The St. Mary banner., 1921-04-02

tees formally completed the working
organization and the convention is
now in position TO proceed with the
real work Of framing the new COnsti-
tuition
In presenting the committee assign
mcnts to the convention Mr.. BOuan-
chaud said many Of the delegates had
failed TO Indicate their committee
preference. This forced him, he
said, TO draft many Of the delegates
to serve in the different committees
The greatest amount of interest
centered in the chairmanships for
these positions necessarily will carry
with them a certain amount of leader
ship in the convention. The reading
OF the list by Secretary Simpson was
followed closely by all Of the dele
gates. What are generally considered
the most important committees are
those on taxation, judiciary, suffrage,
finance. agriculture, style and revi-
sion and city affairs.
Vi.
the committee on taxation, while
Judge Winston Overton OF Calcasieu
is chairman Of judiciary; former Gov
ernor r. G. Pleasant of Caddo, is the
head of suffrage committee, and Eu-
gene Cazedessus OF East Baton Rouge
will preside over the finance commit
tee.
DIR. r. o. Young of Lafayette is
head of agriculture; John p. Sullivan
of New Orleans is chairman of style
and revision and Esmond Phelps OF
New Orleans is chairman OF city af-
fairs.
The first concrete plan for the con-
struction and maintenance OF state
system of public highways, to be pre-
sented to the Constitutional Conven.
tion was introduced in the shape OF
an ordinance by John c. Blackman,
delegate from Rapides, who said il
the ordinance is finally passed, 1t will
furnish ample funds for building and
maintaining system of highways
that will place Louisiana in the front
rank of all the states.
The ordinance re-enacts the present
article In the constitution imposing
tax of one-eighth of one mill on all
property for creating state highway
fund. Then comes the most import
ant feature, which provides that the
proceeds Of all taxes Of every descrip-
tion on motor cars and road vehicles
of all kinds, shall be segregated and
kept in separate fund, which is set
aside and dedicated solely for the
construction and maintenance of high.
taxes, the Legislature is required to
levy a tax of two cents per gallon on
all gasoline sold in the state, to be
used for highway purposes. The ordi.
nance authorizes the Legislature to
use the avails of all OF such taxes in
the funding Of highway bonds. The
text Of the ordinance follows
"A tax of one-eighth OF one mill on
the dollar on the assessed valuation
of all property assessed for state tax
alton in the state of Louisiana is
hereby assessed and levied to be col
lected in the same manner and upon
the same terms and conditions that
other state taxes are assessed and
collected for the purpose OF creating
state highway fund with which to
construct and keep in repair the state
highways and public roads throughout
the state with the necessary culverts,
bridges and drains and all other ap-
purtenances incident and accessory
thereto.
'"This tax shall be considered
part of the present-mill tax author
lied to be levied by this constitu.
ton
"The proceeds Of all advalorem. H.
cense and tonnage taxes arising from
taxation by the state, or any political
subdivision thereof on motor cars
and road vehicles OF all kinds, except
special taxes levied pursuant to a
vote OF the people, shall when col
lected. be forwarded to the state
treasurer and shall be segregated and
kept in separate fund which is now
set aside and dedicated to be used
solely for the construction and main
tenance Of system of hard surface
highways throughout the state.
poSv, l.