Woman's enterprise., 1922-11-24
THE CITY CHARTER
DURING The time OF
RECONSTRUCTION

A local paper, published some weeks
ago, stated that for the first time in
the history Of Baton Rouge, the boun-
daries of the city had been extended.
This was when the Drehr SUBJ division
was absorbed by the city. The editor
of the paper was not posted on local
history, or he would have known that
during the reign of the Carpet Bag
gers, the city boundaries were extend
ed as far east as Lovers Lane. The
white people of the city and Of that
section strenuously opposed the propo-
|sition, but to no purpose, as the re-
publicans were in power, backed by
Federal bayonets, and the whites were
Ipowerless to act further than to pro-
test. The outrage was perpetrated
as it was thought many negroes
names would in this way be added to
the city voting lists on which up to
that time white voters were nearly as
numerous as blacks, and it was to in
crease the strength Of the latter at
the city polls that the extension was
proposed and authorized by legisla-
ture composed principally Of negroes.
From a copy Of the Gazette and
Comet, of date March 2, 1869, the fol-
lowing extracts are culled:
"The characteristic presumption
Of our lawmakers is in no other re-
spect more glaring and ridiculous than
in their attempt to remodel the exist
ing laws of the State. The present
charter of Baton Rouge was prepared
and introduced into the Legislature
Of Louisiana, in 1856 by the ablest
representative we have ever had in
the General Assembly-in fact, by one
of the ablest lawyers and statesmen
in the State of Louisiana. It has been
repeatedly tested by the Supreme
Court of Louisiana and the courts of
this district and invariably sustained.
There is nothing in it to which any
political party could object, except
the presence of the word 'white,'
which occurs only once in the entire
act, and which has been expunged by
national, State and local Legislation.
"As a substitute for this charter,
a bill is now before the Legislature
of Louisiana, in imminent danger of
becoming law, which is not only sub
versive Of every principle Of reason,
but if passed will inevitably ruin the
credit Of the city, disorganize our en-
tire municipal government, and for
ever crush out whatever spirit Of en-,
terprise among people that have sur
vived the calamities of the war. This
bill is full of inconsistencies and con-
tradiction. 1t suggests the most frivi-
lous changes of our present charter
and surrounds most important SUBJ
jects Of legislation with such confu-
sion as to render its meaning utterly
obscure.
ut degrades the official character
Of the Mayor, by interposing a third
party between him and the City Coun-
ell, clothed with almost unlimited pow
er and without any responsibility to
any but the Board subjects the May
or to be impeached and addressed out
Of office by the Board-changes his
ex.olido character Of Judge to that
of justice Of the peace-takes from
the Mayors court its exclusive juris-
liction in municipal matters, and en-
powers the Board to select any court
It may see fit for the trial Of matters
which should come only before the
Mayor.
ut deprives the City Marshal Of the
discretionary power which is essential
10 his office as chief Of police, and
makes him the mere tool Of the Board.
It prevents the arrest Of dangerous,
Or suspicious persons, except when
caught in the commission Of some
crime. It prevents the police from de-
tanning vessels, officers or passengers
If vessels at the landing under any
pretence whatever-thereby disarm-
ing the police Of one Of its most In
weapons Of public defense,
md the city Of all the revenues to be
derived from the commerce Of the
river. It affords US no relief against
The disproportionate and unjust taxes
upon real estate levied by the Police
no means Of enforcing
The payment Of taxes on the real es-
The near future by the Louisiana Ma
tional Bank. The sooner the better,
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