The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1897-11-19
THE NEW CAPITOL QUESTION.
Senator kiger Makes Some Timely
Suggestions.
To the Governor and the Legislators of the
state OF Miss ,ssippi;

To the CovernOr and the Lcgisiatofs OF ID
state of Miss.ssippi;
Let the dead past bury It's dead"
And yet, that dead past Of the Cap
itnl bill. IN its momeniolls history u
the session of 1897, needs al least
passing mention.
The Question Of Il new capitol afir
matircly decided IN the State Senate
and pracrically settled So far rs lha'
body was eunrrrnrd, during the rcgu
lar session Of 1895. and hy tacit agree
ment. as H. were. bet tween the twf
houses of the session of 1897. 1t WA.
left to the House OF representative
To formulate Il measure for lie tl>liiivt
enact ment.
From the hour that the Governor.
message favoring the passage OF Il cap
itol bill was read 10 bot h HOUSES OF til,
Mississippi legislature IF 1897, up "a
the announcement Of the vote on til,
Governors yttn, WAS one OF the most
exciting episodes ever recorded In the
annals OF State legislation.
From the initlalury tactics OF the
House Capitol Committee on he plan
OF the building. Il Wn to the report ut
that committee on the GuIcrtO' 5
veto, was tIie Of the hardest pitched
mental battles ever fought out in Il
legislative arena.
Able aiKsEcuts by conscientious
lawyers were heard IN the merits aud
dement's Of The Governnr's objections.
with citatfdn of authorities as +"
cnnstittu ional prerngaiive.
And it is aittery to none TO say that
from the Chief Executive OF our state
down through the personnel Of the
membership IT both houses Of that
legislature, that each and all were
governed by What was conceived To hc
honest convict ions.
Is it necessary that that discussion
should be indefinitely prolonged. I,
the detrimcnl and injury OF the issues
it involves? ,
Is it needtnl that the State SHOULD
he the loser by that extraordinary ses-
sion, or that the fruits OF it's agitation
should be withercd and lost?
Is there such n divergence ofopinion
amongst the adliprents and 0ppOSerS
Of the policy Of the Governor, as To
neceSsitatc a disruption amongst the
representatives Of the people?
Is there no middle ground Of cunccS-
sion and accomplishment. where the
extremes and the means can reach an
agreement?
Are we. the sworn agents of lcgis-
enactment, 81 drrelict In our
luticS as to defy adjudication?
Are the points OF difference so many
md So varied, rs to leave us desperate,
determined and unreasonable?
Is II not evident ~ ever a casual
,bservert that the old capitol building,
condemned by the architects, is day
W day approaching dissolution and in
hourly danger of falling to pieces?
Have there ever been more than
our prominent questions from which
o reach a dctprminate conclusion?
Hasn't tlic,Qucslion Of cost and the
Of site reached il happy de-
Of legislative government.
u an agreement on the same without
xecutive disapproval?
Would it he considered lad arcl,i-
ectural %pyrotcchnics to leave the
ue,tion Of Il plan to the decision OF
OmmisSione"S?:
Couldn't the question Of appoint
irnt OF capitol commissioners. the
)urth and last obstacle in the way of
new capitol. he determined by nam
~ the commissioners in the meas
re-? ''.n. ....r-
All these suggest ions and interrog
landonly conjeclurcd. mater
llized and written, have taken the
it'll out nfthr capitol discussion. and
lown us the plain pathway of dutifuI
litigation.
Let the Gorernnrand the legislators
c hecdfiil OF tie recommendations,
nd do not let a truStfnl people feel
hat we have unnecessarily suuander-
j appropriations.
Let us rise to an appreciation Of
old commonwealth, and give
} Mississippi what she most needs
capitol commensurate with her com.
~ greatness and prosperity.
And, when The past. present and fu-
IRE records Of the State that takes
s name frnm the great Father OF
for the century Of Il cycle of
me. shall have bcen written, the
roudcSt page Of its historic annals
lall be the answering devotion OF
nat State executive officer and thai
glslatnrc Of men. who placed their
atriotism above every consideration {
pun the common altar Of their cOun-
US good. i
b W. G. KIGER,
State Senator from Warren County. ,