The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1875-01-07

law III tEIS res OtCl Lldt the present lax 1OS
educational purposes be greatly reduced
that free education be restricted sim
ply u elementary grammar schools, that
the pay Of County Superintendent be
reduced as herein recommended - and
that the effort be directed to the gradual
and economical building up Of a common
school system which shall not by its en-
(ormous eXactlons excite the hostility Of
| the citizen, but will rather attract to it.
self his support and affection.
The Commits Toner Of Immigration is
an unnecessary office. His duties are
nothing: his services of no value. We
suggest that his salary might be abol-
ished, or made merely nominal, and all
appropriations subject to his control be
! repealed.
The salaries of County Supelintend-
ents Of Education might be saved by
uniting that office having such light du-
| ties, with that of Sheriff, with an extra
comp nsation Of $50 90 per annum, ex-
! cept when the services Of a com etent cit
izen can be got for that sum.
The salaries OF teachers in the common
schools are far greater than is necessary
to secure the services of the persons en-
| pioyed. For second class schools S25 90
per month would be amp e. and for first
class $50 90.
On this subject we suggest that con-
stitutional amendment is necessary in
order to give to the present common
schools the benefits Of fines, forfeitures
and licenses now required to be funded
The sessions or the Legislature
should be biennial. It is within the
power Of the Legislature to fix by law
that it s'ould meet only once in tive
years. This is the plain meaning OF
Section &, Art II Of the constitution. -
We ask, however, that biennial sessions
be rot left to the discretion OF the Leg
iIature but that the rule be adopted by
constitutional amendment.
! The constitution should also be amend
ed so as to prohibit all special legislation.
\ great portion OF. the time OF the Leg.
stature is now spent in making that kind
,, of legislation, when the same end wouIC
De attainable by general laws.
One Of the evils of the times is exces
I sive legislation. Statutes are passed anC
then modified or repealed, in whole or il
T. part, without due deliberati0n, and til,
E result i that the statute laws Of the Stat,
are becoming more and more intricate anC
confused, at every succeeding session o
e the Legislature. The laws should b.
: plain and simple, 50 that the citizen ma,
sithOut danger Of mistake conform hi
i, action to them.
o There are many other abuses in til
: administration besides those we have re
=. ferred to- We leave these to the wis
! dom and patriotism of the Legislature t
+ correct.
g But probably the most fagrant evil c
which the taxpayers complain, and tn
, greatest outrages perpeuated on thei
rights, arise from the action OF the Board
I Of Supervisors.
= This court is really the most impol
~ tant of any in the State, and should b
-, composed of the very best men in til
- several counties. As a general rule, W
20 are sorry to say, that the members Of thi
e board are wholly unfit to discharge thei
i duties, and are without responsibility G
:, accountability. This, however, is nc
:. the fault of the Legislature of the State
n except III 50 JdI as IL encourages sue
- men to seek for that position. The coul
u ty levies, in large majority Of the cour
% ties, are eXtravagant and oppressive be
s yond all endurance. The contracts fo
-. public work are made without ec0nom
2 or care, and with reckless Indifferent
- to the interest of the public Thes
=, boards, in some instances, employ thei
- own members to do work not authorize
% by law, merely for the purpose Of ma
- king them eXtravagant allowances. I
many instances these members are who'll
= ignorant, and are completely under til
control Of the clerks and sheriffs Of Ties
; counties, to whom they make extrayagau
= allowances. This is a great evil, ami "
y suggest that remedy which alone seem
adequate, Legislation should beimmed
: ateiy enacted, fixing the maximum rat
{ OF taxation at 80 per cent. en- the Stat
= beyond which they shall not go in an
~ Instance.
- These boards should also be proh;b
"a ed from making any contracts, or ALLOW
anceS, or appropriations, except wheI
.. there is money in the treasury to D.
:, them And every such order or warran
= 50 made and ordered, when there is nc
money in the treasury sufficient to pa
! it, should be declared utterly mil AN