The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1873-01-23
rne Leetslatnre tn ses.Ion.


intelligent, right-thinking classes Of PEG
pie, and that is that the session OF the
Legislature ought 10 be a short one It's
members will bear in mind that each hour
Of the session. whether they are working
or sleeping, will co-l the over-burdenea
taxpayers not less than slo0-or SZ4oo
for every twenty-four hours.
THE Reform MEASURES.
We have taken il for granted that
thew viii adhere 10 al! the Reform Mea-
sures which they passed al the last session
but which the Governor, except IN
single instance, has prevented from being
put into operation. That nlnety-nine-
bundredths OF the bona fide taxpayers OF
both races, approved the course OF the
I legislature and decidedly condemn the
action Of the acting Governor, we have
not the least doubt; and the fact could
| be practically demonstrated II the issue
could be presented, naked, on its merits
PER DIEM AND MILEAGE OF MEMBERS.
In this connection we will add that the
Legislature ought to reduce the pay Of the
members and employees Of that body,
| while Il is reforming the expenses
| of the other branches Of the State
government. It's reduction OF the
| expenses Of the other departments,
/ and failure to reduce what all concede TO
| be the excessive cost of the Legislative de-
partment, had bad look to the public ;
| and we have no doubt the members who
are really in favor Of Reform will see that
there is a showing of hands in this matter
at once The present per diem and mile
age are exorbitant beyond all precedence;
and were adopted as temporary measure
/ soon after the close of the war, when the
cost Of living was double what il now Is.
: SCHOOL AND TAX LAWS.
| Among other measures which ought to
| be overhauled are the tax and school
| laws; the former is oppressive, and the
| latter is a bungled contrivancS, under
which Boardsof Supervisors have usurped
| powers which are not expressed IN the
| law. Besides, its provisions are quoted,
! whether right or not we will not here dis
cuss, to Justify the Auditor in withhold
| ing from all the counties their pro rata
school fund on the ground that some of
| them have not paid their share of
| the taxes The matter demands investi-
cation and additional legislation.
THE SUBSIDY QUESTION.
| This is matter not to be over
| looked. 1t will doubtless be ascer-
tain d what amount of warrants
| have been issued under the law,
and all the facts attending the same.
We have heard it rumored that the rail
road interests will endeavor TO revive the
law which has expired by limitation; but
the subject has become so complicated by
the action of the Attorney General, first
in instructing the Auditor not to issue
warrants claimed under its provisions
second, III revers ny this instruction and
advising their issuance-and third, in ad
vising the State Treasurer not to receive
them for taxes, on the ground of their
unconsttutionality- lastly, by the
conduct of the acting Governor i'll buying
up the dishonored warrants as a private
speculation, after they had been discred-
| tied by his legal adviser that the advo-
Gates OF the system will be thrown into
no little perplexity as to what they will
do with it. But the chief point to be
| investigated is whether moneys were paid
| by the Ripley IL Tennessee Railroad
| Company to procdre a reversal of the in
structions of the Attorney General to the
| Auditor-and if so, what amount, and
to what parties. This is an inquiry from
which neither party in the Legislature
can shrink. The truth will do injustice
to no one The air is full of rumors.
THE PENITENTIARY IMBROGLIO.
This is another knot that must be cut
| by the Legislature. No rights have yet
vested under the extraordinary action of
! the HldlOEIlS Oh the COMMISSIONERS. Inc
whole transaction should be rejected, and
rigid inquiry should be instituted as to
how it has been brought about. The
people are looking to the Legislature for
the protection of their rights, and espe-
cially 10 the Conservative members who
are pledged to Reform.
=