The Brookhaven leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1883-1891, 1884-01-17

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sence OF any law on the subject Of Congress, 20
m or limit charges on Interstate commerce
which directly Affects her people, as she may, on
either, or both, should be characterized BY jus
tice and fair dealing.
porations are important factors In the wealth,
progress and Independence Of the state. Like
Sy law To- 20 conduct tbemseIves ' ana nse their
| own property not to injure others, but no I'M
| necessary or unreasonable restraints SHOULD be
imposed upon the management or enjoyment OF
/ their property or business.
A just and liberal policy toward such corp, ra-
~ nrotectin@ tSe pHbIIc aeainst ne ssnmotioi
| of unwaTanted power and practices BY them.
| and such policy have no doubt will contribute
much to the Developments and prosperity OF MIS-
WITH these convictions, submit the matter TO
your careful CONSIDERATION, deeming e proper
by the people, and familiar with whatever at
fects them for good or evil, to Judge how far the
causes OF complaint against railroads have been
removed BY the reduction made IN charges by
some Of the roads In the state, By new lines Of
road and TO determine what legislation the pub
lie interest demand on the subject, at this time.
| The LIEN LAW.
| Complaints are made in some parts OF the
State In regard 70 evils connected with, or grow
ing out of the operation Of the statute which rem
| ders IL lawful TO cucumber BY mortgage, or deed
Of trust, growing crops, or crops 70 De grown
Mtlln nIteeh mShR' O '5s a aaShg, ~ s,,
diately affects the agricultural interests OF the
State, and deserves careful consideration. Leg
islatOn that fosters tends 10 foster, relieve
| improve this fundamental industry among us
shall have my cordial cooperation and approval.
IL the people OF the state generally are in condi
/ ton to carry on their several ayOcatiOns and
pursuits. without the aid Of such lien law, 1t is
| fortunate and In that case, extravaganza, high
prices for the necessarieS OF life and precarious
| methods Of business, might be greatly diminish
| ed, by repeating the statute referred TO-, and
making such encumbrances unlawful. But sug-
gest, that IL 1t Is deemed necessary and proper
| to prevent such encumberauces altogether, sim
| ply repeating the lien statute would hardly ac-
| complish that object In the absence OF statu-
b fSry by mortGsse or deed Of trust and sun
init that IL the statute now authorizing such
lien were repealed, while a mortgage or deed Of
would be valid and binding on a growing crop,
| however small its growth might be, unless posi-
lively prohibited by some statute. suggest also
| that as such encumbrances have been lawful,
| and generally used In the State for number OF
years, that il they are abolished or II the law IN
relation to them Is materially changed, 1t should
not be done abruptly, but the change should
take effect at some specified time In the future
and far enough in the future for business to be
| adjusted to the change, without detriment.
Justice and policy alike suggest that the State
should secure the punishment of violatOrs of its
laws. Certainty OF punishment is the best safe
guard against the violation OF law. IL every one
| knew that the power of the State would surely
be efficiently exerted for any violation of law, it
would prove a powerful restraint. and greatly
/
| can be, should be done to produce this cOnyic-
| ton in the minds Of men, and In my view there
can be no Longer .tride towards ms eonsTmmia
officials, liberal supply OF money wherewith to
put in motion the required agencies for
| bringing offenders to justice.
| therefore recommend that in addition to the
| usual contingent fund placed at the disposal OF
the Executive, that the Governor, with the
concurrence OF the Attorney General, be author
| lied in any case to offer a reward or otherwise
| incur expense In the pursuit, apprehension and
bringing to trial OF persons charged with high
| crimes in this State not to exceed for any crime
81 800, to be expended in such sums as said OH
GERS may concur in approving, and to be Grawn
tor to be issued on the Joint reGuisiGion of
| the Governor and Attorney General. The
concurrence Of both officials in any such expend-
| cious use OF money in the cases mentioned.
| CONCEALED WEAPONS.
| A fruitful source OF crime is the too prevalent
| habit OF carrying conceaied weapons lmphl-
ses are often born of opportunities, and 1t fn'.
