The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1878-04-19
COIR I,NOnSE.

to build a courthouse, it is well for
those interested-and every citizen
in the county is more or less con.
crrncd in this matter-to see that
a Substantial, durable aud commo-
dious house is erected. There is
some difference of opinion as to the
kind of structure that should be
built, some contending thata frame
building, costing not over $4,000 is
good enough, while others of more
liberal ideas think we should have
u brick house that could not be
easily burned down, and one that
would last for years. There is an
old proveih which says that what
is worth doing at all is worth doing
well, and we are of the opinion that
money will be saved to the county
by erecting a durable brick, or stone
house; but when we begin to talk
of that we know there are those
who will say the county is in debt,
and is too poor to put up such a
house as we should have, and that
the tax TO the full extent of the
law has been levied to carry on the
expenses of the county. But the
objection heretofore urged that the
full limit Of the law was exhausted
in raising the necessary funds for
general county purposes is not
tenable, as will he seen by refer
elce to article twelve, section six
teen of the State constitution.
which says: No county shall be
denied the right to raise, by special
tax, money sufficient to pay for the
building and repairing of court
houses, jails, bridges and other
necessary conveniences for the PEG
pie OF the county, and money thus
collected shall never be appropria-
ted for any other purpose, prOvi.
ded, the tax thus levied snail be a
certain per cent. on all tax levied
by the State"
We believe though a courthouse
could be built without burdening
the people of the county to any
great extent; in fact they would
scarcely feel the tax. The last LEG.
lslature reduced the State tax from
3 to % mills on the dollar, the eur.
rent expenses of the county for
1877 are about cancelled, and the
debt reduced from $4,000 to
The Jail fees now will be
greatly reduced, for we will have
weeks term Of court instead of
me as heretofore, and all criminals
II Jail a be tried at the Nav
erm, thereby Kidding the county Of
IL fclons. a tax for the payment /
i all the county expenses and for
purpose of building II court .
Ouse need not exceed fifteen mills ,
II the dollar-the limit of last q
ear. Then there are several thou !
and dollars due by individuals TO ,
ne swamp land fund, which could &
e called in and loaned to the coun- =
! ut SIX per cent, under an act
assed in 1872. We understand
ais fund is a great source of an.
oyance, as parties borrow it, and i
| many instances do not even pay a
he interest until SUIT is brought. +
hlch costs ten per cent. to collect, !,
nd some is entirely lost. p
Should the board of supervisors Z
include to let ont the contract for
lilding a good and substantial =
,urthouse, the citizens of Moss =
ONT, Scranton, PascagOula, and :.
'obably of other parts of the :.
no doubt, would subscribe 3"
berally for building it, and in that .
a great deal would be raised. u
e know of one lawyer who says ',
2 will give $500 for the lease of Il |"
'om, and other rooms could be Z
'nted to advantage. The county Il
NV pays $145 per annum rent for "
use of buildings, and the house :,
which the circuit ,court is held, ~
not at all suitable for court pur. 81
,ses. There are no rooms for the y
tit juries, and they have to 60 off u
to the woOds-and often during u
rain or after night-to make up ~
cir verdicts, which is very disa- ~
eeahle and announcement. The 10
ard advertises for plans, specif.
tions and probable cost, to be n,
omitted to them ut their meeting &C.
June, and when we do build let ",
have a good house. no
-- to
On the 18th Boss Tweed, the man WI
stole millions, died in Jail in s,