The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-03-23

$500. 900 Of bonds bearing per cent. in
terest. Besides this privilege tax law was
that year passed, the number OF privileges
increased and the cost Of privileges on
some OF the old ones increased Gov.
Lowry had then been four years in oHice.
Gov Lowry has now been six years in
Office and has two more to serve, thanks
TO his veto OF the bill to call constitu-
tional convention, and the Legislature OF
1888 has increased the State tax to 4 mills,
has increased the privileges tax on nearly
all the old privileges and added new ones
until there is no privilege left TO the poo
pie except to pay their taxes, lie and be
buried. And even new horrors are added
TO death by the burdensome privilege
tax upon life insurance agents--a tax
In fact on life insurance. Five hundred
thousand dollars more OF bondsare author
lied TO be issued. but the Clarion Ledger
relieves its readers by saying "the debt of
the State will not be increased by the
issuance of these bonds, as they will be
used to pay OF outstanding debts and will
not be issued unless needed" Well,
some OF these days we will see when we
get Legislature which has time for some
thing else besides ''gush' and local bills.
Now, the foregoing is plain statement
OF facts, taken from the acts themselves,
which l would not take up space to refer
10 by page and section. Contrast this
six years administration Of Gov. Lowry
with the six years OF Gov. Stone.
To make this contrast more glaring con-
slider the great increase OF taxable property,
of population, OF wealth in the State since
1882, while the expenses OF the State have
p.t IL.
| assert and can show, but cannot take
space now 10 do IL.
What has become Of the ample revenues
OF the State since 1882?
In the session OF that year the Hon.
Frank McClain.' Of Smith county, intro
duced resolution TO provide for investi-
eating the books Of the auditor and treas
urer as ex-ofiicio liquidating levee commits
soners. II provided for a committee TO
sit in vacation authorized 10 employ an
expert accountant, and 10 report TO the
Governor, who was required TO lay the
report before the next session Of the 1egis-
lature. The resolution raised storm in the
House, but was finally, after hard fight,
passed, but was killed In the Senate. Since
that time, believe, the usual resolution
passes 10 look into the books Of the State
the committee are III for the position, they
are too busy in the Houses to attend TO the
investigation, and the focal bill'' men,
bers on II, IL they have the capacity, are
too much hattered by the honors and cour-
tesies extended to them by the high
officials whose management OF State af-
fairs and finances they are expected TO in
vestigate, to do more than walk down
stairs, through the rooms, stare with
amazement at the huge books shown TO
them, and then 20 back 10 the committee
room and report all things lovely.
did want TO say something about other
measures passed, especially about the Judi
ciary bill. which requires eight judges to
do the work which ten could not more
than do before the war, when the negroes,
more than half the population Of the State,
had no standing in the courts, TO say moth
ing OF the increase in population from
other causes. But the mischief is done
and cannot now be remedied before an
other Legislature, which, II is hoped, will
do something more than pass local bills,
and redeem the State, rs far as may be
done. from the errors and mistakes OF this
Legislature. MissIssIPPrAN.
Rosedale, Miss, March 20.