI Assembly of the state nf Louisiana,
two-thirds (2-3) OF all the members cleo
ted to each house c"ncuTrng' Ihat
paragraphs two t2l and three t3' OF
Article Two Hun Ire = and Eighty one
(2SD of the Constitution of the State or
Louisiana be- amended so as to read as
follows:
Paragraph 2. 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 ana
authority to- establish ann maintain
drainaCe systems an1 the governing au-
thorities of such districts. when au-
tfiorized by a majority in number and
amount of the property taxpayers C: SAID
district qualified to vote under the 'on-
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 period not eS"enhing FORTY
(4u) years forced contributions or acre
age taxes not exceeding fifty certs (5h
cts.) per acre per year on each ana every
acre of land. which is suscentihie 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 ~
represent same, secured by the FORCED
contribution or acrea ge taxes above de-
scrfbed provided that the total amount
OF debts thus incurred or bonds Issued
shall not exceed in principal and inter
act fha "a a
by said annual contributions or
acreage taxes during the nerfod for.
which the same are imposed and that no
such bonds shall he issued for any other
purpose than that for which the said
contributions or acreage taxes. are vo-
ter, to run for longer period than Tor
ty (40) years. bear greater rate NJ fn-
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
and completing any system of drainage
eighty per cent of which shall have been
accomplished at the time of said addi-
tional levy of taxes and to fund the
ayails of said additional levy of taxes
into bonds under the terms and condi-
Paragraph 8. When the character OF
any land is such that II 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 shah upon the petition
of land owners. whether individuals or
corporations, resident or nonresident.
owning not less than majority OF
tain the cost. per acre OF, draining and
reclaiming said land incur debt against
e eLch and every acre OF land thus situa-
led for an amoun> sufficient TO drain
and reclaim II, 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 (40l years from
their date and bear interest at a rate
! not exceeding five per centum per an
mum, payable annually or semi-annualiy.
and shall be sold for not less than
~ ssosfa 81 8 iassss l asess ooanlnis. 81 MS.
sionefs 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
drainage district, to pay the interest an
nualiy or semi-annually and the princi-
pal falling due each year. or such
amount az may be required for any
bonds at maturity provided. that such
forced contributions or acreage taxes
for all purposes shall never excee
Three Dollars and. Fifty Cents ($3.60)
All bonds heretofore issued under and
by virtue OF this Article 2s1 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 800
days have elapsed since the promulga-
tion 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.
e SECTION =. Be II further resolved, etc.
That this proposed amendement shall
be submitted to the qualified voters of
this. State for. adoption or rejection at
the Congressional election to be held
in November.f1914 and, II adopted. the
same shall take effect Immediately
Section 3. 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
fsl of Article TWO Hundred and Eighty
one Of the Constitution of Louisiana,
and the words Against the Proposed
Amendment to Paragraphs Two (2) and
Three CD OF Article Two Hundred and
Eighty-one OF the Constitution OF Lou
isiana-" and each eIector shall Indicate.
as 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. F. THOMAS.
Sneaker Of the House of Representatives.
Approved: July O. 1914
L. F. HALL,
Governor OF the State of Louisiana.
true copv: