The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1921-03-17
REFORM Of PARISH
GOVERNMENT URGED
DELEGATES TO CONSTITUTIONAL
CONVENTION HEAR PRONE.
NENT SPEAKERS.
WOULD END SCHOOL BOARD
Two Ordinances Introduced Provide
For Commission Form Of Rule
Delegates Meeting Clear the
Decks For Action.

Baton Rouge, La-With organiza.
ton perfected and a set Of rules put
into effect the Constitutional Conven.
ton has cleared its decks for the Sc
! rious business for which 1t is called
into existence-that Of writing a new
fundamental law for Louisiana.
Some of the big issues that con.
front the delegates have begun to
show themselves. One of these is
parish government reform. Two ordi.
nances on that SUBJECT were introduc.
ed recently, one by Mr.. Clinton OF
Tensas and one by Mr.. Hardtner OF
LaSalle. Both ordinances provide for
commission government for parishes
and abolish police juries and school
boards. Mr.. Clinton's ordinance FOL.
lows:
All Of the business affairs Of the
seven parishes, including public
schools. shall be governed by a com.
mission composed of three commits.
sioners, who shall be elected by the
duly qualified electors of the parish.
The commissioners shall be known
~ the commissioner Of finance, the
commissioner of public work and prop
erty, andthe commissioner Of educa.
ton.
They shall hold office for a term
Of four years and shall receive for
their services such salary as may be
fixed by the General Assembly which
salary shall not be increased or dimin.
tshed during their term Of office.
THE General Assembly shall, by ap-
propriate legislation AZ the qualifca.
tons, duties and compensation of the
commissioners, which compensation
may be graded as between the various
parishes, and shall apportion the cost
Of maintaining the, commission be,
tween the parish and school board"
Mr.. Hardtner's ordinance provides:
THAT the management and conduct
OF all parish affairs shall be delegated
to three commissioners, elected at
large from each parish, such as par.
fish. taxation, schools. roads. bridges,
drainage and assessments"
Introduction OF these two ordt
nances has precipitated a fight at the
threshold Of the convention. Mr..
Clinton and Mr.. Hardtner have re-
ceived assurances Of strong support
among the delegates and are fortyine
themselves for the attack.
Prominent citizens Of the country
were invited to address the Constitu
tional Convention in resolutions intro
duced by Mr.. Burke Of Iberia, Mr.. Bar
ron of Iberville and Mrs. Wilkinson Of
Caddo and adopted by the con+ea
ton.
Those specified are Ex-Governor
Lowden Of Illinois, on the merging Of
state departments; Walker B. Spen.
Ger Of New Orleans on reform Of the
judiciary Thomas NJ. Milling and; l.
E. Thomas Of Shreveport on taxation
and assessments; Rudolph Hscht and
Dr.. Paul H. Saunders Of New Orleans
on bonds. taxation and finances; P. NJ
Miner and AIRY Gamble Of New Or
leans and Senator Bowling Of DeSoto
on good roads. w. o. Hart on constt
tuition making and Miss Martha Fai
coner on the care Of delinquent girls
President Bouanchaud was given au
thority to invite any others.
Adoption Of the Burke resolution
beloved a lengthy debate. Mr.. Burhs
~ dthe convention would have plsn.
y Of time at its disposal while await
Ing the appointment Of committees
and pointed out that hts rssolution
provided that the addresses should b
delivered during the recess periods.
Rural sections of the state are BE-
ing heard from In opposition to the
plan to abolish justices Of the peace
and ward constables. Members of
the Constitutional Convention receiv.
ed q memorial from 200 justices OF
the peace and coustables protesting
against the passage Of any ordinance
that would have the effect of abolish.
Ing those Offices. Many Of the dele
gates received personal letters from
country citizens strenuously Directing
to the creation Of parish courts and
the abolition Of justices Of the peace
Women will be required to pay Doll
TAX for 1921 under an ordinance in,
troduced before the Constitutional
Convention recently by Delegate Phil
Arras Of the Ninth ward, New Or.
leans. This would be a requirement
Tor them to vote in congressional cleo.
tons in 1922. After that year they
will 60 on the voting rolls under the
same requirements as men.
Payment Of a poll tax as a requisite
70 voting will not be necessary under
ne provision of an ordinance intro
duced in the Constitutional Conven-
tion recently by Mr. olcombe Of East
Baton Rouge.
Completely overshadowing all other
issues. the problem Of q revision ol
Louisiana's taxing system promises to
furnishthe most holly contested ques-
ton before the Constitutional Con-
vention.
an extent that laughter takes the
thrill out of the wonderful things
they do. The Nippon Due provide