The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1878-02-27
AFTERNOON SESSION.

The House met 3 80 O'Clock.
Mr.. Perkins called up II. B. to provide
for man aiming levees in Tunica county,
with Senate amendments. Amendments
concurred in. Mr.. Perkins moved to recon-
slider the vote and to table the motion. Car
rIed.
Mr. McSwine presented petition of cti-
Zens OF Grenada county against the passage
of the Moffett Register bill. Referred.
Mr.. Lu-k called up II. B. relating to the
Pearl River Navigation Company, and the
bill was referred 10 the Com IN ttee on Pub
lie Lands.
Mr. Henry, chairman of the special com
mittee, introduced ii. B. to authorize the
Supervisors 10 employ convictS on public
works. Made the special order for Febru-
airy %, at II o'clock, upon motion of Mr.:
Dabney.
Mr. Nets chairman of the Committee on
Railroads, reported a mum Der OF bills. The
report was taken up.
H. b. to encourage the building of tine
Ship Island, Ripley and Kentucky Railroad.
Mr. Tison moved to amend by adding that
the said railroad should be taxed as other
citizens. Mr.. Spght moved to table. Car
ried- Yeas, 50; nays, Al. Several orher
amendments were offered. Mr.. Spight
moved that the bill be ordered engToSsed.
Carried. Mr.. Ghoison made the point that
the bill was not actually engrossed, and the
bill lies over for that purpose.
Nj. Reid of Coahoma, called up H. B. to
reclaim to the State and from overflow GER
The message was as follows.
EXECUTIVE OFFICE,
JACKSON, MISS, February 20, 1879
To the House of Representatives
GENTLEMEN L herewith return, without
nv approval, House Bill IA, an Act to re-
claim TO the State, and from overflow, GER
tain lands herein described.
The bill provides for the creation of a
Board OF Levee Commissioners in the Coun-
ty of Coahoma, to be styled 'The Levee
Board of Hulberton Bend" The District
to be within the jurisdiction of the Board
consists of some 80 600 $4,000 acres of
land. Tie bill gives TO the Board absolute
control of the District. and provides for the
assessment, collection and disbursement
of special taxes i'm posed for levee purposes.
There are many objectionable features in
the bill, which cOnStrain me TO withhold
from il my approval. These objections are
so patent to my mind, that 1t seems a
simple mention OF them is alone necessary
to cause its reconsideration.
section eight levies tax upon the cot
ton and corn raised upon the land in
the District, said tax to be expended
upon the levees located in its linn
itS---Said tax is to be levied and
collected by the first day of September OF
each year, for the period of ten years. To
secure the payment of this tax, said section
not on ly creates prior lien on the cotton
| and corn So raised, but also on all the land
on which the same is grown.
ms stringent provision Will WORK SreA'
| injustice. / need not point out the manner
in which this may be done. You will agree
| with me that to create prior lien on
/ lands for non-pay ment of taxes assessed
| upon all cotton and corn raised upon them
will result in great wrong TO the owners OF
the land. 1t is not just or right to cause the
| land owner 60 suffer for the want of vigil
lance on the part of the Tax Collector, oil
| for want of honesty on the part of the ten
| ants who cultivate the lands
Section fifteen provides that decree fol
I the charges and assessments made by thu
Board, 'sshalI be a lien preferred to all othel
| leins and incum brances on the property" o.
| those who shall have failed or refused "a
pay such charges and assessments. Thii
/ provision ID unnecessarily harsh and exact
Ing, and vests In the Board power which
should not be conferred. Many OF the rem
ediea provided Ia the bill are, in my opinion
IN violation OF th0 Constitution, and n0ta
bly, among these, il the remedy just men
toned.