The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1875-11-18
Taxes.

Legislature in the late canvass made
the welkin ring with denunciation of
Radical taxation. Taxes! taxes! re-
sounded from every stump. Idres
met us in the head lines Of every
Democratic paper, until the humblest
voter in the land caught the spirit Of
the thcme--unii,, in curses deep ana
long. loud and hearty, it passed from
lip TO lip among the people.
The people understand the ques-
ton. They have been taught from
the statistics OF the State. kept before
the war, what it takes To meet public
expenses. They cannot be chenied in
the future, either by Democrats or
Republicans. Woe 10 the man in the
Legislature whose course fails TO con-
form TO his promises To vote down
the taxes. The place that knows him
when he proves delinquent will know
him no more forever after that event.
We have a word or two to say to
that body. We have confidence in
their wisdom aud patriotism, and
therefore we. eau do them no harm, if
we do no good.
l. Let your first act be to put down
your own pay. Don't hesitate or
wait to do this until members begin to
ask that the law shall apply to the
next Legislature, and begin to talk
about retrospective legislation. Place
your pay at what it was before the
war. You have taught the people the
figues ; we all understand them -
Four dollars a day and mileage; and
the member who IS unwilling to serve
at that figure, can be left at home next
time.
III. In the second place, let no COM
mittee be allowed to employ a clerk.
This is a luxury Of modern times.
Such a pauper was unheard of in the
purcr and better days of the State.
There will be any number of nice
young gentleman applying for such
places: but If the members mean
work, they have no use for committee
clerks.
Ill. Give us biennial sessions of the
Legislature. The best lawyers III the
State are agreed upon the question Of
your power, under the Constitution,
TO do this.
". The first man that offers a bill
to change somebody's name from
John Smith to jim Jones, or intro
duces a bill to emancipate some youth
from the disabilities of minority,
should have his bill kicked out with
such speed and ceremony as shall be a
lesson to all such dead beats in the fu-
ture. The general law provides for
this sort Of proceeding. 1t costs an
average of about ten " twenty dollars
for u man to change his name in a
court of chancery, and about the same
price to emancipate a youth, provided
he can prove. according to established
rules and prccedents, that he is enti-
tied to relief, whilst such Il bill can
not be passed through the Legisla-
turc, signed by the Governor aud
printed. at IL less cost than $500 to the
State. 1t was by such bills AS these that
the Radical Legislatures in Missis-
sippi prolonged their sessions, and
made themselves contemplate and
ridiculous.
V. The hardest job that awaits the
average legislator, is to put down the
public printing. The public printer
is the recognized organ of the party.
He is invested with a party lash, and
is &c o.ticio whipper-in for the recog-
nized leaders of the House and the
Senate. He dispenses praise and
blame with a royal hand, and every
vote given for re%trenchment in the
matter of public printing is a direct
vote against his interest. Besides all
this, it is con sidered a partisan duty
to support, protect and provide for
the organ of the party. Now, gentle
men, before this august parsonage is
selected, allow us to put you on your
guard. The people can be made to
understand your votes. You are
not Radical Legislators, and your
constituents are not IS dull as
so many horned cattle. If there
is any one thing they do thor
oughly understand, it is the out
rageous swindle which has been an
nually perpetrated upon them in re-
spect to the public printing.
Having adopted the policy above
indicated, you are fully prepared to
enter upon the sessions business OF
putin g down the taxes.
(,ruel M mrder.