The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1875-01-06


of legislation, when the same end would
he attainabIe by general laws.
One OF the evils Of the times is exces-
sive legislation. Statutes are passed and
then modified or repealed, in whole or in
part, without due deliberation, and the
result is that the statute laws of the State
are becoming more and more intricate and
confused, at every succeeding session of
the Legislature. The laws should be
plain and simple, so that the citizen may
without danger of mista Ike conform his
action to them.
There are many other abuses in the
administration besides those we have re-
ferred to. We leave these to the wis
dom and patriotism of the Legislature to
correct
But probably the most fragrant evil of
which the taxpayers complain, and the
greatest Outrages perpetrated on their
rights, arise from the action of the Boards
Of Supervisors.
This court is really the most impor-
tant of any in the State, and should be
composed of the very best men in the
several counties. AS a general rule, we
are sorry to say, that the mem bers of this
board are wholly unfit to discharge their
duties, and are without responsibility or
accountability. This, however, is not
the fault, of the Legislature of the State:
except in so far as it encourages such
men to seek for that position. The coun-
ty levies, in a large majority of the coun-
ties, are eXtravagant and oppressive be-
yond all endurance. The contracts for
public work are made without economy
or care, and with reckless Indifference
to the interest of the public. These
boards, in some instances, employ their
own members to do work not authorized
by law, merely for the purpose of ma
king them extravaganza allowances. In
many instances these members are wholly
ignorant, and are completely under the
control Of the clerks and sherit3 of these
counties, to whom they make extravagant
allowances. This is 4 great evil, and we
suggest that remedy which alone seems
adequate Legislation should be immedi-
ately enacted, fixing the maximum rate
Of taxation at 30 per cent. Oh the State
beyond which they shall not 90 in any
instance.
These boards should also be prohibit
ed from making any contracts, or allow
ances, or appropriations, except when
there is money in the treasury to pay
them. And every such order or warrant
so made and ordered, when there is not
money in the treasury sufficient to pay
it, should be declared utterly null and
void, and all persons concurring in ma
king or issuing them be declared guilty
Of misdemeanor in office and punisha-
bic for such, as provided by law.
There is another fruitful source OF
peculation and wrong in the power as
sumed by the board to allow for statione.
ry, fuel, etc to the. county officers
Under this head large and unnecessary
snms are allowed for ink, paper envei.
opes, sealing-waX, gold-pens, pencils
and printed blanks. The actual costs OF
these things is very little, and the actual
wants Of the officers very small as com
pared with the amounts furnished. 1t is
the habit. Of these officers to furnish their
friends and fayorites with stationery at
the public's expense. The remedy fol
this is to return to the old rule by Which
each officer Was required to furnish his
own stationery, wood, lights, etc, at his
expense, except alone where bound. vol
umes Of record books were required.
There remains anOtherremedyt to which
we. earnestly, but respectfully call the at
tention Of the Legislature. It is conf
IDENTIFY believed that either Of the follow
ing would tend greatly TO. the character
and responsibility of the Boards of Su
pervisors. To repeal:al 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, il
there were no inducements in the shape
of per diem to prolong its sessions. The
service would not be more burdensome
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 as 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, sufficient number o.
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 he reouired To olive bond and So