Vicksburg weekly herald., 1878-01-25
Mississippi Legislature = EIevs
cath Day.
SENATE

JAcKsoN, saturday, JAn. 10. lsis.

SENATE.
JACKSON, Saturday, Jan. 10. 1873.
Senate met; Licutenant.GOyernor sims
In the chair.
Rolled called; present, 81; absent, 2.
Journal OfyGsteIday read and approved.
A message was received from the House
informing the Senaie OF the passage Of "A
number VI bills.
Leave Of absence was granted Mr. Pratt
for one day, to M. Fitz Gerald from day
to day, aud to Mr. X ns for three days
after this day.
ACT TO WITHDRAW FROM SALE AND PUR.
CHASE LANDS CLAIMED BY THE STATE.
The unfinished business under consider.
alton when the Senate adjourned on ye,-
terday, was taken up, t0-wit: the amend.
ment UfTered by Mr.. Bridges to "Act to
withdraw from sale and purchase the lands
claimed by the State through tax sales,
and for other purposes" tO strike out
- pril" aud insert "December."
Nj. Fewell moved " indefinitely post.
pOne the whole subject matter.
Mr.. Rogers moved to lay the motion to
indefinitely postpone on the taele, which
motion to table prevailed by the following
vote:
Ieas-Messrs. Bridges, Carter 9th Dis.
trict, COwan, Currie, Parish, FOOte, Fur.
long, Gay les, Gibbs, Gilbert. Grl1iin, Jack.
son, King, LanneRu LOwrance, MOntgOm.
cry, Morgan, Oldham, Ptery, Ts,ry,
Vance, West-22.
Nays-Ressrs. Barry, Bills, lalIicott,
Carter let District, DOwd, Fewell, Hook.
er, McOasklll, Reynolds, ThOmpsOn-lO.
Mr.. Rogers was EXCUSED from voting,
having paired with Mr.FI Gerald, VINO
-. 10 t.sN -
the affirmative, and Mr.. Fitz &c aid In the
negative.
Mr. McCaskill, was sorry 10 disagree
with his colleague Mr.. Montgomery who
mad 81 earnestly advocated the measure,
but after examining the Chancefy Clerks
utlice Of hiuds County In r. gard to the
workings OF the present laws ui the state
be was convinced Of the sOundness Ot the
financial policy adopted by the last Legis.
laluTt, witch had brought State warrants
from ~ cents ON the dollar 10 to par, and
had enabled taxation 10 be reduced, and
would allow II to be still further reduced,
The bi. under confederation would have u
contrary elcct; an additional levy would
have to he made upon those who promptly
paid their taxes, TO make up the deficiency
Oi those who did not pay taxes.
Mr Reynolds ttok the floor and defend.
cd the wisdom OF the Act Of the last Legis.
ature. and showed the benefits accruing
from II. LandhOlders had already re.
ceived great consideration at the hands
Of previous Legislatures, while owners Of
personal property had received no fAvOrs,
on tn contrary the .Aw towards them was
very rigid.
Mr.. y est said the law made q distinc.
tiun between IersOnal property aud real
estate, giving the latter privileges and i'm.
munilies sanctioned by time and custom
and the most eminent jurlsts 10 the land
Some gentlemen 10 their arguments
placed The state and the people In antagO
nism, when In fact II was the people them
selves, through their representatives, who
asked this relief.
Mr. Fewell stated that under operation
Of present laws ard Court decisions, the
people were more generally Tedeeming
their lands than ever before. That also, a
case was now pending In the Courts, to
compel the Mobile and Ohio Railroad to
pay taxes ON lands held 'y them, and that
the Railroad Company, believing the case
would go against tn m, were proposing a
compromise for paying taxes on several
hHndrrd thousand acres Oi land; and II
this bill were passed the railroad would
not make set lement.
Mr.. COwan SAID, ifa Railroad Company
were allowed to comp Omise taxes, the
people should also have the same privi.
iegc. That although the present tax laws
were good for the finances OF the state, he
did not taink tley were good measures Of
public policy. John Sherman's National
hnanc al policy, which causes so much
SUFFERING, was similar policy. State
warrants are above par, there " plenty Of
money 10 the state Treasury, and the
state could well afford ~ be lenient To
tax payers, and not "put the screws on
Them" as had been suggested by some
Senator. tie thought, however, II the bin
was adopted, the state Treasury would
benefit by II because Of the re.
demption Of lands that would be
made under II. That the impre. sion
mad generally prevailed throughout the
State that tax titles were not gnOd, and
the recent decision Of the supreme Court
making tax titles good, had fallen upon
the peOpe like clap OF thunder; they
should have time 70 redeem their lands
now that 1t was becoming known that they
would be irreyUcasly iOrIgi ed unless
taxes were paid,
Mr. Fewell, In explanation, stated that
the charter Of the Mobile and OHIO Rail
road cOnta ned clause that tax should
not be levied upon nds held by them un
less the road, running through the state
was earoiug dividend OF per cent. THAT
their charter exempted their lands from
taxation for - years, which time expired
| In 1874. That their lands had been assess
ed about four times too much, and thai
they were now willing to make a cOmprO
mise by which the lands should be put on
the tax-rOlls at q fair valuation.
Mr., West moved the pTevIOusq uestion
The Senate refused " sustain the mo
tiOn.