Mexico weekly ledger., 1901-01-24
AEASsCNe 1nt
V6PdMGAN


| M0nGatr Jaulaft IL AFtAt "AA t
uazny years be a re6-letter day in The
history q this city. II was beyond
all doubt the biggest Inauguration
DAY the Capital CITY eser saw. ThOus-
znds q people from many sections q
The State attended. The day vas the
mcSt beautiful mid-winter day ever
seen in this latitude Good feeling
prevailed enthusiasm abounded, and
all things worked well together q
give the new Governor a splendid send
ca
4 strong effort viii be made 70 re
peal the Third Amendment TO the
State constitution, taxing Marriages,
etc. which was adopted By a vote q
the people at the last election. OF
course, the effort viii be To gel the
people 10 vote again on the proposition
to repeal IT. 1t is now a part of the
constitution and viii remain Sc until
the people vote to strike it out
1t is proposed to lengthen the term
Of Office Of the prosecuting attorney,
county treasurer. collector and sheriff,
and make each a f0uF-year. one-term
Office, also make the Circuit Court and
County Court clerks assessor and re
c0rder, each a one-term Office. II
the people Of a county desire to re-
elect a faithful oficer let them do IL
Don't cut too deep into the right Of
the people to govern themselves
Mr.. Clay, Of Audrain, has introduced
q bin requiring the husband and wife,
where each has a cause Of action grow
ing out Of the same circumstances
70 Join in one and the same action and
state their case in fun in one suit.
This requirement does not take from
either an inherent right-simply re-
quires them 10 sue jointly.
As soon as Gov. Dockery was in
Quoted into Office he requested
from the Auditor a full statement Of
the money in the State Treasuy-an
itemized statement Of the various
funds, etc. The total sum was ST.
3O5,0344L The Auditor also gave a
statement Of deficiencies already exis-
ting for 1890 and 1900, and they foot
up s336,350.95. The criminal cost de-
6cieDcy alone rounds up $4,000 The
Auditor also gave estimates as 20 the
sum-total Of money likely to be paid
into the treasury during 1901 and 1902
and placed it at 100000, and an e.
innate as to the amount likely TO be
paid out at s4,S62 BASS.
II a fair and just and constitutional
franchise taxing law could be passed,
and IL it should be rigidly enforced,
the State tax on realty and personality
could be reduced. The value Of the
franchises In this State is simply i'm
mense, aggregating, no doubt, many
hundred millions. Heretofore, not one
dollar Of the valuable property has
been taxed for the State, for the
county, city, town OF school district.
With these two facts staring me in
the face / give # as my opinion that
the enactment Of a franchise taxing
Law is doubtful Several bills looking
TO a tax on franchises are now pend
ing. When the present constitution
was framed no one thought Of a fran
ehise tax, and there is much difficulty
in making a constitutionallaw On that
subject. Senator Orchard thinks that
taxpayers should have the right to
appeal from county Boards Of Equali-
ration on the asseSsmentof their prop
erty to the Circuit Court, and has in
trodueed a bill allowing such appeals.
Ninety-nine taxpayers out Of every
hundred would lose more than he
could probably gain By suchan appeal,
even If he won on his appeal.
Though the deficiency in criminal
costs amounts to $4,000. yet, Senator
Dowell desires to repeal Section 1852,
Revised Statutes Of 1899, which says
that all fines, penalties and forfeit
uTes shall go to pay the criminal costs
Of the county.
A very important bill has been intro
duced by Senator DAWSON, calling for
compulsory arbitration Of matters Of.
difference between employers and en-
ployes, o. in other words, to put a stop
to strikes. The bill authorizes the
Circuit Judge, in whose district the
strike may occur, to appoint an arbi-
tratiOn board Of three pers0ns-a law
yer, an employer Of labor and a labor
Ing ~man-whose duty it shall be to in
quire into and decide all matters Of
difference, and their decision shall be
binding upon the parties for six
months. Suppose neither party ac-
the decision, orone party accepts
and the other party ignores 1t, then
WHAT The bin doesn't say what
next
Not less than two dozen bills have
been introduced to protect game and
fish, and are as varied in their respect
i've features as Joseph's coat was in
Senator Farrisi bin says, in
effect, that II any one should desire to
send his friend In the city a half dozen
ora wild turkey, the railroad
that takes them 10 him shall be fined
not less than go nor more than $500.
Owing % the prevalence Of small
pOx in about % OF the III counties in
The State, Senator Tandy wants the
bard d health chapter Of the Revised
statutes amended by creating al
board Of health. composed
the county judges and a reputa-
bic physician, 20 be selected By them.
md giving 10 that board the same
within the county that the
state board has in the state.
Senator Walker wants the railroads.
. furnish separate cars for the white
nd cOlored people, and his bill pro ;
rides for a nne Of not less than 500
loF more than $500 against any rail-
cad that fails 70 do 50. +
Senator Martin, Of Saline. favoB
'unishing ~kidnappeB with weI-de
erEed severity. He puts the penalty
Z death or Imprisonment IN the peni-
sntiary for not less than 10 yearS, and
hey may be tired in any county into !
Thieh or through which the kidnap-
ef passe2
Senator Paris By request, has IN !
roduoed a bill appropriating slO.oO
u the collection and display q Mis-
yuH eYhibifr AZ fha pzu-A.~.r..