| queRtly happens that the possession OF pistol
bs 20 us remedv for ie
| evil of carrying concealed weapons Is to make
their use to kin or attempt to XIII; crime not
admitting Of defense, so that il killing or at
| tempting to kill is by means Of a weapon drawn
| from cOncealment on the person, there shall be
no excuse or Justification. II one0ould not,
under any circumstances. lawfully use deadly
| weapon, carried in concealment on the person,
he would cease % carry it, for it would be
| useless.
| Now the penal consequences are braved, be-
cause the violation Of law in carrying weapon
| concealed is not an element OF the crime and
works no prejudice on trial for it, but II the use
or attempt to use such weapon was itself crime
| the inducement to carry it would be gone. Few
will carry what they dare not use, and the evil
will be diminished by the greater certainty of
punishment believe that law Of the charac
| ter indicated will serve useful purpose. Or II
this suggestion should be regarded as too radical.
| then any measure looking TO the prevention OF
carrying concealed weapons will receive my
hearty concurrence. The highest duty of gov
| eminent is to protect persons in the enjoyment
of live, the greatest of absolute rights Money
| Is never more wisely expended by the state than
| in enforcing the laws for the security of life.
No expenditure can justly be called extraVa-
| gance which is necessary to uphold and enforce
| the law 1t sometimes occurs that the liberal
us, of money is found necessary to bring on
| enders to justice. Grave crimes are sometimes
committed and the offenders, by flight or con
ccalment, avoid punishment until conviction
a6P b %g and
| of the criminal. The relatives and friends of
the victims of crime are often in a pecuniary
condition to forbid their liberal use of money to
hiring offenders to justice, and, II the State does
| not do It, it will not be done.
GENERAL PURCHASING AGENT
A somewhat extended examination of the sub
ject and an experience of two years, convince
me that the interests OF the State would be ad-
sh be 9f &
lions. 1t IS to be remembered that the annual
purchases for the Lunatic Asylum at Jackson,
amounts to over $4,000. Add to this the pur-
chases to be made for the East Mississippi In
| sane Asylum at Meridian, which will perhaps
y or 800 900 for the years 1884 and 1880. This IS
a large outlay OF money, and all proper restrict
ions should be thrown around IT'S expendiitaare;
years, but should be removable for cause and
should required to give ample security for the
faithful performance OF his duty This Tlan has
several advantages, and 50 far as / cair see is
without reasonable objection. 1t would dispense
with more than one salaried officer, and buying
fkNnG Nafn hiatt FlfA
while again, the institution requiring the goods
would be check on the agent as regards their
quality and price II introduces safe o system
passage Of a law embodying these features. be-
lieving that It would result in saving the State
large sums Of money annually, while at the same
time closing the door to the possibility OF specu-
lation and fraud.
FEEs AND PERoUIsITEs.
All officers should receive rcequate compensa-
ton for their services, but ofice-holdng should
be more connected with the idea OF honorable
public service than gain. Under the practice of
allowing fee and perquisites 1t may result in
some officers receiving extravaganza compensa-
may receive far less than the service performed
would merit. Salaries Of State officers should
not be contingent and uncertain. Every officer
more more Impressed with the Correctness OF this
view OF the question, recommend that the
salaries OF the heads Of the different departments
of the State government shall be liked at
reasonable sum and that they be required TO
render to the Auditor OF Public Accounts, under
GA: h. quarterly true list of all sums received in
the way of fees and perquisites, and obtain his
receipt warrant for the payment OF the same
into the treasury Of the credit Of the general
fund.
further recommend that the ONCE of District
Attorney be made Independent, and that he be
paid salary commensurate with the duties and
responsibilities of the oflce, and that all fees
and perQuisites OF the office be paid into the
state treasury under the regulations prescribed
in case of the above Offices.
am impressed with the belief that no purely
mechanical work OF any sort should be done for
the State or counties except by contract to the
ipoi Ind oil inf r1riin