The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1899-12-01
Mississippi Educational gu .liHrat,oa.

your inquiries.
q The practical operation of the franchise
clause Of our constitution Of 1890 has proven
very satisfactory.
! The total registered vote of this state In
1895 was l25,24sa. White, los, 9ss; colored,
1884. The negroes do not seem to care to
vote except in the presidential election, and
In the river districts in congressional cleo,
ton. Although 1884 negroes were regis.
tered in the congressional year, 1898, the
total Republican vote. mostly negro, wa.
only 4,@s, In the presidential vote, 1896
there were only 4,Sl9 Republican mostly
negro} votes.
In the presidential vote Of 1895, of the
los,9ss whites registered, only IA 1874 voted
When a man goes to vote he must not only
be able to stand the educational test, but il
he has failed to pay his poll and other taxes
for the two years ending the LIST day of
February preceding the election, he is dis,
qualified, SO that you see our franchise
clause is absolutely impartial as between
the races.
In order to fully understand our suffrage
scheme, you will have to consider our
school and election laws sent you. The
constitution guarantees four months school.
ing to all the children of the state, and
when the school fund is distributed 10 the
counties by the auditor the distribution is
pro rated to the number of educable chill.
dren. There are 10000 more colored edu-
cables than whites, and nearly as many
colored teachers as white, so that the ne.
groes get the largest share of the school
fund, while they pay less thar 10 per cent.
OF the school tax. In the black counties
THIS operates to giving the negroes longer
terms and better salaries reverse in
the white counties. In the black counties
less than q third of the race are enrolled,
and yet the fund is sent there per capita.
My idea is to make the distribution on
actual enrolment or average attendance.
This would stimulate attendance.
The special weakness of our primary
election law is that thousand, of non-tax.
payers are permitted to vote-the same
care not being exercised as in the general
election. Whereas, the greatest care
should be in the primary, which determines
the choice Of the people. Ii this could be
remedied-and it can be, by the executive
and election commissioners and
inspectors purging the poll-books-the
scheme could not well b. improved.
Our very liberal dealing with the negro
In school matters has satisfied him that his
best interests are safe in the hands of the
whites, SO that he has practically retired
from politics. When they vote in state or
municipal elections and there is nc Repub-
lican candidate, they select the Democrat
or Populite that suits them best.
Yours very truly,
j. L. Power.
The Massachusetts, state board of
health has expended about 800, 900
during the past sixteen years. during
time it has collected and exam
med about 10000 specimens or sam.
pies of food and drugs, has conducted
about 400 prosecutions against Offend
'rs and secured the intliction of fines
amounting to 1913, 600. And vet some
people complain because the Missis.
'ippi state board of health has expended
lbout the same sum in same period
81 "Ur.s .-.
4 the Massachusetts board could ha We
collected and examined a few thous-
md specimens of Mississippi microbes
hey would have had some real bust
less on their hands.
The legislature will meet January I'd,
The newly elected state officers will
AXE charge January 18th. Judge Lon
zinc will be installed AS governor on
he 10th, provided the speaker Is elected
the first day OF the session. On the
anne day that inauguration of COVER
Tor takes place, the legislature will
!ect a United States senator for the
ERIN ending March 8, 1901, and also a
enator for the six years beginning
larch 4, 1901. This is a brief state.
1ent OF what has been already fully
ublished in these columns.
"O~steopathy."
A practitioner OF osteopathy in Mis-
ouri, wanting to know if he could
the same in Mississippi, we re-
erred his inquiry to DR.. j. +. Hunter,
ecretary state board of health, and
his is his reply: II will state that there
as already been a test case Of this
in the southern portion of the
ate last year. The court decided that ,
was illegal, unless the party held H.
.nse from the Mississippi state board
[ health"
The Tishomingo Savings institution e.,
a healthy deposit recently I
ON the firm of Phil ps, Kinds & Co.,
ooneville--just S44, 400. 56-the largest
ngle deposit since the bank was es- {
'blished in 1867. {
DR.. Mitchell, superintendent State :
unatic asylum. wants the name of the '.
.stitution changed to State Hospi. {
L."
Crystal Springs is moving for a sI01,- J
% cotton factory. And it is a move in I
re right direction. !,
The commissions for all county Off. =
RS will be ready for distribution dur. !
& the first week in December. They 5
e now being prepared by the secre- .
ry OF state. They will be sent the {
rcuit clerk. The commissions for sem b
ors, representatives and district at. a
rneys will be mailed direct TO them. 7
The realty and personally assess y y
OF Jackson for 1899 foot up :,
'o44' 1895. The tax levy being 10 y
Ills, makes the municipality receive !.
next fiscal year &84, I'll 10. We have !.
fore us the city assessment for 1s59-- :.
forty years ago. The realty valu- y
ion was s7s4, 44S. 90; amount of money q
med. ETC., S77. 3O9. 90; property tax, Il
0G4 As. rA11 &c. sDG m H.