The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1897-05-06

s .onps 3 &c q =, = I pssfsis IN liza s. so 81 si : 4.
sxaipst ths sounsy, and ! Iismt = 8 distsibsas1
ffosl the general fu.d q ~ States and ~ So
tion d TIE general fund from he stats shall b
made. This construction hafm0nixss evsTy part
0f the section and gives to rs pivotal Wosd-le-
tain-e,e meaning which II rece!yes 70 popular
collected 4 will be about IN propotion 70 the -.
ucabie chllArcn OF the counties, - co0pAgod.
with the poll tax and educable childsen 81 tho
STATE. and i The counties recsive tns Deneas q
schools 1t will stimulate them 70 ~ eo1leetiOn,
and the legislature will not have much trouble
In deteTmining the amount necessary 70 Be dis
treasury. (which together. With the poll tax
tain Ito common schools four months.
This exact amoust Of the appropriations eaH
always DO known BY the legislature. II beisg .
erty Of this State being ascertainabie with prac-
ticxl certainty, the nd yaiOfen tax for the gen.
eral State expenditures can be levied with such
accuracy ~ TO make the amounts OF such aP-
propriati0Hs and collections nearly exactly
equal. thus avoiding . deficit and therefore In:
debtedness on the one hand, and = surplus and
temptation to extrxvagance on tbe other. Lsg.
islative wisdom should not allow the State ia
grow in debt for general EXPENSES in time Of
peace. The State, like an individual, ought to
live within Its income.
Separation Of General From School Fund
1 recommend for your consideration that In
order 70 put into operation ut once the separa.
ton OF the general fund from the common school
fund, and thus prevent the further accumula-
debt, and avoid the further issuance Of State
bonds, which Is to be deprecated, you enable the
counties to raise money supplementary to that
already distributed, sufficient to maintain the
nttnn f,,.s .anAI. ltl .A~uuta a xasA.,IA nrYa
to be raised by taxation by the State, and
whether raised by the State or by the counties,
the taxes must be paid BY the same individuals.
and all the money thus raised BY the counties
this year will be expended by them respectively.
We recognize that The constitution directs that
there Shall be distributed a fund sufficient when
added to the poll tax collected and retained by
the county to maintain the county's schools four
months; but the trainers OF Tie constitution
were providing Tor the establishment Of a school
system and they Well understood that it couid
not be perfected at once-as did the Legislature
that adopted the code-and whatever is neces-
sary TO put the system on a permanent and in
vulnerable basis is within the scope and author
lily OF the constitution. In the imitation OF this
system the language OF the constitution Is, in
the very nature oi things, to be construed as
directory.
BY lhts mems there will be no necessity for
the state TO borrow money for this years eX-
Uellses; the scba,ols Will be maintained this year
the same length OF time as heretofore. by the
- tfH Stitt+ litil tAtVi NfllpoS taAtJ
have heretofore maintained them; tho states
financial system Will be so ordered tina. the debt
VIII Cease 70 accumulate and we VIII, pay the
debts that nave been incurred; and there viii
be q fund collected exclusively for schools and
held sacred for that purpose,
AS the legislature was 10 be called for the pur-
pose OF devislns ways and providing means to
meet the appropriations, and as IL IL Ia: general
II not The universal rule Tor the ways and means
committee to consider this matter anu prepare
aud present u bill for this purpose. and as by
section "A OF The constitution all bills must have
the consideration OF Il committee, 1 invited meln-
bers OF the ways and means committee to meet
IN advance OF The convening Of the legislature,
to consider this matter, which would devolve
upon them when the Legislature should assemble.
BY so doing | thought the detention Of your en-
tire body. while only the committee could be en-
gagged, could be avoided.
! afterwards invited the finance committee of
the senate TO meet, but owing to the dangerous
condition OF the waters OF the Mississippi river
Al that time only three members VI tile COM
mittee could attend.
Land O.ice.
l submit to you 4 copy OF n report made to me
by Col. j. M. SimOntOn, land commissioner,
whose faithful, laborious and ef1 cient services
In the discharge of the arduous duties pertaining
to this Office l commend As you Will see by
the report, ne has paid intn the Stale treasury,
for lands sold and redemptions, S36, 93I 81, and
lie has pad into the State treasury 81 ,466. 43 on
account of fees collected. l the
granting OF HIS request IOr an appropriation OIL
700 to uefray his expenses in retaining and
protecting the states lands against trespasseS.
New Capitol.
As you will see from u report that will be sub
mitted to YOU by. the committee appointed by
you, composed OF the governor, secretary OF
state anu attorney general, to select and sub
nit to you a plan and specifications Tor the
building OF a new capitol, q plan and specihca-
tons lave been selected, and The committee
unanimously agree In recommending IL to your
honorable body. AS the report shows, the com
mittee had a considerable number OF plans be-
fore them, and they were all excellent, drawn
and presented by skillfnl arciiiteeis and acc0ni-
pushed gentlemen, aud while " required no Ell
fort TO select 4 good pan there was great difi-
Guilty found IN making tile determinations.
In my Judgment the capitol Is dangerous. Y0n
have had " examined by experts and you have
their report as to It's condition and safety. HAY
Ing occupied an Office in the building Tor more
than u year just passed. | know from Observa-
tion that II does not afford shelter from the rain
for the records and archives of the state, even
on the first floor. That a new capitol must be
built Or the old one entirely aud thoroughly
overhauled, an investigation and inspection by
your honorable body will demonstrate. To
properly overhaul the old building will costtw0-
thirds as much rs to build u new one with more
than twice the space vi the old, and furnishing
sufficient committee rooms for both houses,
without which you cannot transact the public
business with that efficiency, dispatch and con-
venience that you Can with them. You know
anu appreciate TIC ul1mCultIeS unueF WHICH you
transact the public business without committee
rooms. In the light of The development OF
architectural science, Il capitol erected at \ cost
OF three quarterS of u million dollars vii last
and accommodate the business OF the Sthte for
centuries. | for your consideration
tile erection Of such II capitol.
Conclusion.
Gentlemen OF the senate and house OF repre-
sentatives.t That 1t was my duty TO ,ie State and
to you to cOnyOke your asseinblage I'm lesisla-
tive session at this Hint l indulge no doubt; but
l have approached that duty Which requires me
to recommend legislation for your consideration
with trembling ilunldity and dIfidence. You
have been selected by honorable and intelligent
constituencies for your wisdom, statesmalship
and patriotism, to enact laws for the happiness
Of the people and the good and glory Of the state,
and | earnestly and devOutly invoke the pres
ence Of a spirit born OF the creator In all your |
deliberations.
This concludes my Official message TO you,
which Is intended only for u special message 10
put you III possession of such Information OF
the state OF the government ~ In my judgment
Will be OF service to You In the special legisla-
tion you will consider. Permit Inc at this tine
to tender You a message. more sacred to me, Of
thanks Tor your gracious resolution Of sympathy |
IN the death OF my daughter. which deeply and
tenderly touched me, and which, In a spirit OF
humility born OF bereavement aud sorrow, | will
always remember with the deepest sense Of
gratitude. ANsELM j. MCLAURlN.
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THINGS ABOUT MANKIND.