The Southern herald., 1888-01-14
The Governors Message.

VIC AJAtAbG az viz OillLINlNCAiACAlb vi
the year 1888, While urging the
Legislature to enact such laws as
will be Of general interest, he very
properly cautions and advises them
not to legislate too much, and en-
phasizes the necessity Of careful
investigation of all such measures
as may be brought before the body
for action; that hasty legislation
has done much harm, for the want
of thorough investigation of the le-
gal principles involved in acts of
the Legislature, various and widely
different interpretations are given
by the courts-hence the necessity
of thorough work. The Governor
again urges change in the fiscal
year, so that the reports Of Auditor
and StatcTreasurer should be plac-
ed in the hands of the Governor
previous to the assembling of the
Legislature, in order that he may
have ample time to examine them
with all the vouchers and refer
ences, and thus enable the Governor
to have data for his recommends
tions upon the subject Of revenue
and State finances generally. He
meets the charge of extravaganza
by showing that taxes have been
reduced. In 1882 the Legislature
reduced the State tax from three 10
| two and half mills, and it so re-
NAMED until 1886, and made de-
fcit annually Of $4,000, or $780,
600 in four years; and the same
Legislature increased the common
school fund 100000 per annum,-
This reduction Of taxation and in
crease of expenditures based upon
the same valuation of property,
must necessarily produce a deficit.
The message is full Of good suggeg-
tions. Among other things a.change
of salary of District Attorney is
mentioned, and the reason fer the
change that the salaries be raised
from $1,000 per annum to such
amount as would be Just and re-
munerativc, and allow no fee, only
in exceptional cases, it is stated
in the message that in some cases
the District Attorneys fees and
salary added exceeds the salary of
our Supreme or Circuit Judges un-
der the present law. Another re-
duction of expenses suggested is to
reduce the rate of interest on the
Chickasaw school fund from s per
cent to 4 or 5 per cent. A reduc-
tion to 4 per cent will save to the
State annually $43, ,664, and to 5 per
cent S24 ,49S. This can be done by
theLegislature, or the whole amount
of that fund may be paid by the
sale of State bonds drawing 6 per
and payable say in 30 years. This
policy in the long future will be an
immense saving to the State in in
terest on this fund of $816,G15, on
which the State has already paid
81 800, 900, or $65, ,329 annually
The free school system is very fully
ventilated, and cautious legislation
upon the subject is advised until
the present laws have been fully
tested and the working of the sys-
TEN given fair trial. In regard to
the poll tax the message very un-
mistakably favors the payment of
all poll taxes as a prerequisite to
the exercise of the elective fran
chise, and urges as reason that all
who claim the constitutional pro-
lection Of person and property at
the hands Of government ought to
help to support it. He recommends
their fostering care Of all State in
stitutions, but intimates that they
have the full power to withdraw or
withhold support if they see proper
to do so, and turn them over to the
people, but does not advocate this
means Of reducing expensea. The
leasing of the penitentiary is still
adhered to, and reasons given for
it; among others that the State has
not sufficient machinery if the la
borers were skilled to work it profit
i
ably, and it so happens that COM
paratively few of the convicts are
skilled laborcrs; and gives further
reasons that it develops the re-
sources of the State and general
improvement of public works, as
well as new enterprises, railways,
etc.
The Union Labor party of Indi'
ano 1yi ii hold n convention ~, fhf