St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1916-10-21
THOMAS IS FOR BOARD
OF AFFAIRS AMENDMENT
GIVES CONCISE EXPLANATION OF THE PROPOSED AMEND
MENTS WHICH WILL BE VOTED ON BY THE PEOPLE
AT EsBER ELECTION
To the Editor of The Clarion.


Inasmuch as there IS generally
more or less confusion III the minds
of the public concerning cunstitu-
tional amendments upon which they
are called upon to vote. believe, a
brief eiucidation of each will be
appreciated by the average voter,
that he might not be altoeether IN
the dark on these important mat
ters when he comes to cast his ball
lot. believe that every liue Lou
isianian desires to vote for what he
honestly believes to be for the
best interest OF his state aud not
otherwise, and if he makes any mis-
take it is an error of his head and
not his heart.
It is a little unfortunate Lnat so
many amendments eighteen in ally
are TO be submitted at the same
time. 1t is a faulty system. and |
really believe we should never have
more than five propositions sub
mitted at the same tlma and even
less would be better. A practice
has grown up in the legislature of
making too much legislation con-
stitutional rather than legislative,
and every time a change is desired
an amendment becomes necessary.
An example in point is the Confed-
crate veteran pension amendment,
which has already been amended at
least four different times. whereas,
if only the leyying of the tax was
made constitutional and the other
features left to the Generol Assem-
bly, much needless cost and ex-
pense might have been saved. Other
similar cases could be cited.
In the discussion of these amend
ments / shall discuss them as they
will appear on the ballot and not
as they appear in the press or pub
lication.
Amendment No. This is the
amendment. to fund the floating
debt of the city of New Orleans and
Its School Board and to place same
on a cash basis and prohibits fu-
ture anticipation of its revenues
Now is good time to float such
bonds. when money is nlo"tifl1l. and
as it only affects the city of New
Orleans and is desired by them. !
see no reason why we should moi
support the same.
Amendment No. 2.-This extends
the operation of the Juvenile Courts
to the country towns. where's now
It is confined to the cities. think
II is a good me9sfFre. and Juvenile
offenders should not be sent to the
Denitentiary. but to the reformato-
Fies instead, and some effort made
to reclaim theni and convert tneIl
into good citizens if possible. That
is one of the essential duties of th
state.
Amendment No. 3.-This amenu-
ment is almost self-explanatory
II authorizes parishes and c;''se tsl
levy special taxes in the vote of the
people for certain improvements
not heretofore authorized under
the present Constitution. This h.s
special reference to ci' le3
q special tax to subsidiZe =, am
boat or barge line and was largely
passed in the interest of Shreveport
and restoration OF navi~ation on
He'd River. No tax, however. could
De levied except OF a vote of the
people, and is limited to ten wears.
Amendment No. This author
ICES the city of New Orleans 10
bridge or tunnel the Mississippi.
river. No one could seriously cu-
JCC1 W Llldts L ALI sure.
Amendment No. 5.-This places
the district attorney IF New Or
leans on salary basis and aboi-
lstles feee, and is a large saving and
does not cost the state any more.
l think the salary # ten thousani
dollars rather large. but at the
same time it is much less than at
present and if the ame
should be voted down we would
continue the present ;rable
status. hence we had best support
the same.
Amendment No. 6.-This permits
women to serve on the various ed
ucational. correctional and charity
boards of the state and is strongly
SUPPORTED by the good women OF
the state. They are certainly COM
Detent for these places. and this is :
step in the right directions. Let
us all vote for it.
Amendment No. This gives
the Confederate veterans all the |
money derived from the pension |
tax and does not l'.o't $3.50 and !
authorizes an increase of the same /,
TO S25 per month as the funds bel
come available for this purpose. Let /
us support it heartily
Amendment No. 8.-This only au-
thorizes the city of Shreveport to |
fund its floating debt into bonds.
An amendment was necessary ON
account of the CITY having already /
voted all the taxes, permissible un-
der present laws. No other part Of |
the state is interested except the |
city OF Shreveport.
Amendment No. 9.-This amend /
ment amplifies the authority of I
the Legislature in regard II harbor
and other improvements and was
d0r the benefit of Lake Charles.
SIhere is no special interest therein
as to the other portions of the
state and | see no reasonable objec- I
ton to the same.
Amendment No. f0-This amend I
Inent provides for funding the debt
'of the Penitentiary Board to the
amount OF 100000 at rate not I
exceeding per cent interest. i
spelieve these obligations can now I
De funded at 4t-2 per cent interest |
az par. At the present time the
board Is paying from 6 to s per
cent on its floating debt, and ii
tiils amendment is adopted it can
easily save from $4,000 to 1920 |
per year in interest alone. This /
VIII also put the board on practi- T
caliy cash basis. where at pres
eht It is paying higa prices for
everything it buys because it is
not able to pay cash for it. The
ADOPTION of this amendment is al
most imperative if the present state
administration is to be permitted to
solve the diffieulfipS which II in