The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1915-05-29

Gov. Hall sent a special message to |
the Louisiana General Assembly imme- !
diately following the convening OF the
Senate and House for a thirty-day |
special session.
The message urged reform in anti !
trust laws, recommended the holding /
of constitutional convention in the |
immediate future, called attention to
the need of funds for state educational
and eleemosynary institutions and ask
ed legislation to amend the local op-
tion laws so as to prevent a repetition
OF the pending litigation between the
respective authorities of the city of
Shreveport and the parish of Caddo.
With the latter recommendation is a
caution to the lawmakers not to dis
criminate against liquor dealers of
Louisiana by any measure which will
give an advantage to dealers of other
states doing business in Louisiana.
THE MESSAGE.
ITO the General Assembly of the
state OF louisiana:
Gentlemen:
been called in extraordinary session
are indicated by the proclamation, and
it is not deemed necessary to elabor-
ate tn EN- in detail
zone of the chief duties confronting
you is to make ample provision for the
support of the state government and
of the states educational and elee-
mosynary institutions. The funds
available for appropriation are so far
insufficient to meet legitimate and
necessary demands that you are at last
face to face with an unfortunate sit
uation that has been foreseen for sew
eral years. The failure heretofore to
make adequate provision for the rapid
ly increasing needs and requirements
of the state affords no excuse for
disregard of them. Unpleasant as this
| condition may be. ii stands before you
as an inexorable fact. the logic of
which cannot be resisted.
1T goes without saying that your
powers to appropriate money are lin
| tied to the probable revenues from
which the appropriations must be paid
| Nothing can be accomplished by the
| appropriation of funds which are not
and cannot be made available.
| Among the important objects to
which your attention has been invited
| for consideration is that of the calling
| of a constitutional convention to be
| held during the year 1915.
| Convention Needed.
| "It is not deemed necessary to par
| ticularize with respect to the reasons
| why a constitutional convention should
| be held at this time. 1t cannot be de-
MED that, viewed from any angle, the
| existing Organic law does not meet the
| requirements of the growth and devel-
| opment of the commonwealth and that
in many respects it operates as a
hindrance to it's progress. There is
| contained in II a large mass OF legis-
| lation which is not proper nor even
| usual in an organic instrument of gov
| ernment, but which should be left to
the discretion and wisdom of the legis-
lstive department.
This condition has unavoidably re-
suited in the submission to the people
from time to time of many proposed
amendments. entailing great expense.
They are with just cause complaining.
Unless this condition be corrected, the
r. h< To- hot
| regard than the past.
"The conditions which gave rise to
the voluminous document-composec
in the main of legislative matter and
limitations of legislative power-that
now serves as our constitution nc
longer exist.
IAN official is in essential respect.
an agent OF the people. He cannot de
a thing unless he be clothed with the
necessary authority. The people de.
such a government is impossible wher
responsibility is so badly scattered and
confused that ii canot be definitely
placed. and when the necessary pow
| ers and discretion are withheld
through fear that officials may abus'
them. Too much imitation of author
, ity destroys the efficiency of the pub
lie service without reducing the ex
pense of government The people
| ought to be willing to trust themselye
to select proper representatives. In
stead of binding the several depart
ments of the government hand ant
foot and thus seeking to protect thei
interest against possible license in tn
exercise of power by officials who ma!
prove themselves unworthy. 1t woul'
seem wiser for the people to proyid
an easy method of the dismissal o
such officials.
Fiscal System Broken.
whatever may be said otherwise.
in he m
, future has become an imperative ne
: cessity. The states fiscal system ha
broken down under the increasint
weight of public needs and demands
The public schools of the state and IL
, educational and eleemosynary institu
: tions are suffering. The farmers ar
, demanding funds necessary to assis
them and to promote the development
of the agricultural interests. These
as well as other needs are just. an
the funds necessary to supply ther
ought to be made available. This ca
be done only through a re-arrange
ment of our fiscal system on bust
: ness and more efficient basis. TIL
4 general assembly cannot longer defe
= appropriate action with respect to thi
vital matter without placing itself i
o the attitude of carelessly disregardin
/ it's plain duty.
I indeed, IL the want of just relation be
v tween requirements and necessitie
and the funds with which to NEE
them arose from the poverty of tn
state The state of Louisiana Is abl
amply to take care of her governmer
and her institutions. 1t Is needed onl
a that a proper fiscal System be adopte
q and put into operation. The people {
. the state will not lightly consent to a
e increase of taxation. nor will they sui
g | fer with patience an undue raising {
a the assessments of the common prof.
erty of the state. The remedy. as a
well informed persons know. Is a sy'
tenn by which a just and fair eQualizs
ton Of assessments may be enforce
Need of Reform.
ii THE need of this reform Is but r,
O Gently emphasized and accentuated
the insistent demands of the farmer
% of the state for increased approprii
tions necessary to the promotion ar
deyelopment of our agricultural inte
ests. These demands are just and cal
not be ignored or evaded. 1t Is Il
the people of the state. in conventio
70 composed of their ablest and best me
,r TO devise a remedy for these cond
10 tions.
'e ain this connection your attention
s. invited TO the financial condition OF II
IN states penitentiary system. which hi
;" become greatly embarrassed in cons
II ouence of the disasters that have owe
taken it, An arrangement by whit
the Indebtedness can be funded al
thus distributed through a period
years cannot be postponed. Constit
"A tional authority has been found to
Absolutely necessary to that end.
a. ITO enact legislation effectively
ia protect trade and commerce again
monopoly and other unlawful comt
nation, agreements and conspiracies
~~~-~--~~~> ~-~->---~>-~--