Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1904-01-23
Our Jackson Letter.
JACKSON, MISS Jan. 81, 100


our new governor. Jas X. Vardaman.
We had a pretty fair day for the occa
sion and a great crowd of Mississippians
from all over the State were here to
honor the occasion. Messrs. Charles
Scales, Van Cavett, Walter Price. 10
gan Cline, Iva Dorroh, W. j. and J.L.
Reed were all the gentlemen that | saw
from our county. ! had the privileges
OF the house extended to these. Misses
Lille Dorroh, Matte Poindexter and
Bessie Ferris were all the visiting la
dies. This was a splendid delegation
aud ] felt like Noxubee was well repre-
scented
The Hall CT Representatives was
pacPed TO its utmost capacity by the fair
women and brave men of Mississippi.
and when our manly governor and his
escort Of friends with his wife and
mother filed into the Hall, | felt like /
would like to haye been an artist to
have drawn this picture. Vardaman
was looking his best. and Rev. S. L.
Reeves. the Presbyterian minister who
al one time was Vardaman's pastor and
his lifelong friend. equally as good
looking as Vardaman) opened the SER
vice with prayer. The Governor gave
hi mother the seat Of honor in the
81 ter's chair. The Rev. Mr.. Reeves
stood to his right and Lieut.. Governor
Car.er and Chief Justice Whitfield on
b left, Hon. Anse McLaurin and
other dignitaries sat Immediately in the
rer. Down just in front | could see
IT, classic face Of James Money. one of
tn most gallant men Of the State, who
looked ike one Of the old cheyaliers of
tn old South who had just stepped on
Of one of the old pictures and taken his
stand with us. Governor Vardaman
delivered his address magnifcently and
commend a careful perusal of the
same to all your readers. He handled
every question we'll and | endorse the
most of it, but am not willing to say
that | will vote for a bond issuance.
He made a fine impression and every
thing looks propitious for his admins
tration. The day was a notable one, az
he is the first Governor ever elected by
the people in the primary election, the
first Gov. who was ever inaugurated in
te new capitol, and it was the fist
lime that the out going and in coming
governors refused to have anything to
do with each other. Governor Longino
was present but did not participate in
the ceremonies. The governor held a
levee at night and a great many went
and shook hands with him and wished
him a prosperous administration
1t seems strange to me that we should
meet two weeks before the,governor had
anything to 20 with the administration,
bnt this is in accordance with our new
constitution.
The old soldiers can depend upon the
State Of Mississippi taking care Of them
II. the future. because ever ono qaensI
Inclined to do every thing.fo their main
nance AJbill was passed today al.
moat unanimously in the House, appro-
iriaiing $3.50, 900 each year for the years
1904 05, being an increase of $50, 900 a
year. | offered a bill today, amending
the pension law 50 as TO exclude SER
wants from the benefit Of this act, pro.
viding that none but enlisted soldiers
and sailors could participate in the ben
efts thereof. | will go before the Pen.
sion committee and endeavor to get a
unanimous vote for this amendment.
John Binion can rest assured that the
vagrqnt law introduced by Mr.. Calvin
Wells Of this city, which the House
yassed almost unanimously today. will
be sufficiently stringent for him.
Various insurance bills have been in
troduced and / believe that there will
be no'trouble in having the insurance
laws amended so as to repeal the valued
policy provisions except as to real es-
tale. All the members that | have
talked to favor allowing the insurance
companies the issuance Of their "blank-
t policy for cotton.
failed to state in my last letter that
j Patty said he, too, was perfectly
sat lied with his assignment to the four
quantities and that he did not care for
a ehairmanship.
4 would have like to have been chair
nan Of the Insurance Committee and
felt chat, possibly. this was due me rs |
was the oldest insurance man in the
House, but have no axe to grind and
life insurance companies are not asking
for legislation of any kind, | intend to
have an aye and nay vote on all ques-
tons Of Importance and have my vote
recorded n way or the other. so that
my people can see exactly how l stood
on every question. will write You a
letter every week or two giving the in
side workings of the House, kinds of
bills introduced, and SO far as I can,
my position on them, and will be glad
to hear at any time from any of my COM
stitnents notifying me of their views on
the various questions
We passed a stringent game law and |
was glad to have my vote recorded ave
on this question.
Ed Patty asked me 10 say to his
friends that he was on the com nittee of
colleges and schools and they have been
required to visit each one of the COL
leges; he leaves here tonight to vlsit
the Alcorn College.
] had the honor to address the House
on both resolutions of regret passed by
the House on the deaths Of Gen. Gordon
and Gen. Longstreet, With one other
exception. | am the only man in the
House who had been en- the battle field
with both of the great generals, l told
them that however much we might
deprecate Gen. Longstreet's course
after the war. we could not withhold
c,rr o1n,;rot;1n fou bto, a., n oa1I;a. -.