The sea coast echo. [volume] (Bay Saint Louis, Miss.) 1892-current, 1902-11-01
WRIT ADAMS, MISSISSIP-,
PTS REVENUE AGENT.
Holds rlost Renumerative Position In
the State-A History of the Office
Has Always Been in the
Adams Family.

! The Office of State revenue
agent was first created in 1873, by
an act of the Legislature, and for
Ia while it went begging, the Gov
ernor finding, it hard to get capa-
Ihle men TO serve for the meager
fee attached. The first appoint
ed was Capt. John Fl. Echols,
formerly State treasurer, and af-
ter four year incumbency, be
quit the office to accept position
as superintendent Of private
lumber and wood business. He
! is quoted MS having said the place
didn't pay enough to keep ca
nary bird alive.
In 1880 Governor John M.
Stone appointed Writ Adams,
father of the present. incumbent.
General Adams was one of Mis-
sissippi's most distinguished citl-
zens. He was q typical Kentuck-
| Jan, bold. fearless and dashing.
Born at Frankfort, March z2, 1909
he came to Mississippi at an early
age, ,'and when yet young man,
history records him us serving in
the position of private secretary to
General Dunlap, secretary of war
| in the newborn republic of Texas.
After fighting Indians for few
years, he returned to Mississippi
and engaged in the banking busi-
ness, amassing quite q fortune.
When the war clouds were hover
ing over the South, Gov. McRae
appointed him as commissioner
to Louisiana to secure cooperation
ina secession ordinance, a feat ca
sily ACCOMPLISHED. When war was
declared, Jefferson Davis offered
Adams the attorney generalship of
the Confederacy, but he preferred
active service in the field, and or
ganized one of the first cavalry
regiments sent out from Mississip-
pi. He was made brigadier ge-
neral in 1858, and served with dis
tinction and gallantry until the
close of the war.
In 1884 Con. Adams was reap
pointed BY Gov. Lowry. He
served for two years, and in 1893
President Cleveland appointed
him postmaster of jackson, and
his son, Writ Adams, Jr., was APP
pointed his successor. A short
while later Gen. Adams was killed
in a street duel with Gen. Martin.
The two men were imp]acable
enemies, and one day they met
unexpectedly on the corner of
President and Amite streets. With
all, the dignity of old-time South
ern duelists, both drew their
weapons and commenced firing,
and when the smoke Of balls clear
ed away both were dead. During
the early part of the year 1883,
by decision of the Supreme
Court, it was held that under the
acts of 1884, the law had expired
by limitation, and that there was
no'revenue agent, either de facto
or de jure. The Legislature, it
seems, had created the office as an
experimental affair, and the last
Legislature had forgotten to re-
enact the measure under which it
held existence. In 1890 the Off
ce was reenacted, and Writ Adams
was appointed by Gov. Stone, who
had again been made chief execu-
tive. In 1892 the Office was
adopted as part of the law, and
embodied in the annotated code,
chapter 1913, and is now a perma-
nent feature Of the State Govern
ment, and one that is not likely
to be abolished, regardless of the
character of Legislatures yet to
be chosen.
Mr.. Adams was first elected by
the people in November, 1895, ,and
reelected in 1899 for the four-year
term beginning January, 1900. In
neither instance did he have OPP
position worthy of the name.
Writ Adams is man of middle
age, having been born in Jackson,
February II, 1852. He was edu-
Gated at the Virginia Military ms
titute, and afterwards took law
course at the University of Virgi-
MIA, graduating in 1877. In 1852
he was mariedto Miss Jallie YER
ger, daughter of one of the oldest
and best-known families in Mis-
sissippi, and they have two chill
dren, the eldest a boy, who is now
attending school at Sewanee.
Personally Mr.. Adams is genial
and companionable, liberal to
fault, and an active and progress
sive factor in the upbuilding of
the capitol city. Officially he is
cold and passionless, and the ms
tance has never been known
where he was swerved from his
conception of the path of duty or
blnndered in his Interpretation of
the law by either prejudice or
friendship.
Until a few years since the office
of revenue agent was not a paying
one. 1t is conducted strictly on
the fec system, the agent allowed
20 per cent. of the amount col
lected, and to pay his attorneys
from this commission. He is al
lowed to use his own Judgement
in selection of attorneys, and the
State is in no wise liable for court
costs. In fact, when litigation is
instituted, be the amount involved