Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1886-03-12

@.H..
Can't. McNelly, Of the Greenville
Times, passed through town last even
ing on his way home from Jackson,
where be has been for q week past.
He furnished us'the following infoFma-
ton relative TO pending leVee legisla-
tion: A bill amending the act creating
the Mississippi YszOo delta leVee dis
trlet was prepared in accordance with
the views Of the commissioners Of said
board, designed to meet and provide
for its obligations and necessities.
This bill was antsgonized by some Of
the members from the district, who
we're opposed to the provision impos-
ing a tax upon cotton. Upon the vote
the bill was beaten in the senate by a
majority Of one. The matter was then
referred to q subcommittee, which re-
ported a bill which passed the senate
IN Tuesday night.
Asthe bill Of this subcommittee will,
with immaterial amendments probably
becomes a law, its provisions are OF
vital Importance to citizens of the
Delta. 1t provides for the issuance of
100000 6 per cent. 20 year bonds, for
the purpose Of completing the line of
leVees and Of repairing and maintain
ing same. The limit Of ad valorem
tax is raised from 9 mills on the back
and Is on the front counties, to Is on
the back and 20 on the front. A tax
is imposed upon various privileges. If
the probable proceeds Of said ad va.
lor EN- and privilege tax should be
deemed insufficient to meet the esti.
mates Of the engineer and treasurer,
the board is empowered to supplement
It's revenues by a tax on cotton Of one
dollar in the front and eighty cents in
the back counties, or so much and
in said proportion as may be
required to fill out said insuficiency.
This latter provision cannot apply until
1887.
The bill also requires the commits
sioners of the said upper board to pay
off its indebtedness to the lower board
for work In Coahoma county, on Ash
slough and Robertsonville levees,
amounting to $4,000; out of the sur
plus revenue of 1886, OF any succeed.
ing year.
The bill also provides for an equali-
zation board, which is designed to cor
rect the inequalities in land valua-
lions, which has been a matter of sore
discomfort in the back counties.
There was a section In this bill so
fixing the southern limit Of the levees
of the upper district, as to impose the
care and preservation Of that extend
ing from the northern boundary of
Bolivar county across Huskpuckana
upon the lower district. This section
was stricken out; properly, as it would
have been very unjust. OF this,
of course, the committee framing the
bill was unaware. The lower district
built and has for years maintained
said levees at great cost for the pro-
lection Of north Bolivar. But the ex.
pense has ever been a source of great
dissatisfaction. And now that the
upper board will probably be in funds
no board Of commissioners Of the
lower district will be sustained in fur
ther providing for work upon levees in
the upper district territory, and sbso-
lutely essential to tho protection of
Sunlower and Yazoo counties. The
commissioners from those counties,
will, however, be sure to insist upon
and secure its preservation from their
own board.
While this bill is Objectionable in the
high ad valorem tax it admits, which
will surely force unproducing lands
from the tax rolls, it will assure the
negotiation of the bonds and the CON-
pletion and perfection Of the line of
levees. This is the main thing. And
when it is found that the excessive ad
valorem tax is impolitic, and arrests
the entry and settlement of wild
lands by settlers. future legislation can
mend the evil.