St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1916-09-23
Act No. So
BY Mr.. Kantz, Chairman, Committee on
City Affairs. Substitute for House
Bill No. ITS, by Mr.. Barrett.

Bill No. ITS, 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 sal amend
ment to the electors Of the State for
their approval or rejection.
Section /. Be it enacted by the
General Assembly of the State of Lou
isiana, two-thirds of ali 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 prope not In
conflict with the provisions of this
amendment;
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 ap~pertaining;
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 OF tunnel and ap-
-purtenances; and
(c) To lay out, open, close, alter or
change the route of any roadway, nom
| navigab1e stream or drain over which
the approaches of any such bridge or
tunnel, or over which any part Of the
Public Belt Railroad system of the
City of New Orleans shalt extend.
(2o 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
to, to issue its obligations in such
| forms. numbers. denominations and
amounts. at such times and prices and
upon such terms and conditions as to
maturities, rates n payment of In
terest and final redemption as the said
| City of New Orleans may deem advfs-
able. subject to the following limita-
lions:
cal Except as may be herein other
wise provided, all such obligations
| shall be secured solely n 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
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 n meaning
| hereof being hat save and except to
| the extent, out 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.
(hl During the period Of construc-
ton of such bridges and tunnels and
appurtenances, and during such times
as the revenues from the operation
thereof shall not be SUFFICIENT to pro-
demption of, any and all of the OBJ
legations hereinabove authorized to
be issued, any and all of such obliga-
lions falling due shall be redeemed and
all accrued interest shaI be paid
from the net revenues of the 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
ment of the principal and interest OF
any bonds authorized by said Act No.
179 of 1908, whether heretofore or
hereafter issued.
purtenances thereof constructed,
eauipped. maintained or operated by
the City Of New Orleans under the au-
thority hereby conferred, n al
other property acquired by the
City of New Orleans under the pro-
and are hereby constituted ar
integral part of the Public Bell
Railroad system, as it now or as II
may hereafter exist, which said sys-
by authorized to extend n operate
in and beyond the Parish of Orleans
and the Public Belt Railroad Commits.
sion of the City of New Orleans II
hereby vested with the sarne powers
with respect to the, Public Belt Rail.
road system as well as with respect t.
such bridges, tunnels, appurtenances
and property, their acquisition, con
struetion, operation and development
as are now vested in said Commission
= by Act No. 179 of the General Assem-.
bly, 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 withou
prior authority or approval therefor b.
the Commission Council of the City o
New Orleans, to expend out of n o
its revenues and for the purpose o
constructing such bridges or TUNE
a sum not to exceed twenty-five thou
sand dollars on any one contract, pro
vided, however, that all disbursement
beyond said sum shall be made onI.
after they shall have been first author
lied and approved by the Commission
Council of the City OF New Orleans
"a h Public Belt Railroad Com
mission, under such terms and condi
tions as 1t may deem advisable, shal
have the right to switch, handle o
convey, in continuous movement, 70
any railroad, trains over such bridge
or through such tunnels and over tn
main lines of the Public Belt Railroa