The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1903-12-19
Mr.. nEsRoN's BILL.

NIX. UEbkUNS DILL.
The proposed levee bill which will
be introduced by Hon. j. L. Hebron
at the next session of the legislature
and which was published in last
weeks issue of The Times, has salient
points which should commend it to
the public's favor. There are some
features in the bill which will not
pass the legislature without some OPP
position and these mayhap will kill
the bill a-borning.
The main object is to keep politics
out Of the leve- board, is very COM
mendable and on this one account
will win for it many adherents. Pol.
itics, as every one in the district
knows, has for many years dominated
the policies of the board, but we are
glad to say that lately this has not
seemed to be the case, and the inter-
ests OF the district have been more
carefully regarded. Under the inf1u-
ence of its present president, Dr.. j.
T. Atterbury, much of the political
domination has disappeared.
The proposed abolition of the Office
Of cotton tax collector cannot fail to
meet the appreciation of the tax pay
ers Of the district, and us the bill
suggests, the board should employ
some means to collect every cent of
the tax levied. The tax of two cents
per bale is just and proper taxation.
A great deal of revenue has been
Lost ID the board. and the fines pro
posed for any violation of the law
will have a moral effect on former
violators.
The section of the proposed bill re-
quiring the secretary and treasurer to
personally perform the duties of his
Office is much needed reform, and if
found incapable of performing his
duties it is no more than just that
his resignation be required.
Where the bill will meet opposition
is where it is required that the
PRESIDENT, attorney and other officials
of the board will have to reside in |
the city where the board Is offices are
domiciled. Many of the people in
the other counties will regard this
as unfair to lem, and will look upon |
this fe, t ire of the bill as partial to
Greenvilie and Washington county.
Yet these clauses are not without |
their merits. In the case of our i'm
pUrtanJ State officers it is imperative
that thsy take up their residence in
the capital city. The board of levee
commissioners is as important to the
people OF the levee district as are
III state offices and officers to the
State i'll general. And for the sake
of eniclent official service it is per-
fectlJ proper that the officials of the
board reside here. This does not
Ine;.a that the officials need necessar-
lily be citizens of Greenville or Wash
iDgton county, no more than the
State officials are citizens of jackson
subsequent to their election to office.
Takii 8 the bill altogether it is a
very much needed action. While
some Of the measures proposed are no
less than what is now being done, yet
il the bill is passed it will secure the
people from further burdens should
the board deyiate from the
course it is now pursuing in accor-
aalce with this bill. AS to the other
measures. which will mean some radi-
cal changes in the methods heretofore
pursued by the board, they will, if
passed. eliminate many evils and we
have faith enough in Mr.. Hebron s
bin to believe that it ought TO be
passed for the welfare of the Missis-
sippi levee district.