The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1875-01-12


own stationary, wood, lights, ETC., at his
expense, except alone where bound vol
umes of record books were required
There remains another remedy to which
we earnestly, but respectfully call the at
tention Of the Legislature. 1t is conf
IDENTITY believed that either of the follow
ing would tend greatly to the character
and responsibility of the Boards of SUI
pervisors. To repeal all laws allowing
the members thereof any compensation
for their services. The services required
of competent and faithful Board would
not exceed ten days annually, and the
work would be done within that time, if
there were no inducements in the shape
OF per diem to prolOng its sessions. The
service would not be more burdeDsome
than the liability to work on the public
roads and streets, and the members of the
Board might be exempted from the latter
duty as we'll rs from jury service.
1t is believed that if 10 compensation
were allowed, no citizen would seek the
office, but that the people could find,
| without difficulty a sufficient number Of
| the very best men to discharge the highly
| honorable and responsible duties of mem
bers of the Board OF Supervisors. But
if this be deemed wrong, then we sug-
gest that the compensation of the mem
bers of the Board be reduced to twenty
five dollars per annum, and that each
member be required to give bond and Sc
curity in the penalty of two thousand
dollars, at least, by which he shall be
bound to a faithful performance of the
duties Of his office, and in which he shall
be liable for al illegal allowances for
which he may have voted. And it shalt
be provided that in every instance where
an allowance or appropriation of money
Is made, the names OF the members VOt-
ing for and against, should be recorded,
and that such names voting for such APP
preparation, be embraced in every war;
rant issued on such appropriation. And
in case the alternative of salary, is
adopted, then it should be provided that
no warrant for such salary should be is
sued in any case, except where there Is
money in the Treasury sufficient to pay
it after first paying all prior warrants or
Ipered by the Board.
The necessities Of the people demand
further time within which to pay their
taxes for the year 1874 A delay of
sixty or ninety days would afford great
and needtul relief; and if then the lands
+ of delnquents have to be sold, the pc
riod of redemption should be two years
and the damages twenty-five per cent. for
each year.
We feel constrained to call your atten-
ton to the many thousand acres Of land
now held by the State under sales for
taxes in arrears ana unpaid. Practical
; ly, these lands are burden to the State,
and useless for all revenue purposes -
g Many Of them were sold during the late
! war, and some in, 1913. If the titles
:. could be depended upon at all, it would be
wise to husband the resources thus pro
: vided and await the developments of the
future; but the tax titles, we may fairly
: assume, are all worthless. The great
e object to be secured is, to make these
lands available for purposes of revenue,
e and We suggest that the owners or parties
s interested therein, be allowed to redeem
I them on payment of the State tax fol
T 1S74,-and if not redeemed by the Isl
It July next, that they be sold to any one
:; upon the same terms Nor would we re
d restrict any one as to the right to pur
/ chase; and would allow any man to buy
l. in any quantity he might desire. Thi!
: policy would defeat the purpose of those
r who suffer their lands to be held by the
y State because Of the invalidity of hel
{ tax titles
{ CONCLUSION.
4 In conclusion we beg to assure YOU
! honorable bodies that in thus exercising
n the sacred right Of petition, we have no
J intended to cast any reflection upon this
= or former Legislatures, nor have we beer
It influenced by any motive Of gaining ;
e party advantage. The members of tn,
IS convention which presents this petition
! belong to all parties. We regard tn
. great interests of the State and her PEG
Y pie, so much impoverished by the abuse
We complain of, as too high and sacred t.
t be made the subject of party contests.
: Mississippi has a soil unequalled il
4 fertility and in the variety of its products
y Our climate is genial and healthy. Ev
It cry element OF high prosperity and o
1t material and moral advancement exists
y But Notwithstanding all this, every bust
q ness is depressed, the people discomfort
L ed and paralyzed. We have the benumb
y ing influence of despair and threatened
l. ruin in lien of the healthy and viOOrOu.