The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1899-02-09

ICOls AC buyo lbO oClIOOl ICNGuuC5
for the past year were equivalent to
levy of 7.S mills Oh the whole property
Of the state"
UNFAIR CAMPAIGNING.
Mr.. Smith states that during my
administration the bonded indebted
ness of the state has increasd 500, 900,
and by implication lays this to my
charge. When the facts arc known
such a chage by Mr.. Smith will dis,
gust every thinking, honorable man
who is not blinded by prejudice.
| was inaugurated January 2lst,
1896, and there was not money enough
in the treasury to make the January
distribution of the school fund. On
the 18th of February, twenty -one days
after | was inaugrated, the bill was
introduced for the issuance of these
bonds for $500, 900. See House journal
1896, p. 279
Mr. Smith voted for the bill in the
senate. See journal 1898, D. 547-549.
Shame upon such unfair campaigning
In 1886 an act was passed for the is
suance of five hundred thousands of
six per cent bonds, payable January,
4, 1907, and six per cent bonds were
issued to that amount. See Acts
1885, p. "a. Under an act of 1888, au-
thorizing the issuance of $500, 900 of
per cent bonds. See acts 1888, p.
223, S1O3, 600 bonds we're issued, due
January LIST, 1896.
All this was during Gov. Lowry's in
cumbency. The state is now paying
interest on these bonds. See page 80
81 frno1,1ror'c rnnnrt nf NoUnp1 har
oath, 1897. Listen to that hero in war
and patriot in peace, who never shirks
duty nor shifts a responsibility,
John M. Stone, in his last message to
the Legislature, in 1896. He says at
page 8: THE financial condition of
the state, as shown by the current re-
neither satisfactory or encouraging.
Upon my introduction into office in
1890, I was at once confronted with
financial complications, which, with
slight intermission, have continued
until the present time. The Difficult.
ties were successfully combated until
the meeting of the special session OF
| the legislature of 1894, by which the
| special warrant act was passed. etc.
On page he says: Excess of dis
| bursements over receipts for the bjen-
NAL term ending September 30th, 1895,
| is therefore Sl8l, 765. 30. When we ado
| to this amount 5000, 900 in round num-
bers, now due and payable. on various
accounts, we find an Indebtedness OF
| $500, 900 in round numbers that must
| DO provided for, in addition to the
expenses of the state government in all
Its departments, during the current
biennial term" This was two weeks
before my Inauguration.
do not present these figures and
facts to show that the Legislature from
| 1882 to 1890 were extravagant in ap-
NOMINATIONS, for the governor has very
little to do with appropriations as a
rule for l do not think they were ex-
trayagant. But | present them to
show that this prating of Mr.. Smith,
and his "painstaking figure fur
nisher" is disengenous.
THE CAPITOL NATTER.
In opening the campaign Mr.. Smith
devoted considerable attention to the
capitol bill. suppose that serves as
we'll as any thing else to decoy publlc
attention from his client, the Y. 4
NV. railroad company, and l will ac-
comodate him as far as time will allow
for 1 have extended this address too
far to elaborate that matter. 1t is
more fully elaborated in my veto mes
sage in the House journal of 1897.
Mr.. Smith attempted to prejudice
the members of the Legislature by dis.
torting what / said at Hazlehurst.
never intimated that the Legislature
was putting up job on the state. l
have never uttered word of reflection
upon the legislature. They thong ut
and acted and discharged their constl-
tutional duty in the way they consid-
cred right. When the bill came to me
the constitution REQUIRED me to exam
inc it, and if I could not approve the
bill to point out my objections to il
to the house of representatives where IT
originated, and did SO. The consti-
tuition then required the house to vote
on it, and if it was not passed by two
thirds it was at an end. The house
voted on the bill after the veto, and a
majority of the house voted against
the bill. Did Mr.. Smith care any.
thing about capitol?
Just before the legislature convened
In April, 1897, was told by mutual
A h N