Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1915-08-13


that Constitutional Convention possesses
an Aladdin's lamp to turn everything it
touches into revenue for Louisiana, tell
YOU NAY. | do not believe the philoso-
piers stone has been found by which we
can create something out of nothing.
am yet to find the political economist that
has devised ways and means by which
more revenue can be procured by either
a city, parish or State without more taxa
ton either in the form of inceased assess
ment or of an additional tax rate.
| believe that to be an automatic truth.
They tell you that we need equalization.
Grant it. Will the Constitutional Conven-
vention give you equalization? tell you
nay. Equalization can only be procured
by the administration of the assessors Of
flee or the Board of Equalization and not
altogether by legislation. believe the
legislature is competent to pass any laws
necessary to promote equalization by grant
ing more power to the Board of Equal
izers and by strict enforcement of the laws
on the statute books, and the passage of
any other that may be required. II it is
the purpose of the Constitutional Conven-
ton to adopt the segregation Of sources of
revenue, all can say is that the people
have already voted this down by some
thirty thousand majority and will do SO
again when the opportunity presents itself,
so why incur this tremendous expense
to do vain thing? We are told that that
is one OF the reasons the Governor did
not want to submit the Constitution for
its ratification by the people.
Why rush and haste to hold Con-
yention when less than twelve months ago
the very same people who are advocating
it openly protested and objected to such
a Convention being held? Even a report
by several members of the judiciary Com
mittee, which you will find in the House
Journal of last year on page 4O7, upon
Mr.. Tetes bill for a Convention, was ad-
verse thereto. They expressed their dis
sent to the proposition to hold Conven-
ton for the following reasons:
"First, we believe the present time in
opportune for calling Of such Conven-
ton. Second, We have only recently had
Constitutional Convention, and we do
not believe there is any demand for anoth-
err Constitutional Convention at this
time" Signed r. B. Butler and others.
Why this right about face? This change
of heart on suspect when there has been
no change in condition of affairs since
the last legislator. adjourned? II it is
needed now, it was needed then, and be-
sides, if called at that time, the elections
could all have been held at the same time
as the Congressional elections last fall
without any additional expense to either
State or parish.
My objections to holding Constitu-
tional Convention at this time are mani
fold. In the first place, the Convent, n
itself, with the various elections will cost
at least $3.50, 900 toSl75, 900 which will be
an added burden upon the tax payers Of
this State to pay, in addition to the $780,
600 shortage they claim IN the revenues
and half million or more of interest
bearing bonds for the Penitentiary Board.
Not only that, but the probabilities are
that the Convention will he followed by
another extra session of the General As
sembIy to pass the necessary acts there
under, which would make four extra
sessions, two Constitutional Conventions,
tax commission and probe commission
besides the two regular sessions Of the
Legislature, during the present admins
tration. fail to see the pressing necessity
for this undue haste in urging a Conven-
ton at this particular time. The Legisla-
ture can undoubtedly authorize New Or
leans to fund her floating debt into bonds
unless they want to exceed the Constitu-
tional limit, the wisdom of which latter
course would certainly appear somewhat
doubtful. also would call your atten-
ton to the fact that it does not require a
Constitutional Convention to place Of
ficials on salary basis, as the Legislature
can do that if the people so desire.
do not believe there is any great de-
mand among the masses OF the people for
Convention to be held now, and am
sure they would oppose it bitterly, if they
thought it was for the purpose of increas-
ing taxation, with which they are already
overburdened, aud this seems to be one
of the principal proponents of the Con-
vention.
There is another reason why it appears
to me that Constitutional Convention
held at this time would be exceedingly
Objectionable and unfair to the incoming
State Administration to be elected next
spring. 1t is proposed to. inangurate an
entirely new method Of taxation, with
which the new administration will have
nothing to do in its shaping, and yet said