Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1895-12-07
NUMBER 8.
MISSISSIPPI MATTERS.
The School Question.

uLICClDOlIIl MAI J. E1lDs
The School Question.
There seems to be manifested all along
the line disposition to make chaoges
in the existing school law, says tho
Carthage Carthaginian. One significant
feature Of this disposition to mako
changes Is that the iconoclasts are not
fully agreed as TO which particular part
OF the school law really needs patching.
One asks to have the examinations OF
teachers each year done away with.
maintaining that one examination be-
fore license to teach Is granted should
do for all time to come; while another
objects TO this feature and still another
to that. Wesuspect the legislature will
do we'll TO 60 slow in the matter OF max
ing changes. While there are doubtless
somo crudities in tho school law, and
some things which need modification, ii
is on the whole grand work. and
another generation will give to State
perintendent Preston the praise to
which his untiring zeal and unflanging
interest In the educational interests Of
our State justly entitle him. Upon his
administration the efficiency Of tho
teachers has been increased a. least SO
per cent. and under the system inaug-
uratcd at mis- suggestion the good work
must continue to 60 on. The semi-an-
nual examinations have given us a
grade of teachers we probably never
should have had but for these examina-
tions. The fact that they were to stand
such examinations added spur to their
tagging zeal and made them familiar
ize themselves with the new and i'm
proved methods Of imparting instruc-
tion, and as result, instead OF horde
of fossilized and narrow-minded teach
ers, Mississippi has today corps of
wide-awake and progressive instructors,
OF which she may we'll be proud. This
paper has not been backward in its
criticisms of school matters when such
were needed, but it is Of the opinion
that general and indiscriminate tink-
ering with the school law will result in
harm.
VIII Change the Law.
There is little question but what the
Legislature will amend that clause OF
the surety law providing that none but
companies doing an exclusive "urety
business shall be admitted to the State.
1t was never intended to exclude SOL
vent companies doing general busi-
ness of making bonds. This feature Of
OF excluding all companies except those
doing sole surety business has served
to keep some of the best companies out
OF the State at time when they are
badly needed. But for the surety COM
panies, it is stated, it would be i'm
possible for many of the county officials
to make their bonds. 1t has been sug-
gested that another important amend
ment will be urged to the present law,
to the effect that all the officers shall
make their bonds is surety companies
and that the county or State, as the
case may be, shall pay for the same.
In somo OF the small counties, where
the bond is large and the remuneration
small, it would be hardship to mako
the officials pay the expense OF making
their bonds, as in some OF them, 1t
would consume large per cent. Of the
fees and commission. NJ. Henry, in
Commercial-Appeal
Prof Kincannon Cancd.
Meridian, Nov. 29.-Prof A. A. Kin
cannon, who has occupied the position
of superintendent of the Meridian pub
lie schools during the past nino years,
and who was recently elected State
superintendent OF education, today re-
tired from the Meridian superinten-
dency, he being succeeded by Prof. ].
G. Deupree, late of Mississippi College,
one of the most distinguished educators
in the State. AS token of their
esteem the teachers and pupils Of the
several schools rendered Prof. Kincan-
non an elegant banquet this evening, q
most pleasant part of the program being
the presentation to him of number Of
handsome and costly presents, among
them being beautiful gold watch and
gold-headed walking cane. Now that
he is free from the responsibilities Of
the Meridian schools, Prof. Kincannon
will devote himself to preparations for
the duties Of the State olIjce that he
will assume in January.
North Mississippi Conference.
Water Valley, Nov. 27.-The twenty
sixty session of the North Mississippi
annual conference OF the M. Z. Church,
South, convened in this city this morn
ing at o'clock, BishopO. p. Fitzgerald
presidsng. The roll was called by
Rev. ]. s. Oakley, of Holly Springs,
and about 1875 members were present
Rev. j. 0. Oakley was elected secretary,
with Revs. Il. NJ. Evans, G. Ii. Lips
comb and J. c. Park assistant secre-
taries.
Reports were presented from the
boad Of mission, from the publishing
house at Nashville and from the board
of trustees of Malone College at Holly
Springs, Grenada College Institute at
Grenada and Millsaps College at jack
son.
Western Emlgrants.
Thirteen carloads Of Vest n emf
grants, with their stock and farm i'm
plements, household effects, etc, ar
rived at Canton last week and inmediA-
tely take possession Of the farms which
they had bought in Madison county.
They are all thrifty, energetic farmers,
and are said to bo we'll pleased with
their purchases.
Rewards for Lynchers.
Gov. Stone has issued reward Of
$500 for the arrest and conviction OF
each OF the mob who engaged in lynch
ing the negro at Crystal Springs on the
night OF November 20, who had been
convicted at Brookhaven as Jack Var
brough. alias Charley White, and SEN
fenced to the penitentlary for life. 1t
ia estimated there were about $50 men