The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1890-03-08

is absolutely the only tax that most of
them pay, and let us say it to their
credit, they pay it cheerfully and with
out murmur. Ii is safe to estimate
that this class of our citizens pay about
one-half Of the revenue derived from
cotton. To make the change then sug-
gested by Senator Cameron's bill
would relieve them without their re-
quest Of the only tax they pay and add
say from $S5,00000 to $l00O0000 per
annum to the burdens of the farmers,
planters and land owners of the dis
trict who already have enough to bear.
Again, with the tax all placed on land
and personally ii must be paid with
out deduction or defalcation whether
the season be favorable or adverse.
On the other hand with the cotton tax,
the planters and laberer only pays on
what he actually makes and gathers.
Then too, the revenue derived from
this source commences to be available
with the opening of the cotton season
and contractors can be paid in cash
from time to time as their work pro-
crosses without borrowing from banks
or delaying settlements. In this way
largely can we account for the fact
that our Levee Board does its work
for far less than similar organizations
in this and neighboring States.
The cost of collecting the cotton tax
has been urged as reason for its re-
peal. This is scarcely logical. If this
objection really exists tho proper rem
edy would be to reduce the cost, but
to leave the tax untouched.
Upon investigation we have ascer-
tanned that for the past few years it
has cost about 1-2 per cent for weigh
ing aud collecting. 1t is well known
that sherifis and tax collectors are paid
for collecting the taxes on realty and
personally per cent on the first $l0,-
600 and 8 per cent on the excess,
When the additional risk and labor of
collecting the cotton tax is considered
IL may well be doubted II the differ
ence is very excessive. In this con-
ection, however, we would suggest
at the Levee Board al its next ses-
IN be urged to see If anything can
~ intelligently done to reduce this
ann of expense. We would advocate
dsking the fees of the cotton tax col
ctor conform to the commissions
paid sheriffs and tax collectors for like
duties under existing laws, and re-
quiring the collector to pay personally
for weighing and for all other items of
expense.
For these reasons, we are compelled
to differ with the measure introduced
by Senator Cameron. We gladly note
however that as production increases,
the Gotten tax can and will be gradu-
ally reduced. Last year the Levee
BOARD made reduction of one-fourth.
~ der any circlinstaiiOossnrthar and
Us carded.
se Were we disposed to prolong dis
u u cussion already too lengthy we nigh
10 go beyond the general scope and poin
y, out numerous practical defects in Sen
! ator Cameron's bill. Let one suiilo
~ as a sample of all. Realizing the diff
W Guilty of building levees in the summe
ss,u and fall from an entirely ad-valoren
VI tax on land aud personally, which il
~ ~ the nature of things could not be col
iu lected until late in the winter, 1t |
:, ~ found necessary to provide the revenu
81 many months in advance. This bein,
ile done difficulty arises in the DANCE
" =, of keeping over quarter of a milliol
~ :. dollars idle for so long time in tn
81 hands of the Secretary and Treasure
" of the Board. To obviate this Sectio
20 Five is injected into the bill and furn
a. az ishes unique departure in lcvee legis
% lature. Under the provisions of thi
W startling and novel section tho Leve
We Board are in effect metamorphose,
" into full fedged bank and are re
quired to lend out on interest an,
y with proper security the taxes collect
~ ed from the people, upon which dc
ne m pends their protection from the angr
rs waters of the Mississippi. Now if W
~ could all be borrowers of this fun
% %'os and each citizen. whether red heade,
,u au or not get his part of "the chicken pi,
- VA we might look upon It with certain
"a degree of complacency; but when it |
~ ~ remembered that of the many calle,
~ ~ "few will be chosen" we apprehen,
's' that the banking feature of the ney
on bill will meet with little favor, although
1t was doubtless intended a popula
~ feature. Seriously speaking we sub
on init 1t would be most hazardous Il
W.o W thus risk SO important fund.- Secur
vi tiles highly valuable at one time oftel
81 become worthless when least expected
~ " In times of financial disturbance evel
y gilt edge securities cannot be convert
~ ~ ed into actual money, and every bank
y, er knows that the best of borrower
W are occasionally forced to ask enten
~ ~ sion. A Levee Board with its fund
us =. thus invested would be placed in al
- alarming position of uncertainty.
" And here we leave Senator Came
~ ron's bill. While we have unhesita
~ ~ tingly expressed our autagonism to il
Va v. we cheerfully concede that in intro
.s as ducing the measure, Mr.. Cameron wa
u,.s' actuated by sincere desire to NEE
!, the objections TO the cotton tax mad
~ - in certain parts of the district. Sena
,io tor Cameron is himself heavy Ian,
y, " owner in Sharkey county, and we un
70, derstand the views indicated by hi
~ ~ Levee Bill are largely shared by th
slu planters there. But in Bolivar county
M ~ where we are Immediately exposed t,
* the dangers against which the Leve,
~ =" system is our sole salvation, we ar
n convinced that our attitude will b,
~ almost universally endorsed, and tha
- popular sentiment will disapprove o
e any change that has not been yer,
=, " fully considered and debated upon b,
- ~ those whose interests are so viially a
e stake.
1t AN ACT to provide for an enumcra
at tion of the educable children of thi
'e- State.
TO Section |. BE II enacted by the Leg
Ic- islature of the State of Mississppl
,s- That the assessor of each county i,
eg this State shall enumerate the educa
mt BILE children of the county in the yea
Id 1890, in accordance with the provision
nd OF chapter ten (10) acts 1882.
lis Sec. 2. That the enumeration take,
NJ lt "a IL. l.