The Scranton chronicle. (Scranton, Miss.) 1897-19??, 1904-02-06

already furnished by the commission.
and that IL will require something in
the neighborhood OF one hundred
thousand dollars to purchase all Of
the furniture which In the opinion of
said officers should be placed in the
building
Whereas. the capitol commission
has learned that the report made by 1t
and submitted to ex-Gov. Longino for
transmission to the legislature has not
received attention,
Therefore, the governor is request
ed to advise the legislature that said
report has already been transmitted
and is in its possession. and that the
secretary of the commission is ready
to make the financial report required
by law
ITO finish the capitol, provide the
necessary furniture for the Offices
therein, and TO complete the grounds
in accordance with the original plans
of the designer of the capitol build
ing. will cost approximately s200.000.
Ii is not absolutely necessary that all
the furniture included in this estimate
should be put into the offices at this
time. nor is 1t imperative that the
grounds about the capitol building
should be completed at once, but 1t
would be better, II IL is to be done at
all, to finish the entire building and
grounds and be done with it. While
the capitol building and grounds will
cost the taxpayers a quarter OF mil
lion dollars more than was contemplat
ed whea the bill was passed by the
1aofS1otttrn xuhfah tarnUidnA for ito
struction, am of the opinion still
that 1t Is not wise, provident or pru-
dent to permit the buildings and
grounds to remain in an unfinished
state. The legislature should act In
this matter
Il would also submit for your con-
sideration the proposition to create a
permanent commission, to be com
posed of three or more of the State
officers, of which the secretary of the
State shall be one, whose duty 1t shall
be to exercise supervision and care
over the States property located in
the city of Jackson, not under the co1-
troll of board of trustees. The mem
bers of this commission should per-
form its function without additional
compensation and relieve the State of
the expense of maintaining the pres
eat statehouse comm ission.
There should also be appropriated
a sum OF money sufficient to meet any
emergency or repair any unexpected
damage to the States property, which
1t might sustain during the recess of
the legislature. The State cannot af-
ford to permit its property to go to
wreck.
1T has come to my attention that
some of the employees of the capitol
building have not been paid for several
months. | recommend that this matter
be looked into Immediately and thor
oughly, and that an appropriation be
made to pay these faithful laborers fol
their work.
JAS. X. VARDAMAN, Governor.
The practical and busineGslike tone
of this message has caused much fa
vorable comment among the members
and 1t Is understood that a measure
will be at once framed and introduced
in the senate covering the sugges-
tions made.
The Days Work.
Legislative routine today was quite
uneventful The senate made the uni
form school book bill, favorably re-
ported from the committee on educa-
tion few days since, the special or
der for next Tuesday. There is no
opposition of consequence to the meas
ure, and the customary publishing
house lobby is conspicuous by its abb
sence.
The major portion of the senate ses-
sion was devoted to the discussion
of q very uninteresting road-work-
ing bill, on which the members ven
tured a variety of opinions The
measure was finally passed by vote
of 10 to 1S.
A few regular appropriation bills, all
carrying small amounts, were passed.
The State library was given an allow
ance of $1,000 for the biennial period.
The Ratliff bill passed by decisive
vote, requiring that Office Of county su-
perintendent of education be elective
in all counties. -Four counties are af-
fected by this measure.
In the house al hour or so was spent
in vigorous complaints against the
acoustics OF the hall, and the discus.
sion of proper remedies for the de-
feet The members whose voices are
not noted for strength and resonance
were especially vigorous in their com
plants
Many new bills of local nature
were introduced In the house, but 1oth-
ing further of general interest trans
pired in either branch, and both houses
adjourned for the day.
N1I~ nin