Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1897-05-08

sanrndS n, i1na IS being provided for the county
lowed to y. & .ne pol tax which the county Is Ill.
agalns, fbc bcccSanYnanlfestly couu,, without charge
irfm ~ tne eouhty, ana sum to be distributed
5n nn a tno general fund Of the State, and the sec
NV, unu V'ause likes the basis on which thn distx,bn
moh oh vi 1re general fund from the Stale shai ba
"f tho IN. i.is construction harmo nises eyery part
tair%, ne'uon , ara siyes TO its pivotal word-re.
e u'n,the meaning which it receives in nonuls,
snu lesal parlance II the poll tax assessed il
uUeg.eu " VIII be about In propotiOn TO the ed
i9, uJaoie children OF the counties. as comma rad
S,at at 'ne poll LAX and educable children of ina
this ai'u lne eopntie. receive the beheht,t u
scbo6v,s' 6v,o'{selioh i9r the puipose Of their public
scnools y VIII stimulate them TO its colleciion
Snd ~ d .ne legislature will not have much trouble
~ nHeteIhllllng the amount necessary TO be dis
ttrdouteu trnu IRON the general fund In the State
~ "nury, Wnlch together" with the poll tax
ta, -, ohe county Will enable the county to main
'",n n, ''' common schools four months
alaaso ns exact amount Of the appropriations car
"mavs oe known by the lessiatuie, II being
mere matter dt addition, ard the tasable nran.
eity q the state being ascertainabe with prac.
@ aiv1t certainty, the ad valOrem tax for Inc gen.
aoa,,e ota.e expenditures can be levied with such
accuracy as to make the amounts Of sueh All:
aap,; p,Vp;'aMtlons M and collections nearly exactly
dIHHai, mus avoiding deficit and therefore in.
ueDtedness on the one hand, and snrnlns and
temptation 10 extravaganza on the other. I,sp-
SialVe wisdom should not allow the State I'd
grow IN debt Tor general expenses In tlme HI
peace e. Ihe State lite al individual, ought 10
live within its income
separation OF General From School Fund
= y. ! recommend for your consideration that IN
oiuer 10 put into operation at tpce the seIara.
s Hvn " NV general fund from the common school
,uhu, ana mus prevent the further accumula-
deht % y. az ale otale dept and pay of the present
hept, he anu ayQld the further issuance 6f State
ponus Wn'co ,s tC BE deprecated, you enable the
counties to raise money supplementary to that
already distributed, sufficient to maintain the
scH0olS l0ur months. Otherwise IL would have
70 pc raised ny tasation ny the state and
whether raised by the State or by the counties;
a ane taxes must be paid by the same Individuals
alu ,hI an tle money thus raised by the counties
ylilS year VIII be expended by them respectively.
y re recognize That The constitution directs that
lhere snail be distributed fund sufficient when
auueu 10 the poll tax collected and retained by
lle cOuntyto maintain the county's schools four
'montnsi i put the trainers OF the constitution
we're providing for the establishment OF a school
'ssteln And they well understood that II could
hot pe perfected at 0nce-as did the legislature
lhat adopted the c0de-and whatever Is neces-
odIy 10 put the system on permanent and in
Vulnerable basis IS within the scope and author
lty vi the constitution. In the initiation OF this
system the language Of the constitution Is. Ia
., Hy this means there will be no necessity f.r
me state to borrow money for this years eJ.
pehses the schools Will be maintained this teSt
Lhe same length OF time as heretofore, by TIE
taxation OF the same individuals whose taxfs
nave heretofore maintained them; the Stats's
nnancla system will be so ordered that the debt
VIII cease to accumulate and we will pay Che
lehts that have been incurred and there viii
DC a iund collected exclusively for schools sna
ned sacred for that purpose.
AS the legislature was to be called for tho Sur-
pose OF deyislng ways and providing means 10
meet the appropriations, and as 1t is the general
Il not the universal rule for the ways and nraans
committee to consider this matter and prepare
ma present a bill for this purpose, and as by
section "a OF the constitution all bills must have
.hs consideration OF acommltee, invited f,ierl-
GERS df the ways and means committee to meet
II advance OF the c0nNening OF the legislature,
% consider this matter, which would devoye
lpon them when the legislature should assemble.
by 50 doing thought the detention Of your enA
Ire body. While only the committee could be en-
gagged, could be avoided.
l afterwards invited the finance committee Uf
ne senate to meet, but owing to the dangerous
condition Of the waters of the Mississippi river
It that time only three members OF the COM
niltee could attend,
Land Ofiice.
submit to you copy of report made to me
~ Col. }. NJ. Simonton, land commissioner,
whose faithful laborous and efficient services
n the discharge of the arduOus duties pertaining
% this Office | commend AS you will see by
he report, he has paid into the State treasury,
or lands sold and rcdemptiOns, $50, ,93l. 81, and
lie has paid into the State treasury 81 1868 on
account of fees collected. | recommend the
.ranllng of his request for an appropriation OF
800 to defray his expenses in reclaiming and
the States lands against trespasses.
New Capitol.
As you will see from a report that will be sub
nitted to you by the committee appointed by
'0u, composed OF the governor, secretary OF
state and general to select and sub
nit to you plan and specifications for the
building Of q new capitol, plan and speeiilca.
ions have been selected, and the committee
unanimously agree in recommending 1t to your
body. As the report shows the COM
nitttC had q considerable number OF plans be-
ore them and they were all excellent drawn
md presented by skllilul arcniteets and accom-
)lIshed gentlemen, and while 1t required no el-
ort 10 select good plan there was great DIM
ulty found in making the determinations.
In my judgment the capitol is isdangerous. You
lave had IL examined by experts and you nave
heir report as to its condition and safety. Hav-
ng occupied an office in the building Tor more
han a year Just passed. know from observa-
ion that IL does not afford shelter from the rain
N the first floor. That a new capitol must be
,uilt or the old one entirely and thoroughly
an investigation and inspection Dy
our honorable body will demonstrate. 10
overhaul the old building Will cost two
birds as much as to build Il new one with more
han twice the space of the old, and furnishing
uiiiccnt committee rooms for boh houses,
Without which you cannot transact the public
business with that efficiency, dispatch and con-
'enience that you can with them. You know
md appreciate the difficulties under which. you
ransact the public business without committee
ooms. In The light of the development of
science, a capitol erected at cost
# three quarters Of a million dollars VIII last
nd accommodate the business OF the state Tor
centuries recommend for your consideration
he erection of such capitol
Conclusion.
Gentlemen OF the senate and house OF repre-
entatives, that it was my duty to the state ana
o you to cOnvoke your assemblage In legisla-
i've session at this time indulge no DOUBT; Dut
have approached that duty which requires me
o recommend legislation for your consideration
With trembling timidity and dlflidence. You
ave been selected by honorable and Intelligent
constituencies for your wisdom, craftsmanship
nd patriotism, to enact laws for the happiness
4 the people and the good and glory oil the STATE,
nd earnestly and devoutly invoke the pres
nee of a spirit born of the creator In all your
celebrations.
This concludes my official message to you,
which is intended only for special message 10
mi Won in possession OF such information OF
he he state s Of the government as in my judgment
vim be OF service to you in the special leglsla-
ion YOU will consider. Permit me at this time
o tender YOU a message, more sacred to me, OF
hanks for your gracious resolution Of sympathy
n the death of my daughter, when deeply anu
enderly touched inc, and which, In a spirit oi
umility born of bereavement and sorrow. VIII
iways remember with the deepest sense OF
attitude ANsELM D. MCLAURIN.