St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1916-09-30
Act No. So

BY Mr.. Kantz. Chairman, Committee IN
City Affairs. Substitute for GUS
Bill No. 17S. by Mr.. Barrett.
A JOINT RESOLUTION.
Proposing an amendment to the Con-
stitution of the State of Louisiana.
granting to the City of New Orleans
power to construct, equip, maintain
and operate, through and by the
Public Belt Railroad Commission of
the City of New Orleans, bridges and
tunnels across the Mississippi River
at or near New Orleans. and to do
various acts Incidental thereto and
to the operation generally of the
Public Belt Railroad system of the
City of New Orleans, and providing
for the submission of said amend
ment to the electors of the State for
their approval or rejection.
Section L. Be it enacted by the
General Assembly of the State OF Lou
isiana, two-thirds Of all the members
elected to each House concurring, that
subject to the ratification and approx
al of the electors of the State, the
Constitution of the State be amended
by incorporating therein the following
| provisions, to-wit:
(1) The City of New Orleans is
hereby granted plenary and exclusive
power, by such means and methods as
it may deem meet and proper not in
conflict with the provisions OF this
amendment;
TAI To construct, equip. maintain
and operate across the Mississippi Riv-
er, at or near New Orleans, bridges
| and tunnels for railroad and highway
use, together with all approaches, rail-
road and highway connections, roads,
roadways, railroads, terminals, water
craft and other structures, improve
ments. facilities and accessories there
unto ~appertafning;
OBJ To acquire, by appropriation or
otherwise, the property, ownership,
use or possession OF any lands or other
things necessary for, the construction.
equipment, maintenance or operation
Of any such bridge or tunnel and p
p-urtenances; n
(c) To lay out, open, close. alter or
tchange the route OF any roadway. nom
n~avigahle stream or drain over which
the approaches Of any uch bridge or
tunnel, or W. which any part of the
Public Belt Railroad system of the
City of New Orleans shall extend.
(2) The City of New Orleans is
further hereby granted power, for the
| purpose of constructing any such
bridges or tunnels and appurtenances,
and for the purpose of acquiring the
lands or other things necessary there
to. to issue it's obligations in such
forms, numbers, denominations and
amounts, at such times and prices and
upon such terms and conditions as to
maturities, rates and payment of In
terest and final redemption as the said
/ i LldJE QGSAA IVES
able, subject to the following limita-
ions:
(a) Except as may b herein other
wise provided, all such obligations
| shall be secured solely and only by
| liens and mortgages upon and against
such bridges or tunnels and appurte-
nances, and the lands or other things
| necessary thereto, and by a lien and
| pledge upon the net revenues derived
| from the operation thereof, and shall
be paid therefrom and from no other
| source or sources whatsoever, except
as otherwise stipulated herein, and not
by any tax or assessment or levy
| upon any taxable property in the City
of New Orleans. nor out OF any other
| funds, revenues or things OF value OF
| said city; the true intent and meaning
hereof being that ave and except to
the extent. GU of the funds. and In the
manner herein stated. the City OF New
| Orleans shall never be liable for, nor
shall it assume. any debt, liability or
! obligation incurred or created in the
| execution of the provisions hereof.
(b1 During the period of construc-
tion of such bridges and tunnel and
| a~ppurtenances, and during such times
as the revenues from the operation
thereof shall not be sufficient to pro-
vide for the interest on, and for the re-
demption of. any and all of the OBJ.
legations hereinabove authorized to
be issued, any and all of such obliga-
tons falling due shall be redeemed and
| all fdCCTuGu lnINTGSlf[l ShdLl E.5 nc QdAA
from the net revenues OF h Public
Belt Railroad system of the City OF
New Orleans to such extent as may be
required, after providing in the man.
ner prescribed by Act No. 179 of the
General Assembly of the State of Lou
isiana. session of 1908. for the pay
ment of the principal and interest of
any bonds authorized by said Act No.
17S of 1908, whether heretofore or
hereafter issued.
(3l ANY bridges or tunnels and an
purtenances thereof constructed.
equipped, maintained or operated by
the City of New Orleans under the au-
thority hereby conferred. and all
City of New Orleans under the pro-
visions of this amendment, shall form
and are hereby constituted an
integral part of the Public Belt
may hereafter exist, which said sys-
tenn the City of New Orleans is here
by authorized to extend and operate
in and beyond the Parish of Orleans;
n the Public Belt Railroad Commits
sion of the City of New Orleans is
hereby vested with the same powers
with respect to the Public Belt Rail-
road system as well as with respect to
such bridges, tunnels, appurtenances
and property, their acquisition, con-
struction, operation and development
as are now vested in said Commission
by Act No. 179 of the General Assem-
Oily OF the state OF LOUISIANA, session
Of 1908, with respect to the Public
Belt Railroad as presently establish
ed.
The Public Belt Railroad Commits
! sion Is hereby authorized without
prior authority or approval therefor by
the Commission Council of the City of
New Orleans, to expend out of any Of
it's n for the purpose OF
constructing such bridges or tunnels
a sum not to exceed twenty-five thou
sand dollars on any one contract, pro-
yided, however, thai all disbursements
beyond said sum shall be made only
after they shall have been first author
lied and approved by the Commission
Council of the City of New Orleans.
() The Public Belt Railroad Com
mission, under such terms and condf-
tions as 1t may deem advisable, shall
have the right to switch, handle or
convey, in continuous movement, for
any railroad, trains over such bridges
main lines of the Public Belt Railroad
to the depot or yard OF said railroad, or
to any union passenger depot or union
terminal Of the Public Belt Railroad
SYSTEM; it being understood that the
sole purpose of this provision is to ia
cilitate the movement Of trains enter
ing the City Of New Orleans on the
east or west bank of the Mississippi
River. Under no condition can the
Public Belt Railroad Commission
grant switching privileges to any
railroad over the Public Belt Railroad
system.
(5) Any bridge or tunnel construct
ed and any a-ppurtenances thereof, and
any ands or other things necessary
thereto. acquired or constructed under
the provisions of this amendment, and
n and al property leased to or by
the City of New Orleans for the pur-
pose of his amendment, during tho
life of the lease. shall be exempt from
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