The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-03-28
THE WOOL HAT IDEA.
MR.. FRANK BURKITT MAKES SOME
PLAIN STATEMENTS.
He Points Out Certain Mistakes Made
by the Mississippi Legislature, But
Justifies the Reduced Appropriations
to Benevolent Institutions.

other State, has long Justly been recog.
nized as the worthy exponent of public
sentiment in Mississippi, and its utter
ances are entitled to great respect 1t is
possible, however, that you may some
times be in error, Notwithstanding your
facilities for obtaining correct information,
and as have reason to believe you would
not intentionally do injustice even to ''the
late unlamented' Mississippi Legislature,
venture to call your attention, and that
oil the numerous readers OF The APPEAL,
to the following extract from an editorial
headed: "The State OF Mississippi,p pub
lished in your issue OF the 23d inst
The debt of the State has been increased
and taxes have been increased, and 1000 600
acres OF land have been almost given away
that might today be permanent school
fund, making for Mississippi an advantage
above every other State In the south except
Texas. The taxes have been increased, and
yet eleemosynary institutions have been put
ON half rations, and a most deplorable and
doleful moan OF hard times has gone out to
the country with legislative sanction to
Justify measure that makes every thought
ful person hang his head with shame.
To the casual reader this language would
imply that the State debt was increased by
the last Legislature, which is not the case.
IL Is lamentable fact that during the past
six years the State debt has been increased
from S95, 265. IL, the amount OF our payable
debt, over and above cash in treasury
January |, 1882, TO Sl,3i5, 246.6 on Jan.
uary |, 1888, rs shown by the State Treas
urer's report OF that date, but the last Leg
islature is in no wise responsible for the
reckless extravagance and financial mis-
management, which brought about this
sad state OF affairs. Instead OF increasing
the State debt the expenses Of the State
government have been reduced for 1889
nearly, II not quite, $4,000, Ms compared
with the disbursements for 1867. II is a
TACT that taxes have been increased from
~ TO mills on al valorem assessments,
and privilege taxes have been enlarged
and extended to cover almost every ayoca-
ton in lie, but the enormous debt. UNI
wisely contracted between 1882 and 1888,
with its accumulating interest, amount
ing in 1887 to Sl56, $40. 2S, rendered this
necessary, after a failure to repeal the
numerous exemption clauses in charters OF
rich corporations, which violate the letter
and spirit of our State constitution and
disgrace our statute books.
agree fully with your correspondent
''Mississippian" in all no has said in criti-
cism OF the act TO quiet tax titles TO lands
in the delta. In my judgment more vii
famous scheme 10 swinde former owners
OF TO rob State OF its public lands was
never concocted by land sharks anywhere,
and was astonished TO find that 40 large
q number OF honest and intelligent repre-
sentatives were deceived by their specious
arguments Even the outrageous trans
actions Of Lord 90 Byron Eyers and his
associates with the swamp land commits
sioner's Office in 1881, at which time the
neiarious business began and the subse-
quent manipulations OF Gordon & Co.,
Marian and the Louisville, New Orleans
x Texas Railroad company pale into insig-
nificance, when compared with this crown
ing iniquiiy, eliminating in this infamous
act.
he II said TO the shame OF Mississippi
and Mississippians, forever, that the Legis-
latures OF 1885 and 1883 refused 10 give
eighty acres OF land as n homestead TO
manned Confederate soldiers while the
miserable policy adopted and pursued
since 1881 was transferring millions OF
acres Of our public domain 10 rich corpo.
rations, foreign syndicates and lordly spec.
ulators at price ranging from cents 10 Z
cents per acre. Today the State holds only
POI ,029 acres OF the 3,00O0O she owned in
1880, and we have nothing in the treasury
30 show for this reckless waste OF the
states great resources, sct apart by our
constitution for the education of our chill
dren. unless perhaps the Valley Railroad
company has paid the taxes for 1885 and
1867 on their lands, which taxes they
have heretofore illegally withheld, doubt.
less with the hope Of cTccting the one
sided ''compromise" made by the quieting
tax title act.
But the point 10 which desired 10 call
special attention is contained In the state
mcnt made by THE ArrEAL, that "the
elccmosynary institutions have been put on
half raiions."
imagine, Mr.. Editor, your impressions
were formed ON this subject by hearing
the howl Of the appropriation wolves
domiciled at these institutions, or by list
cning 10 the croakings Of the capitol cor
moranis, who constantly hover around our
depleted state treasury. You certainly
did not take the pains 10 consult the off.
cial records, else you could not have fallen
into ~ grave an error, speak that do
know, and which the figures will verify.
when | say that the appropriations
for the support Of the inmates
In our two insane asylums, and
the pupils In the deaf aud dumb and the
blind institutes have been increased rather
than diminished. To demonstrate the
absolute correctness Of this ascension, Il
will be necessary 10 70 back 10 1886. when
certain watchful members Of the I.cgisla-
turc were impressed with the idea that In
defiance Of law, oxtmyagant practices
were INDUCED IN by some Of the officers
and employees at these institutions, and
committee was charged 10 look into the
matter. A searching investigation was
made aud ringing report followed, which
may be found In House Journal for 1886,
on page Az. In this report the committee
say, they find upon investigation, that Il
has been the practice sanctioned by a Gus.
tom Of long standing for the superintcnd.
cnts Of the various asylums At jackson 20
subsist themselves and their families out
OF the appropriations made for the support
OF these institutions" They say further,
that nj the asylum for the insane land
take this institution a. n fair basis for this
argument, for Il IL better managed than
some OF the Others, the families oi the 81.
pcrintcndcnt and his assistant average
thirteen persons land at the cost per CAPITA
Of maintaining said institution in 1885,
viz; Sl3L70, the support Of these persons
cost the state the sum Of q, 75i. 10 Tor sup
plies They tell ua, too, that there are
five servants employed mainly u not en-.
tircly IN the center building In the service
Of the superintendent and his assistant"
and that the monthly pay OF these
l. -