Lexington union. (Lexington, Miss.) 1838-18??, 1841-01-09
Gea'lemen ef@e Senate
and Home Of Representatives.:

NSN nave ussoHuieu III pursuance 81
Your own adjournment on the 22d day Of
February, to Legislate for the welfare Of
abe State. Ia my last annual message,
recommended various measures TO your
consideration which remain to be acted
upon at the present session. deem it I'M
necessary upon the presen; occasion TO re-
peat those suggestions. Further reflection
has confirmed me in the belief Of their
saIutary tendency and ! most respectfully
nrge their adoption. Before the LegisIa
tire again assemblies, another bienal cleo
lion will have been held, aud it is Of the
last importance that laws should be passed
carrying out the provisions Of our revised
Constitution, before that election takes
place.
A main Involvement for the people to
change their fundamental law in the year
1882, was to save the expense attendant on
annual elections and yearly sessions Of
the Legislature. They clothed the FIX
ecutive with the power Of Governing the
Legislature in cases OF emergency, The
practice of adjourriNg over to another year
-, 10 violation of the true intent and spirit
of the Constitution, and attendant with
great and unnecessary expense to the clIl-
xens of the State. This is the seventh
session OF the Legislature which has as
sembled during the last FIVE years. The
four extra sessions, have cost the State
about two hundred thousand dollars, and
have bankrupted the State Treasury. A
careful examination OF all the acts of the
special sessions, will demonstrate that they
have been productive Of little good and
much evil. Legislative service is volun-
tary; and when the members are assem-
bled the best interest Of the State demand,
n despatch Of the public business aud d
final adjournment, leaving it to the proper
authority to convene The Representatives
of the people on extraordinary occasions.
Since your adjournment, one filth oil the
Senators, and one third of the Representa-
uves, have vacated their seats. Many
bills are now before you on their final pass
age, and may be disposed Of before the new
members nave an opportunity OF becoming
familiar with their tendencies Under
such circumstances improvldent legislation
may well DO appreheuded.
have received from The General Gov
eminent q complete set OF standard
weights, prepared by gentleman eminent
Tor his scientific attainments, under The d.
rection of the Secretary of the Treasury,
and expect soon TO receive sci OF standard
measures, prepared by the same authority
No Legislation has taken place since the
Territorial act of 1915 in relation to
weights and measures, and no standard has
been adopted since the year 1907. have
Ecaons to believe that immense losses are
annually sustained by the State. in conse.
quence Of having no provision for the fur
nishing Of standard weights and measures
10 the severnl counties, to test the uccura-
ey of those in daily use.
A revision Of the inspection laws is ne.
cessary to protect the people from the
imposilions constantly practiced. Ar,i |
sicles that will not bear inspection in other
States, are landed on our shores. Bapr.
ing and Rope, Pork, Flour, and other
articles, are put up especially for the MIS-.
sissipri market. Nearly every piece OF
bagging sold in the State, falls short of the
mark by which il is purchased from one
20 dozen yards. and it frequently hap.
pens that the outside ofthe bolt is Of much
better quality than the interior. The same
deceptions aFaupractisedq in the article of
rope. Pork and Aour,are general, def
cient in weight, and often rraudulentIy
packed and marked. The existing laws
vest ia the county courts, and the como.
raiions Of the several towps, the sole
power of providing standard weights and
measures, and prescribing the fees of the
inspector-and authorizes the Governor on
the certificate of "the County Court NJ
any county, or the government of any in.
corporated city or town 10 this State. TO
appoint and commission one good and dis,
Greet citizen, within such city or corpora.
sion, as Inspector Of -four and other proyis.
IONS" The County Court was abolished
BY the people in Convention in The wear
1882, and the several corporations have
failed to call on the Executive TO appoint
inspectors. In few Of the towns ON tho
river, Inspec,orshayc been appointed under
corporation ordinances. Provision should
be made for furnishing each county with
set Of standard weights and measures, and
for the appointment Of Inspectors in each
town and at the principal landings on the
mississippi river. Severe penalties are
necessary to prevent sale Of the articles
desiguated, before inspection, and the
fraudulent packing and marking Of goods
In order to produce uniformity, the charges
for inspection should be regulated BY law
and provision made for holding all nspec,
tors to strict accountability.
The rosources Of the Stale ara nnnnnll.