The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1886-01-20
LCoMMUNIcArED.
A Hole in the Treasury.

EDITOR CLARION Gov Lowry, in
his message tothe Legislature, in Janua-
ry, 1884, makes the following recon-
mendation 8 nder section 2 of An
act approved Jan. 81, 1877, / have APP
proved, during the last two years, Con
tracts made by the Superintendent OF
the Peuitentiary for necessary repairs
which aggregate $7,71T73. This sum
was credited on the lease for 1882, and
the balance of $33, 944,3 due on said
lease was, under my direction, paid into
the treasury where it now awaits your
disposition" Section Of the act afore-
said provides that said amount of hire
due the State shall not be expended and
appropriated for any purpose whatever
except as herein described, i. e. ia the
| improvement Of the Penitentiary. :" I
earnestly recommend that this Statute
he Immediately repealed. 1t gives the
Governor and Superintendent of the
| Penitentiafy the unconditional disposal,
Of according to their discretion, of $780,
420,00 yearly. Under their contract the
is sustained by the Attorney General to
whom | submitted the question, of YORK
ing all eonvicts without regard to the
term of their Imprisonment outside the
walls of the Penitentiary. If this be
true, there will be no need of any extern
sive improvements during the eontinu-
ance OF the present lease, and another
reason is furnished for the repeal of
his Section
The above Sections and 3, of An act
approved January 81, 1877, in accor-
dance with said recommendation of the
Governor, by An act passed by the Leg
stature, approved March L, 1884 (see
laws of the State Of Mississippi, passed
at session 1884 page 29), was repealed.
The Governor, in his Message to the
Legislature now in session says Under
Section ? of An act approved January
81, 1877 {being the same act referred TO
in his Message of 1854, and which was
repealed by the act of March II, 1881 r
approved, in 1884, contracts made by the
Superintendent of the Penitentiary Tor
necessary repairs and improvements to
the amount of $27 ,343. 49, This sum
was credited on the Lease for 1883 and
the balance of Sl2,076.61 due on the
lease for that year, was. on December 81.
1854, paid into the treasury" This
money was paid into the treasury twelve
menths after it was due. In the face of
q Statute directing the Governor to sue
upon the claim. See acts of 1884, page
81. In same Message the Governor saws:
In the year 1885 / approved similar
contracts to the amount of 81. AIS. ~
which was credited ON the lease Of 1884.
and the balance of Sl2, 100.5S due on the
lease for that year was, on December IS.
1885, paid into the Treasury. Again
the Governor permitted the Iessees Of
the Penltentiary to hold this large sum
of money for twelve months lacking
twelve days, and no suit brought. when
the above recited act directs him 70 sue
as soon as the money arising upon the
lease i due, If not paid Thus we zee
this large sum of money, towit: S54.-
1921, together with large sum Of
interest due from the lessees of the Pen
litentiary is moi in the State Treasury
where it should be.
But il may be said that the Governor
did not refer in his message to the
proper law, that although the Legislature
of 1884 repealed sections and 8 81
the law Of 1873, they passed another law
authorizing the Superintendent Of the
Penitentiary-a officer With salary al
81 200 a yesrs--to make contract with
the lesse.s of the Peniteutiarv. and
|expend Sd, 1852 81 in Improvements of
the Penitentiary. Well, TEX ns see ifi
there il any such statute. Section at
an act approved March Is. 1854 zee
acts Of lsS4, page 26) provides as fol- |
lows: Be it further enacted, that in /
ase Of "a accident TO the Penitentiary