410 



LOUISIANA. 



LUTHERANS. 



the Governor to appoint a commission to draft a 

 new code of criminal procedure. There are 3 com- 

 mi>-ioners, who are to serve for a compensation of 

 x-j..-)UO each, exclusive of incidental expenses. The 

 Governor appointed James C. Moise, J. M. Thomp- 

 son, and J. D. Wilkinson. 



Stale lands are to be sold at 12i cents an acre to 

 actual settlers 160 acres to each but proof of set- 

 tlement and cultivation must be given within twelve 

 months. 



Banks are required to keep a reserve equal to one 

 fourth, instead of one third, of their cash liabilities ; 

 the other three fourths to be in lawful money of 

 the United States instead of specie and specie 

 funds as formerly, or bills of exchange or dis- 

 counted paper maturing in six months instead of 

 ninety days as heretofore. Stocks subscribed to 

 ing bank companies are to be paid in lawful money 

 of the United States. 



Corporations to increase or decrease their capital 

 stock must have a t wo-thirds instead of a majority 

 vote. 



A general law was passed for levying license 

 taxes on corporations, firms, and individuals pursu- 

 ing any trade, business, or profession, except those 

 of clerk, teacher, clergyman, and laborer, and those 

 in mechanical, agricultural, and mining pursuits, 

 and manufacturers other than those of liquor, to- 

 bacco, and cotton-seed oil. Municipalities and par- 

 ishes may levy additional license taxes, but these 

 must not exceed those levied by the State. License 

 taxes are to l>e levied on the gross receipts of tele- 

 graph, telephone, and electric corporations, those 

 for the sale of meats and mineral oils, and banking 

 companies, except those lending money secured 

 only by mortgage or real estate. 



A general law was made for reorganizing the 

 State militia. Contributing members are to be 

 exempt from military and jury duty. Independent 

 organizations may not be formed without the con- 

 sent of the Governor. 



Municipalities were classified villages, 250 to 

 1.000 inhabitants ; 1,000 to 5,000, towns ; over 5,000, 

 cities and general laws made for their govern- 

 ment. Villages are to have 3 aldermen, towns 5, 

 <-it ies 5 to 9. The mayor, aldermen, and marshal 

 are to be elected, and other officers appointed by 

 the may or and aldermen. 



It was provided that three witnesses, instead of 

 seven, as heretofore, shall be required for the mystic 

 or >eeivt te>iament. 



Provision was made for a biologic station on the 

 coast for investigation of questions of importance to 

 the fisheries. The laws to prevent destruction of 

 fi>li by seino. dynamite, etc., were amended, and also 

 the general law for protection of game and birds. 



A law was made relating to boards of health to 

 conform to the requirements of the new Constitu- 

 tioii. Thu State board has power over quarantine 

 against contagious diseases, collection of vital sta- 

 tistics, ami I he enforcement of law against adulter- 

 ation of foods. 



An annual financial statement is to be made to 

 the Secretary of State by every life insurance com- 

 pany. 1'olicies of assessment or co-operative com- 

 panies, not fraternal or benevolent, must have 

 " Assessment Plan " printed across the face. Where 

 fire companies choose to replace destroyed property 

 under the three-fourths clause the insured shall 

 not be required to contribute any part of the cost. 

 General regulations for insurance were made in a 

 law providing foi incorporation and admission of 

 companies under supervision of the Secretary of 

 State. 



A board of pension commissioners was created to 

 carry out the provisions of the new Constitution in 

 regard to pensioning Confederate veterans and 



their widows. Pensions are not to exceed $8 a 

 month. Fees of attorneys prosecuting applications 

 are not to exceed $5. 



Among other enactments were these : 



Making it unlawful to gamble or permit gam- 

 bling with slot machines for money ; and for mi- 

 nors to gamble for prizes in stock in trade. 



Amending the law concerning the gambling 

 game of craps. 



Making it a misdemeanor to take the skin of a 

 dead animal belonging to another. 



Creating a privilege upon a crop to secure pay- 

 ment for water for irrigating. 



Providing for registration and protection of 

 trade-marks. 



Requiring teachers to pass examination in didac- 

 tics. 



Providing a penalty for maiming while fighting. 



Imposing the death penalty for setting fire to or 

 blowing up at night any building commonly occu- 

 pied by human beings. 



Fixing inprisonment for one to five years as pun- 

 ishment for bigamy. 



Prohibiting the use of oil, paraffin, or the like in 

 preparing rice for the market. 



Political. An election was held Jan. 11 to 

 take the popular vote on the question of holding 

 a constitutional convention, and at the same time 

 to choose delegates to serve in case it should be de- 

 cided in the affirmative. The vote for the conven- 

 tion was 36,178 ; against it, 7,578. Of the 134 

 members chosen, one was a Populist and one an 

 Independent Democrat. All others, regular Dem- 

 ocrats. 



A State election was held Nov. 8 for the choice 

 of three railroad commissioners as required by the 

 constitution and act of the Legislature. Members 

 of Congress were chosen in all the districts : and a 

 judge of the Court of Appeals for the circuit of New 

 Orleans, and two judges of the inferior courts of 

 that city, were also chosen. The Democratic candi- 

 dates were elected to all these offices. The railroad 

 commissioners elected were C. L. De Fuentes, R. N. 

 Sims, Jr., and W. L. Foster. 



LUTHERANS. Two hundred and sixty years 

 have passed since the first Lutheran congregation 

 was organized in this country. It consisted of a 

 pastor and fifty members. The place was Christina 

 (Wilmington). Del., and the people were a colony of 

 Swedes and Finns who arrived in 1638. The Lu- 

 theran Church has now attained a membership of 

 1 ,500.000. Following is a general summary of the sta- 

 tistics of the Church in this country in 1898: Sixty 

 synods, 6,482 ministers, 10,513 congregations, and 

 1,535,552 communicant members ; 3,500 parochial 

 schools, with 3,710 teachers and 212,228 pupils (not 

 all synods reporting) ; 4,919 Sunday schools, with 

 54,998 officers and teachers, and 487,694 pupils (not 

 all reporting) ; and benevolent contributions amount- 

 ing to $1,118,143.62. This amount includes only 

 those contributions which passed through the hands 

 of synodical treasurers. The actual amount con- 

 tributed is much larger. The theological semina- 

 ries number 25, with property valued at $1.282,000 ; 

 endowment amounting to $663,185, having 103,950 

 volumes in their libraries, employing 86 professors 

 and having 1,092 students. The colleges number 

 46, having property valued at $2,616,380, endow- 

 ment amounting to $865,273, with 165,520 volumes 

 f in libraries, 302 professors, and 7,125 students, of 

 whom 1,282 have the ministry in view (16 colleges 

 not reporting the latter item). The academies num- 

 ber 36, having property valued at $542.500, endow- 

 ment amounting to $85,000, with 20,384 volumes 

 in libraries, 166 instructors, and :;.S(51 pupils, of 

 whom, in 16 institutions. 274 have the ministry in 

 view. The ladies' seminaries number 11, having 



