The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1904-02-06

report has already been transmitted
and Is in it's possession, and that the
secretary of the commission rs ready
to make the financial report required
by law
"To finish the capitol, provide the
necessary furniture for the ot1ces
therein. and to complete the grounds
in accordance with the original plans
of the designer of the capitol build
ing, will cost approximately 100000
1t is not absolutely necessary that all
the furniture included in this estimate
should be put into the Offices at this
time, nor is it imperative that the
grounds about the capitol building
should be completed at once, but 1t
would be better, if it 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 contemplate
ed when the bill was passed by the
legislature which provided for its con-
struction, I ain Of the opinion still
that it 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
II would also submit for your con-
sideration the proposition to create
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 con-
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
ent statehouse commission.
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 at
ford to permit its property to go to
! wreck.
at has come to my attention that
some of the employees of the capitol
building have not been paid for several
| months. l recommend that this matter
be looked into Immediately and thor
oughly, and that an appropriation be
made to nay these faithful laborerS for
their work.
JAS. X. VARDAMAN, Governor.
The practical and businesslike tone
of this message has caused much IA
vorable comment among the members,
and it is understood that a measure
will be at once framed and introduced
in the senate covering the sugges-
lions made.
legislative routine today was quite
uneventful. The senate made the uni
form school book bill, favorably re-
ported from the committee on educa-
ton a 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 aD'
sence.
The major portion of the senate SEES
sion was devoted to the discussion
of a very uninteresting road-|ork-
ing bill. on which the members ven
tured a variety of opinions. The
measure was finally passed by vote
of 10 to IS. :,
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 al
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 moth
ing further of general interest trans
pired in either branch, and both houses
| adjourned for the daY.