The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1884-01-31


necessity existed, for this report had been
neglected. No complete showing had ever
been made of the taxes collected By the
present administration, although it was
computed they amounted to thirty thous-
and dollars annually. This fact was one
of the strongest points on which the speaker
dwelt, and he stated it was incontroverta-
BILE.
Continuing his reading, he read that
$4,000 had been collected from the city in
1882, and the officers of the city we're
placed there as servants of the people and
as such were bound TO make a report of
their stewardship. The people had right
to demand complete and correct balance
sheet; the reports of the finances of the
city we're very unsatisfactory. He took it
for granted that the members Of the House
took an interest in the cause that lie repre-
scented. The streets of jackson were al
luded to-What is their condition. The
people had voted for good streets and good
sidewalks, but he hadn't seen them yet, nor
had the visitors to the city, and posterity
wouldn' be apt to see them under the pres
ent administration. Mr.. McNeely then en-
tered into minute discussion of the wrongs
complained of by the signers of the petit
ton to repeal the charter, and supported
his argument by reference to divers doou-
ments. lie argued the power that made
could unmake. and took his seat after
speech of IN hour and a halls duration.
Mr.. Bell said the bill was aimed at one
of the fundamental principles of govern
ment-a right secured after years of labor,
of fights through veal and woe and bloody
tide of battle. Have the people of Jackson
violated any contract under which their
charter was granted, that their grievances
should be thrust ON this Honorable body?
No, they had gone into the conflict with the
divine principle that Democrats must rule
and had elected Republican mayor, and
for that reason must be DISTINGUISHED.
He referred TO the dark days in the his
tory of the State, when the evils of misrule
caused heart-throbbings and rising in the
throats, and those who complained mostly
then were now calling for what they then
complained about. The people who com
planned had but to 60 to that same tribu-
nal presided over by John McGill and mako
affidavits and the evil would be corrected.
Why did they not do it? If things were
rice usrSd, things would be different. 1t
made difference whose OK was gored. In
regard to the honorable names annexed to
supervision, he liked and regarded them
but he deemed them signatures 10 a petit
ton of this nature as of no more conse-
quence than that of Christopher Columbus.
Mr.. Bramlette spoke in favor of the pas
sage of the bill. He said the bill was an
act to amend the charter of the city of
Jackson, and not to abolish it, as had been
off br 4ba 4,r.>,,-I,,,,4 h.
State.
Mr.. Mcleod said the question was one,
neither partisan or race. lie opposed the
substitute as he would have opposed the
original bill. II restricted the right of
1920 qualified voters of Kinds county, and
such restrictions were contrary to the prin-
ciples Of the government under which we
live, He asked if there was a remedy pro-
posed to the alleged evils complained of?
The proposed bill did not. The original
bill was a bill to turn out the people who
were now in Office. The substitute propos-
ed to keep them in but tie their hands
The act of the proposed commissioners
can nullify the act of the officers elected by
the people. He asked, does the record of
1866 reflect credit? Win the proposed bill
remedy the evils complained of! No line
of action was laid down, and although
charges and charges had been rung through
the hall against the administration, upon
investigation they fell to the ground. The
taxes had been properly collected and prop
erly disbursed. Only quarter of a cen
fury ago the idea contaneiin the bill was
exploded on the field of battle at
an expense of millions of money
and the sacrifice of a million lives
Regarding the printed reports of the city
officers he said that prior to the time they
were printed, the record would show that
the Committee Oh Finance had reported
every quarter. There were faults in the
system, but an amendment was proposed
to the charter and the fault corrected He
showed by facts and figures that the re-
sponsibility of the election of John Nc
Gill rested on the shoulders of the white
people of the city.
Pending Mr.. Leod's remarks the House,
at 1:55, took a recess until $3.50 =. m.
During the discussion, message was re-
ceived from the Governor informing the
House that he had approved the following
entitled bills:
To change the time of holding the Cir
Cult OOufl OF helnpef county.
To authorize the Board of Supervisors
of Calhoun county to levy tax sufficient
to pay the outstanding school warrants.
To prohibit the sale of liquors in the
town of flohenlinden.
To authorize the Board of Supervisors of
Pamela county to have the transcribing of
certain records completed.
To confer certain powers on the Board
of Supervisors of Kinds and Warren coun-
ties.
EVENING SESSION.
The recess having expired, the House re-
assembled.
Mr. Mcleod. OF Kinds, resumed his argu-
ment on the bill pending at the time re-
cess was taken. He quoted facts and fig
ures to uphold him in his argument, and
concluded his speech with an appeal to the
members to take their own interests into
consideration, and give the subject mature
judgment before they voted to take away
the franchises of the citizens of Jackson.
Mr.. Martin said the subject was one of
the greatest importance and his actions
should be governed by his convictions. If
the opponents of the bill had not made
good argument against the bill, it was be-
cause the facts were against then. The
power of the House to pass this bill was, in
his opinion, beyond question, and he thought
its passage would be advantageous and he
should vote for it. He quoted legal grounds
to uphold his argument, and thought q
change was desired.
Mr. Norrell made a vigorous argument