The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1921-06-04

nie article 1s1 of the constitution pr,


and other public officials from az.
cepting free passes on railroads and
inserting a provision requiring the
Legislature to enact and anti-pass
iaws' is meeting with considerable
criticism among delegates.
Article 1s1 was written into tbe
convention Of 1898. as the result of 4.
nght led by Mr.. Carver of N.tcbj.
toches, Railroad passes had been
distributed among members OF the
legislature. judges and other public
oinciais to such an extent that II had
become a scandal in the state
through the pernicious use of passes
was charged. the railroads were
able to prevent the passage Of bills
through the Legislature creating a
Railroad Commission.
The Legislature had the AUTHORITY
at that time to enact anti-pass laws
put the influence of passes over the
lawmakers was so powerful that II
was impossible to secure the passage
OF such acts. To meet this situation
the convention Of 1898 adopted an ar.
ucei that penalized the acceptance of
pass by a member of the Leeisla-
ture or other official with a forfeiture
of office.
The pass evil has been recognized
In other states. and articles were
written into their c onstitutions nro.
hibiting the acceptance Of free trans.
portation by public officials. This was
found necessary because of railroad
influence over Legislatures by the use
OF passes. Alabama W rote a proyi.
sion into her constitution more dras.
tic than that adopted in Louisiana.
An attempt will be made to place
in the constitution an anti-pass provi.
sion with teeth in It before the ses.
sion closes.
The people Of New Orleans win
have the opportunity Of voting to levy
tax OF one-fifth of mill upon them
selve srofteh zb emf bw lin au an
selves for the establishing of a zoo.
A caucus of the New Orleans dele
gates to the Constitutional Conven-
ton was held recently and this agreed
upon. The question had been before
the taxation committe and represen-
tatives Of the zoo association appear
ed before 1t. The committee decided
to leave 1t to the New Orleans dele
gates and required Charles Rosep to .
call a conference of them 4
Mr.. Rosen presided and other New
Orleans delegaes present were Colo
mel John p. Sullivan, Martin Behrman,
w. w. Cummings. Esmonds Phelps,
George E. Williams. William HI.
Byrnes. Jr.. Harold A. Noise, J. o.
Fernandez. Judge Charles F. Clai.
borne. Charles d. O'Connor, E. M.
Stafford, DR.. ". X Irion and J. Henry
Blache.
Judge Claiborne and Phil Arras en-
deavored to have the recommends
tion of the conference provide that a
zoo also should be established at City
Pork. They withdrew any objection
when 1t was explained that the loca-
ton of the zoo would be left entirely |
up to the city. A nucleus for a zoo
has been established at Au- |
dubon Park through the activities Of ,
The Times-Picayune
The conference. after a close vote,
decided that the levying of the tax
should be decided at an election in
which only property owners may vote.
Mr.. O'Connor and Colonel Sullivan
urged that 1t be left to vote of the
entire electorate but yielded in defer
ence to the wishes Of other delegates
Who wanted the decision left to prop
srty owners only.
The New Orleans Geological Asso-
:iation two years ago started the roo
It Audubon Park and already has q
lice start through generous contribu-
ions Of Orleanians. Tie one-fifth of
! mill tax, if.voted. will provide suf-
icient money for the establishing and
Of geological garden
which in few years will vie with any
n the country. the ZOO boosters a.
'ert /