The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1883-12-22

that the action of juries called for
this purpose has given universal
dissatisfaction. They generally ig-
more all principles of right and
law, and undertake to make this
Board pay the land owner for his
misfortune in being located on a
caving bank.
We would suggest that the law
be so arranged as to provide for
the appointment by the Circuit
and Chancery Judges of the dis
trict of three discreet gentlemen,
of each county who shall act as
Commissioners to assess damages
in their respective counties; shall
hold Office for II term Of four or
six years, and shall be paid a lib
eral per diem for aetnal service.
Third.-As to the tax on cotton.
During the present season small
quantity of unginned or seed cot
ton has been shipped out of the
district, aud buyers of that kind
of cotton have been travelling
through the district. We sup
pose that the present law could
reach such cotton, but to avoid
all disputes or trouble about it,
and In view OF a probability Of o
large increase in this business, we
would suggest such amendment
of this law as will place its liabili-
ty to taxation beyond cavil.
Fourth.-With the Sheriffs of
some of the counties, much troub-
le is experienced in regard to the
prompt accounts to this Board for
its part of the ad valorem tax.
We would suggest that there be
increased stringency in the law in
this particular.
Fifth.-Claims for damages for
the right of way for old levees are
frequently sprung and the Board
is unable TO resist them because
of the loss of all evidence of the
acquiescence or grants OF the for
mcr owners or ancestors of the
claimants. We would suggest a
one year statute of limitations,
without saving clauses, as to all
such claims.
Sixth.-Under an act Of the leg.
islature approved March 7th, 1882,
this Board was authorized to is
sue and negotiate 100000 in
bonds bearing 10 por cent. inter
est, and payable in one to seven
years. Under this law the neces'
sites of the Board have required
and will require upon the 1st ol
January the issuance of the whole
amount authorized. by the terms
of the law the Board has the right
one year after date of issuance te
call in said bonds and pay then
of. Tho rate oil interest Is exces
sive and would only have beer
submitted to under the pressure
of the disaster of 1882. This hal
all been repaired, our district is IL
fine condition and our credit al
good as the best. We would sug
gest therefore, and for tha pur
. pose of calling in and taking VI
! these outstanding bonds tina
the Board DO authorized to issu'
bonds redeemable in FIVE years
,, and payable twenty years ate
date, bearing interest payabl
semiannually at the rate of 81.
per cent. per annum, and tha
$500, 900 of such bonds be author
! lied, first to pay off the outstand
l ing bonds, and secondly the ba
: ance to be negotiated and use
only when the emergencies of tn
y district requires. The law shout
/ provide that such bonds shall oil
ly be negotiated at par. We ar
, confident that they will be largel
0 sought as an investment, and tbs
? we will have no difficulty in tn
Il way in reducing our interel
i bearing debt from 10 per cent.
: six per cent, and We have u
y question that this would enabl
u future intelligent Boards to Z
, duce the annual tax on cotton.
. Seventh. view of the pre-
u ent and prospective action OF u
e. U. s. Government in regard
. levees, we would suggest the pa
y sage of such act Of the legislatu'
II as shall cede to the United Stat
y all such jurisdiction and powe
u of ancient domain as may be ne
y essary to free the general gover
q ment of all embarrassment in 9
!. sisting this Board or in taki'
II charge Of eur Leyec System.
= All of which is by order Of Il
z Board OF Mississippi Leseo 90