The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1886-02-10
Increase in the State Debt.
Editor Evening Post

In the last message Of the Governor !
find these words: IL have no doubt bat
that these reports (of the Auditor and
Treasurer will show a considerable in
crease OF the State debt within the past
four years. This will not be surprising
when the fact Is recalled that the Legls.
lature OF 1882 increased the common
school fund to 100000 per annum and
decreased the rate Of taxation from three
10 two and half mills, which is equal
to $50 0O0 per annum. 1t viii be noticed
that these Two items made difference
of 100000 in the financial transactions
OF the State in the four years"
Ii you will examine section $50 Of the
Code OF 1880 you will see that the school
tax was made county tax in addition
TO the u mills State tax, and has nothing
to do with the State debt; and in that sec
ton the counties were Commanded to levy
tax for school purposes not to exceed
three mills. And ii YOU will examine the
act oil 1882, which increased the amount of
dislributive school funds to $500, 900 instead
OF 100000 per anuum, you will find in the
same act an increase of the school tax by
striking out the words mot to exceed" anu
making an absolute levy on the counties oil
three mills. Now, if "a the Governor says
ference OF hall mill in our taxes
equals $4,000 par annum, then the three
null tax levied on the counties would
yield precisely the 100000 to be dis
trbuted for school purposes.
Is the Governor really ignorant of the
law, or does he think that we, the dear
people, are all so verdant that he can prac-
uce fraud on our credulity? y.
We find the foregoing in the Vicks-
burg Post of the 9th inst. The cores
pendent is totally ignorant OF the sub
ject about which he writes, as we can
easily demonstrate.
In the first place, the amount ex-
pended ON account of public schools by
the State is not 100000 as tx" seems
to think. 1t is useless to go farther
back than 1882 and 1888 to prove this.
In 1882 the amount expended according
TO. the report of the State Superinten-
dent of Education was $3.50, 640.04 and
in 1888, it was SS03, 1880. These
amounts were realized from the sources
specifically indicated by the Constitu-
ton, from the three mill tax which the
act of 1882 required the Board of Super
visors to levy, and from the amount
added 10 the Constitutional school fund
to make the sum distributed by the
State equal 100000.
The Code of 1880, z 724, is as follows:
Whenever the amount of school fund
in the State Treasury in any fiscal year,
does not in the aggregate amount 20
two hundred Thousand dollars exclusive
of Chiekasaw or other special funds,
then the State Treasurer shall transfer
from the general fund to the common
school fund a sufficient amount to make
the sum of said school fund two hun
bred thousand dollars and said sum
shall be distributed upon warrants OF
the Auditor among the several counties
pro rata, according 20 the number OF
educable children IN said counties.
This was intended to insure distri
button of 100000 every year, and is
n standing appropriation out of the
general fund of sum sufficient to max e
the Constitutional school fluid equal
100000.
The act of 1882, chapter XIII, amended
section 724, of the Code of 1880. BY
striking out "two hundred thousand
and inserting "three hundred thousand
wherever the same occurs in the section
This was intended to secure distribu
ton of $500, 600 every year.
Section $50 of the Code of 1880
makes il the duty OF the Board OF SUI
peryisors of each county to levy such
tax, not to exceed three mills, as vii
yield an amount which if added TO th,
funds arising from other sources, will
make sum sufficient to r1aintain tn,
public schools of each county durin,
the time required by law. This left i
discretionary with Boards of Supervis
ors. within the limit OF three mills. i.
fix the county tax for school purposes
The amendment to this section, foun,
in the acts of 1882, chapter XIII, tool
Away. the discretion which the Code lef
in The Supervisors, and made the levy O
three mill tax mandatory.
The mistake of the correspondent o
the Post, growing out Of unusual igno
rance Of the school law, consists in hi
supposing that only 100000 we're pait
% the common schools in any year, wheI
the fact u, that this amount is, or shoule
be distributed by the State without re
ference to what may be collected by the
counties under the three;miII levy.
II must be plain, therefore, that
Whether ne net Of 1852 required the
boards of Supervisors 20 levy tax Of
ope. three. i've Or seven mills, could moi
16.ct ths amount 70 Be paid out By th<
ss.t1 "a that ne collection q 33oo, oo(