The Donaldsonville chief., 1921-01-15
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION
Conditions Today Not the Same a.
1879 and 1898.

The following in regard to Louis
iana's old constitution and the pro-
posed new, is from a pamphlet re-
Gently issued by the New Orleans
Association Of Commerce:
'Louisiana's present constitution
was drafted by men who had suffered
from the civil war and who at that
time were the victims Of harsh re-
construction. The economy of all
their enterprises had been destroyed.
The basis Of their wealth creation
had been taken from them. Race
problems, incident to the sudden and
| unprepared enfrachisement of the
black man, loomed large and requir-
Ted solution. In the presence of gen
eral depression, the refnements of
commercial, industrial and civic econ
omy had little if any place in any
body's thoughts. But fear Of carpet
bag state legislatures and their pow
er for evil did engage everybody's
thoughts and energy.
"And so the Louisiana State Con-
stitution of 1879 was born. Almost
every article reflected intent of the
master minds to limit the power of
the legislature, to restrict its scope
to reduce the harm it might do. In
effect, it was both basic law and
a series Of legislative acts Under
it, the people of Louisiana during
many years, probably suffered less
from unwise and harmful laws than
they would have suffered had carpet
bag legislatures been free to do as
they pleased. But under it they also
suffered loss of opportunity because
their legislatures could not keer
abreast of the times.
years passed, and many amend.
ments to the original document were
adopted. Some were wise and con.
structive. Some of them were un
wise, poorly drawn, and harmful
Meanwhile, a new era of industria
and commercial economy has come
into being, bringing new opportun
ity in large measure, the full benefit
Of which the people of Louisiana car
not gain until this rigid and narrow
basic law be abandoned, and a new
constitution, broad, liberal, capable
and constructive be framed an<
adopted.
Next spring the State Constitu
tional Convention will assemble ant
endeavor to draft such a constitu
ton.
'In order that the needs of bust
ness and industry, through which th'
people Of Louisiana must gain thei:
occupations and incomes, may b.
fully developed and presented to th'
Constitutional Convention is in prope
form, the New Orleans Association
Of Commerce has created Consti
tutional Convention committee and
! general advisory committee conpos
ed Of the presidents of all the com
Imercial organizati in Louisiana
Il sfi Il man and ottl1e
J representatives Of the twelve bereau
of the Association of Commerce from
which the Constitutional Convention
committee is drawing much valuabl
. information and many valuable sug
gestions.
1.-THE Constitutional Convention
committee has also created severa
important subcommittees which ar
l making a study of the constitution
Of other states and countries, and 0
! taxation, exemptions, public utilities
excess condemnation, banking judici
I, ary, highway building, and Of othe
. matters bearing on commerce, indus
try and civic life which the funda
mental law must cover.
"The report Of these subcommit
t tees and their recommendations Wi
develop much discussion before tn
final report Of the Constitutions
Convention committee will be read
for the board Of directors. The &C
visory committee will be kept inform
ed and it's advice and criticism asked
"The recommendation as fnall
= approved and adopted will, it is e,
: pected, have statewide endorsemer
and backing and will represent tn
most careful and painstaking stud
:, and thought for the good Of all tn
people, by many capable men,"
4 Commission Cosuc;I Proceed;no os