The Donaldsonville chief., 1921-04-02
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION
Brief Mention of the Important
Measures Before the Body.

Brief Mention of the Important
Measures Before the Body.
Under the terms Of resolution
introduced before the convention
April will be the last day on which
ordinances might be introduced be-
fore that bodys unless the convention
Itself votes to permit their introduc-
ton.
DR.. J. E. Doussan of ST. James and
Geo. H. Clinton of Texas, both mem
bers of the state senate and dele
gates to the Constitutional Conven-
ton, will try to have Incorporated IN
to the new constitution an article re-
curing the governor to make his
nominations fo9 appointments by the
twelfth day Of a legislative session.
They declare this would deprive the
chief executive of his ''big stick, .
which might be welded by holding
| up appointments.
Under an ordinance by John z.
Sullivan of New Orleans, any citizen
would have the right TO pay poll
taxes for two years at time or one
wear in advance. To illustrate: Any
citizen paying his poll tax for 1921
could pay his poll tax for 1922,
at the same time and demand a re-
Iceipt therefor.
Mr.. Judice of Lafayette, by ordi-
nances which he has introduced.
would further cucumber and compli-
Icate the already badly complicated
assessment and taxation system, by
requiring all property, exempt as well
as taxable, to be assessed and carried
on the assessors rolls and submitted
to the board of reviews for proper
classification and Identification.
There are said to be strong in
|huence at work to effect a compri-
Imise on the question as to whether
Judges shall be elective or appointive
A proposition is said to have beer
made by those supporting the State
Bar Association plan to make Judges
of the supreme court and Of the court
of appeals appointive and the judges
of the district courts elective. The
proposition is said to be meeting with
favor.
/. 1t will require a vote of three
fourths of the electors qualified tt
vote in an election instead of ma
ijority vote of the election voting tt
adopt amendments to the constltu
tion in the future, if the ordinance II
troduced by Mr.. Chappuis of Acadia
Ibecomes part Of the new organic law
| The committee on legislative de
Ipartments by vote of II to re
Iported favorably an ordinance max
ling the sessions of the legislature be
Igin on Tuesday after the first Mon
day in January biennially, istead O.
!. the second Monday in May as a
present. If the convention accepts
!, 1.-The recommendation of the commit
Itee a change in the date of the stat'
land parochial elections, will follow
las custom requires that the governo.
be inaugurated while the general as
lsembly IS in session. This would ex
ltend the terms of all state and par
ochial officials from May, 1921 t.
January, 1925.
4 C.. C. Weber, delegate to the con
Ivention from this parish, has intro
! duced an ordinance directing th'
general assembly to enact such law
las may be necessary for the prope:
maintenance, upkeep and construc
!, ltion Of the public roads of the state
slaud authorizing it to levy tax 70
the purpose not to exceed one mill OF
Il the dollar, which tax shall form par
Of the state tax and which shall b
turned over to a state highway de
I partment. which the legislature j
authorized to create. The ordinance
also authorizes the legislature to lev.
and grade license tax upon all mo
tor or steam driven and other vehi
cles, based upon tonnage, weight ant
motor power, the proceeds to b
! divided equally between the highWa.
!, department and the parish wherein
: the same is collected, to be used ex
|clusively for road maintenance.
Il The convention, by PRACTICAL.
; Unanimous vote Thursday, and with
lout roll-call, adopted resolution
, Ichanging the lawmaking body of tn
Estate from General Assembly, t.
Legislature" and hereafter tn
: latter designation will take the plac
, of the former.
With view of putting an end t.
J the multiplicity of elections, MI
: Payne of Natchitoches has introduc
ed an ordinance which reads as fol
lows: "There should be one day ii
= each year designated as election day
: on which day all elections shall b
: held. The legislature shall provide
hy proper enactment, for the TEN
: porary filling Of all vacancies tina
: NAV occur in the interum."
! An ordinance was introduced au
t thorizing municipal corporations, PAL
: ishes and subdivisions Of the stat
i. Ito incur debts and provide for thei
payment. The purpose Of the ord
nance is to open the way for parishe