The leader., 1897-05-19
FOURTEENTH DAY,
House.

Jackson, May 12.-The senate committee on
public works has reported in favor of the Cor
don plan for new capitol and the pcnilentlary
grounds as the site. This creates a direct clash
between the two bodies, If the senate concurs
IN the committees rec0mmen latiOn. The house
has adopted the plan of Weathers Weathers
OF Memphis and selected the present site as the
one for the new building. The senate also
passed the amendment to the constitution rela-
tive TO the school fund. Ii levieS tax of 3 mills
for common schools and leaves the poll taxes in
the counties where the same are collected
Three mills will amount to about 1890, and
the poll taxes, estimated on collections for last
year. amount to about 1929 900. The two make
school fund amounting to $4,000. Under the
present system the schools receive, inclusive OF
the poll taxes, S923, 500. 1t is estimated that on
an average 100000 is distributed from the State
treasury, the polls making up the difference. AS
will be seen, this amendment Will save the State
about $3.50 annually. The counties are given
the authority to levy additional taxes for school
purposes.
The house was called to order at o'clock and
spent most of the morning session discussing
the bond bill for the new capitol.
Hr. Houston called up senate bill No. !, an
act to provide for any deficit in the State reve-
nue." and moved it he considered engrossed,
read third time and placed upon its final pass
age. The bill empowers the governor to borrow
100000, payable in 1899, and to draw interest
not exceeding per cent per annum.
The bill was p used with one dissenting vote.
The bill Is as follows:
Section l. Be it enacted, That the governor is
hereby authorized and empowered to borrow a
sum of money not to exceed 500 900 at rate Of
interest not to exceed per cent per annum, pay
able on or before January TO- 1899, but the inter-
est to be payable as may be agreed upon. Said
sum or sums of money shall be borrowed as
needed by the State of Mississippi TO defray the
expenses Of the State from July l. 1897, to jan
uary T. 1898.
Sec. .. That the levy for the year 1897 be and
the same is hereby fixed at Ga mills. Boards Of
supervisors may levy taxes for all purposes,
which, added to the State tax. will make Is mills
on the dollar and no more. provided counties
having an outstanding Indebtedness may levy
an additional tax for paying interest thereon and
to create a sinking fund to pay the principal, II
necessary, but the whole amount levied shall
;ot exceed Is mills.
Sec. g. That this act shall take effect and be In
force from and after its passage.
Senate.
The senate was called to order at 9 clock and
proceeded 10 consider on its second reading con-
current resolution No. 4, proposing TO amend
the constitution relative TO the levy for common
school purposes. The resolution was passed on
its second reading by vote OF 81 yeas to nays.
Mr.. Cook introduced bill entitled an act to
authorize the board OF levee commissioners for
the IaZo0- Mississippi delta to issue bonds to an
amount not exceeding 100000, and for other
purposes. Referred TO committee on Levers.
Mr.. Smith, from the committee on public
works, reported. with amendments, house bill
No. IL, an act to authorize and provide for the
building of the State house.
Senate bill No. ~, to require services of Ger :
tain persons on the levees, was indefinitely post
Mr. Smith called up senate bill No 1888. to au-
thOrZe the organization OF loan and trust com
panies, passed at the last session of the legisa-
ture. and returned by the governor at this ses
sion without his approval and with his oblec-
tons thereto. The bill and the governors OBJ
jectons were read.
On motion OF Mr.. Wells the bill was referred
to the judiciary committee to ascertain il the
bill Is not already law, the same not having
been returned to the senate with the governor $
objections within the constitutional time
Mr.. Greaves called up house bill No. ~, to au-
thorze and provide for the building of State
house and to provide offices for the State officers
and repositories for the books, records, papers
and archives belonging to the State during the
construction OF a Statehouse. The same was
made the special order for O'Clock pm.
Inc senate committee on public works report
ments, the principal OF which are to adopt the
Gordon" in lieu Of the "Weathers" plan and
to change the site Of the new building from the
present to The "penitentiary Site"
Mr.. Cook from the levee committee recon-
mended the passage OF senate bill No. 20. author
iZing the commissioners OF the Yazoo- Missis-
sippi delta levee district to borrow $500 900 for
leyee purposes, and the same was at once called
Mr. McLaurin, from the committee on levees.
recommended the passage OF a substitute for
senate bill no II, but bearing same title. and
the.bill was Immediately called up, considered
and passed.
sumed in discussing the house capitol bill. 1t
amendeded the bill In several particulars. The
amendments provide that the capitol shall be
erected on the penitentiary site, and the Gordon
plan is adopted. The bill as amended also pro-
vides that each branch OF the legislature shall
elect one OF the commissioners, and that the two
in Joint session shall elect the third one. The
house bill was also amended in several other
minor particulars. The house provides for the
present site, the Weathers plan, and that the
three capitol commissioners shall be elected by
a Joint session OF the two houses.
Following is the bond bill as it passed the
house:
An act authorizing the Issuance OF State bonds
for the purpose " erecting new State capitol.
Seetionl. Be II enacted BY the legislature OF
the State OF Mississippi, for the purposes here
inafterexpressed, and no other, the governor OF