The star-progress. (Opelousas, La.) 1917-1921, 1921-08-10
STATE ASSEMBLY
SOON TO CONVENE
IN CAPITAL CITY
Special Session Will Extend
Over Seventy-Five
Days
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER S
DATE SET FOR START
Will Cost More to Taxpay-
ers Than any Former
Session of Body

The legislature will meet in spe-
cial session at Baton Rouge on Mon
day, September 5-or slightly less
than four weeks hence. Under the
terms fixed by the constitutional con.
vention the length the law-making
body can sit is seventy-five days,
though the governor urges that the
business Of the special session be
rushed in order that the calendar of
both houses can be cleared long be-
fore the date set in order that as
much expense as possible can be
saved.
1t will perhaps be the most expen-
sive session of the state law-making
body ever held. The per diem pay
Of the members has been raised from
five dollars to ten dollars, which
means that every representative and
senator, if the session continues the
full seventy-five days, will receive
$3.50 out OF the state treasury for his
services. Resides the hundred and
forty members, there is an army of
clerks, sergeants-at4arms and other
petty officials who will draw hand
some pay for the life Of the session
and these items alone will swell the
aggregate cost of holding the meeting
beyond any figure ever known IS
Louisiana before.
The state has just expended $780,
900 as the cost of the new constitu-
ton. To this must be added the cost
of the special session, approximately
s15O,0OO more, and the sum total Of
the legislative expenses Of the state
for less than one year will be nearly
a half million dollars-quite healthy
sum to be spent during these times
Of financial and commercial depres-
sion, but necessary the experts tell
US.
The special session is called to
pass necessary laws to put into effect
requirements of the new constitution
which are imperative without the fu-
ture action of the law-making arm Of
the state government. The burning
issue of assessments and taxation will
no doubt be one Of the paramount is
sues before the special session, as
there seems to be quite healthy de-
mand that some steps be taken to re-
duce the awful burden of taxation that
threatens to swamp the ship of state.
Expenses of state and local govern
ment have constantly gone upward
and in order to meet the growing cry
for more and still more money the as
sessments have been raised until the
rate of taxation is now so high that
paying the tax bills imposed by the
law-making power of state and local
governments, is a hardship.
It is pointed out however, that the
great burden Of taxation is due to
the special taxes voted by the people
for public Improvements, such as new
school buildings, school maintenance,
road construction, drainage systems,
and the like, and that If these special
taxes had not been voted the real
cost of running the state and its pol
iticai subdivisions would not be felt
by the people. These bond issues
are based on special taxes and will
have to run until the bond issues are
paid and the tax wiped out. Some OF
the issues run for forty years from
their date and a major portion Of the
debt will have to be paid by future
generations 1t Is practically certain
that present conditions will not war
rant a reduction in taxation or assess.
ments and the people will be forced
to hold up under the burden Of costs
for an indefinite time.