The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1897-12-22
LETTER FROM THE CAPITAL.
Things That Were Done, Seen
and Heard Last Week.

Special Correspondence OF The Leader.l
JACKSON, Dec. 20.-The size of the
State pension roll is beginning to be a
matter of very serious concern, and
unless a halt is called, its growth will
be as abnormal as that of the general
government. Eight or ten years ago,
when the State first began to pension
the old veterans of the lost cause, the
list included less than 1000 names, and
each pensioner received twenty some
odd dollars. To-day $4,000 is appro-
priated for this purpose and the 1000
on the State pension rolls receive the
pitiful sum of about sl7. 1t may be,
as is expected, that some frauds are
practiced. If that is true, the deserv-
ing pensioners should assist the Aud
itor in purging the lists Of all those
who are not really needy. The super
visors should be more particular in
passing on applications for pensions
than they appear to have been.
DIR. T. J. Mitchell, superintendent of
the State Lunatic Asylum, in his re-
port to the legislature, makes some in
teresting statements showing the ex-
tent of the work of that great institu-
tion. 1t was established about 1850
and the appropriation for the first year
was only $1,000. Now the annual ap-
preparation is $4,000, but all Of this
sum is not expended. There are now
Sl3 inmates, of whom l91 are white
males, 23S white females, l9l colored
males, and 1913 colored females. Dur
ing the past two years 26l patients
were admitted, 143 were discharged,
and 81 died. DR.. Mitchell has been in
charge 20 years, and is the right man
in the right place. He recommends
that additional room be built, but at
the East Mississippi Asylum, at Merid-
ian, instead of here.
From the Forthcoming report of Aud
itor Holder it may be seen that the
States resources are derived from a
personally valuation of S44 ,994,19 a
realty valuation of $ll3,2l0,93l, rail
roads, express companies, telegraphs,
etc, s24,6s2,s ,s76, which, including 254,
347 polls at So each, yields the sum OF
s1,7ls, ,469. SO, the State tax being 61a
mills.
The members of the State bar who
we're here last Monday held meeting
at the Supreme Court room, Judge
Woods being the chairman, at which
it was decided to hold a memorial
meeting on the third Monday of JAN,
at which time resolutions of respect
to the memory of Senator j. z. George
will be adopted and tributes paid to
his memory.
The Pearl River News is publishing
a petition for the pardon of Will Pur-
Wis, the Marion county whitecap-mur-
derer, that is signed by 1874 men. Pur-
Wis will be remembered as the poor
fellow who was hanged two or three
years ago, but miraculously escaped
death. either through the carelessness
or the conniving of the Sheriff. Any
way, when the drop was sprung, Purvis
shot through the trap-door to the
ground and was not injured at all. He
was afterwards resentenced, but the
Governor commuted the sentence to
Imprisonment for life, and he is now
In the penitentiary. l believe ma
jority of the people of the State would
be glad to see Purvis set at liberty.
Governor McLaurin's letter to the
Anti Ly ynching Association OF Ohio,
has the true ring. 1t is one OF his
numerous acts that the people of the
State will endorse. The secretary OF
association, "coon" no doubt, writes
the Governor that he thought the State
of Mississippi was everlastingly dis
graced by the recent lynching in Law
renee county, and the Governor very
properly reminded him that Mississip-
pi is able to run it's own affairs without
any assistance from the people OF a
State that experiences more crimes IN
week than we do in month of Sun
DAYS, and advising him to get the Gin
der out of his own eye before he goes
to finding them in those of other folks.
The secretary of the Ohio association
is an ignoramous of some kind and the
Governor sat down on him by suggest
ing that instead of trying to write di-
atribes against his betters he would
find it more profitable to study spell
ing book.
1t is reported that movement is on
foot in jackson to have the legislature
reduce the price of marriage licenses,
but if the weddings keep up at the
present rate for week or two longer
the young people of this section Will
derive no benefit from the reduction
they'u all be married before the soions
get here. Several interesting events OF
this character are on tapis for the near
future-among them being Miss Bessie
Hart, daughter of John Hart, one OF
the wealthiest men in this section.
Miss Hart will 60 to Tampa, Fla, as
Mrs. Asher.
The Kings Daughters have deter
mined that the poor children OF this
community shall have little pleasure
ON Christmas day, and have raised
unite a nice little sum by entertain