American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1876-01-08
pendirures during the past five

pendi1ures during the past five
years
Disbnrsem'ts overreeeipts, 1871, $500, s95 Sc
% IS72, 346,552 80
&" 1873, 574,I25 80
While, on the other hand. the receipts
over disbursements We're, for 1874, S49,-
III Il.
Receipts over disbursements We're, for
1873, based on moderate estimate of taxes
already received and duc.) over $780, 900.
The amendment OF the Constitu-
ton, adopted at the last election,
authorizes the reduction of the ex-
penses of the Jude AIRY to an eX
tent which has heretofore been i'm
practiclble.
The State indebtedness Of half a
million can easily be discharged in
two or three years, when the com
paratively light tax tor the support
of the State Gov ernment of to day,
Oh about one dollar and thirty cents
per inhabitant, Can be reduced to
less than one dollar.
recommend a return to the
financial system of 1874, when taxes
we've pa d only in the currency OF
the United States. The receipts
were in excess OF the expenditures,
and had tax collectors been required
to collect and pay into the treasury
the taxes at an earlier day, the one
defect of the system would have
been remedied. Under the existing
law, State paper, 10y the manipula-
tiOns of the Spectator, tinctuates
through a range two or three times
greater than it ought. Should it
be known that at the end OF the
year State warran were to be
cashed, they could not fall below a
margin which would yield u liberal
interest. The changes recommended
will accomplish this end.
For a complete and detailed
statement of receipts, disbursements
aud Indebtedness, your attention is
called to the official reports of the
State Treasurer and the Auditor OF
Public Accounts.
AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITU-
TION.
The Governor informs the Legis-
'ature that three amendments to the
State Constitution were adopted at
the recent election; tO-wit: One
forbiddiug the State ever to pay
the Union and Planters bank bonds:
one approprialing the proceeds of
forfeited lands. penal fines and Ii
quor licenses, to educational pur
poses one authorizing a reduction
of the number of ChapceilOrs. OF
the last amendment, the Governor
saysl: Economy demands that the
number of ChancellOrs be reduced
To the minimum compatible with
The efficient discharge Of the duties
Of the office.
RAILROADS.
The educational funds of the State.
which IL former Legislature granted
10 railroads, have been under liti-
cation during the past year. Time
but cOnirnss The views entertained
10y me a gear ago, which | now re
lterate. THE Governor here recon-
'nends the repeal of acts granting
loans or subsidies to several pro-
iecied railroads., and eXemptiny the
property of those roads from taxa
,iou. His views OH this subject,
which have been given in former
messages, are prudent and econom-
ical.
EDUCATION.
Neither arguments nor statistics
are necessary to make known the
great extent of iliiteracy which ex
lists in the State. 1t is as much the
duty of the State, as it would be t"
it's advantage, to effect a speedy
change in this particular. Much
has been done already, but the
State Ia more capable at this timo.
SINCE the amendment OF the COnsti-
tuition, to extend its aid and fOst err
ing care. BY that amen iment.
moneys which would otherwise
have been locked up as perpetual
fund, can now be applied to educa
tional purposes, year by year, as
they are received. This will per
init of the building of additional
school-houses, the employment Of
the best class of teachers, aud the
extension of the period of ihtroduc
ton.
The prosperous condition of the
finances OF the State is such that.
with the slightest effort, school ia
cilities can De extended to every
child. But, Unfortunately, ignor-
ance, with its lack of appreciation,
too often refuses to take advantage
Of the educational opportunities
which are presented. To overcome
this obstacle, laws shou d be en-
acted and enforced requiring the
attendance of every child for /. limi
ted period of time each year. Mon
ey and Labor Can never be more ben
officially expended in the interest OF
education than now,
PENITENTIARY
The total number of convicts in
the Penitentiary, as shown by the
register, Is 523; The average num-
Der within the walls during the year,
200; The number leased on, 373 !;
the number received in 1874 23G |;
the number received in 1875, 1913 /;
dealt in 1916, 80; the number OF
serviceable cells, 10.
While it is admitted that the only
proper place for convicts is within
the prison walls, necessity has com
PEELED the adoption of a policy which
takes the larger portion without the