The Brookhaven leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1883-1891, 1890-01-16
GOV. LOWRY.
His last Message to Mississippi.
ropiOus Extracts From q Statesman.
Like Deliverance.
A Complete Review Of His AdmInIstra-
ton for Eight Years.
The Financial and Educational Con-
dition of the State.
Wise Admonitions and Patriotic Sus-
gestions to the Legislature-TheP Prog
ress and Prosperity Of Mississippi
Set Forth.


JACKSON, MISS, Jan. s.-Gov. Robert Lowry
submitted his last message to the Legislature
to-day, an abstract of which is as follows:
Having been the agent of the public in the
Executive Department OF the state Govern
ment for eight years. n greater length OF time
than has been served by any Of my predeces-
sors since the admission OF the state into tho
Union. and you being charge with the grave
and responsible duties of leg Stating for ana
in behalf of our one and a half million OF peo-
pie, at the close of my second term OF once
1t Is no less my pleasure than Official DUTY 10
place in your hands this communication,
which refers alike to past legislation and
some recommendations, to which L respect
fully invite the consideration of your honor
able body. While my honorable successor
will snare with you the responsibility of your
enactments during the prese MT session, SUD
m t for disposition some measures which ex-
perience has impressed upon me as being not
only wise, but in keeping with the fitness OF
things, and that will tend to promote good
order, enforcement of the laws, and at the
same time material relief to those who bear
the burdens of government.
l congratulate you upon the favorable out
look of atiairs. My information justifies the
assumption that the business interests or the
State are PROSPEROUS Values of every dis
cription have appreciated, and it is especially
noted that the people were never more con-
tented than at present. when IL is remem,
bered that the valuation of real and personal
and that to-day it is III round numbers Sl5s..
O0O0-an increase Of over $4l.UtO.Mj-it Will
be readily comprehended that the State COM
bines advantages that will continue to grow
and develop until multiplied millions will ne
added to our wealth The farming interests
have kept pace with the progress OF other In
dustries.
MATERIAL GROWTH.
The compilation of the increase in this in
iustry cotton goods manufactortes) since
1889 shows A. per cent. more mills, and tbat
spndles and looms have more than trebled,
yet this IS better understood when IT Is known
that the growth and increase OF other indus
tries for the same period are quite RS great.
1t will be remembered BY those who wit
messed the exhibit made by Mississippi at the
Worlds Exposition in New Or cans nve years
ago, that her own citizens were surprised at
the diversity and magnitude of her resources.
The variety and value OF timber5 attracted
now not only all important cities in the
United States, but England, ireland. Scot
land, France, Germany, Spain. Portugal aud
indeed almost every part of the world are re-
ceiving shipments oflumber from Mississippi.
To say that the state is growing is attested
by the millions of Increased wealth in the past
few years. which springs from fertile lands
and u climate with conditions and appoint
ments that invite the investment OF capital
in factories and other enterprises which as
sure good returns. This progress Is notable
in the increased acreage OF lands annually
brought into cultivation, the diyersifyfng OF
crops, which include clovcr and hay. now
sought after in markets where heretofore
timothy and hay alone, from distant States,
were sold
Stock-brecding in Mississippi has grown to
most surprising proportions. L mention, 10
the increase in this regard, the
county of Lee, in the northeast Wilkison in the
southwest, and Madison in The central part or
the state. These counties are supplying and
selling home-raise6 horses and mules, when
heretofore they have been purchased from
Kentucky, Tennessee and other States. Many
other counties are doing the same thing. Ii
is scarcely necessary to say that herds of fine
cattle are found in almost every county from
tho Tennessee line to the Gulf Coast, and
from the Mississippi river to our eastern
border; and in addition, IL IS gratifying TO
know that our people are gradually returning
to ante-belum days. having their corn-crios
and smoke-houses at hcme instead OF in dis
tant states; Fertilizer factories, act ca canning ling
tories. cotton comprt sses; cotton-seed OIL
mills, waterworks, gas works. ice factories.
electric light companies, and hundreds or
olher important enterprises all point un-
erringly to bright and prosperous future.
THE STATE DEBT.
True 1t is that the payable debt of the State
is less than that of any other Southern State,
save perhaps one, yet 1t is well in providing
for the administration of the state Govern
ceed the receipts. 1 am graf. fed to say that
for the past two years, 1883, this has been
observed.
Receipts for 1898 were. $10338N IS
Receipts for 1859 were. 1.l5l,055 10
Making total years: s2.ls4.s6a IS
Disbursements 1889. 81, ,010,6sS 50
Disbursements 1889 :. s70.675 ID
Total disbursements $ISS1, ,3O4 OF 81, sS1. 1904 o.
Receipts in excess of disburse-
ments for the years............... 3 3O355S 43
The reason for the increased receipts of
1889 was due to the half mill additional levy
over lSSe, and the further fact that collections
were only made from October until the LIST OF
January, 1879. besides the collections for 1859
were made upon an increased valuation OF
real and personal property OF S25,WO,COJ over
l68'.
There was cash in the Treasury on the 1st
day of January, 1880, $5a5. 5000. There can
be no doubt that in the course of four years,
will the present rate of taxation and the
natural increase of values, the payable debt
of the State can be anticipated and the bonds
retired.
i am gratified to report to your honorable
body that the law for the collection of the
poll tax recommended by me In my message
of 1886 and again in 1888, and passed at the
latter session, has, as l am Informed by the
tsat
than $4,000, and this year will show q large
increase in collections.
ON this subject l respectfully renew a REQ
ommendation made TO your predecessors IN
1858, that the Legislature at its present ees-
son submit for the consideration ana vote of
the people an amendment to the Constitution
ton TO the right of suffrage. which should re-
ceive the Endorsement of both races
WITNESS FEES.
On two previous occasions. in 1886 and 1883,
called the attention of your predecessors to
what | conceived q most i'm portant measure,
and now respectfully submit for your consid-
Grafton the same recommendation. which, in
my Judgment would materially reduce county
expenses, and especially that class OF expenses
which occur in criminal cases in the Circuit
Court known as fees of witnesses.
IL every .misdemeanor was tried before q
magistrate having jurisdiction. the saving to
the counties of the State would be immense.
every description make their way into the
Circuit Court, and the fees of witnesses are
paid out of the county treasury, when min Q
cases out of ten should be tried before the
Justice OF the Peace In the district where the
odense was committed. To make misde-
meanors triable before Justices OF the Peace
will relieve the Circuit Courts of probably
two-thirds of the criminal cases on their
dockets. The right OF appeal TO the Circuit
Court, and trial by jury when requested, fully
protects the accused in all his rights. In this
connection, beg to submit o former recon-
mendation, that District Attorneys be paid
saariss, and no other fees.
The Snort sittings Of Grand Juries neither
afford the time required, nor have they the
expert knowledge for such thorough invests
cations as are necessary 10 detect dellnquen-
cies- The same may be said of District At
torneys. for they are engaged In the courts,
and do not claim to be expert accountants,
and rarely have the time for patient and
exhaustive investigation of looks and ac-
counts, or thorough knowledge of the