The Grenada sentinel., 1904-01-16
IONGINO'S MESSAGE : -:
TO THE LEGISL AZURE
General Resume of State Affairs During
His Administration.
Legislation Recommended Looking the Exclusion of the Boil Weev
Erecton of New Governors Mansion Also Receives Ap-
proval-Advses Against the Issuance of Bonds, and
Wants Old Capitol and Mansion Sites Sold.

The farewell message of Gov. Longi- |
NO to the State legislature was read
to the two houses on the second day
OF the session. The message makes
eighteen columns of solidly printed
matter, and is entirely too lengthy to
permit of it's publication entire. We
therefore present the salient features
of the document, which may be found
In the resume bOlw:
The keynote Of the message IL economy
in appropriations. The governor goes at
length into the financial condition OF the
State and points out that no issue of bonds
will be necessary il the proper economy Is
observed in the matter Of appropriations.
The governor thinks that the educational
inSttt utions will not require as much as last
session. having been we'll provided for in
the way of improvements and buildings.
In this matter OF Il bond issue the governor
Is 1t variance with the report Of Auditor
Cole whose figures show that a deficit Of
nearly $l.OOO.OOO Is inevitable in the next
two years with economical expenditures.
The governor recommends commission
to take up the matter Of preventing the in
troduc, ion Of the boil weevil into this
State. He recommends investigation into
the whitecap outra@es in the counties OF
Lincoln. Franklin and Amite.
The governor devotes considerable space
to the penitentiary and the work OF the
board of control in connection with the
opening of the State farm and equip
ping ii for the prisoners. He says that the
fact that the penitentia!y has not only been
seuf sl>ta tainng but has been annually pay
ing into the treasury u handsome sum in
cash over and above expenses. including
the enormous cost Of developing the new
farm, ought to be proof sufficient to all
air-miided persons Of the economy ana
wise management exercised in the conduct
of its affairs.
The message reviews the general condi-
tion OF the State and the workings Of all
the various State institutions. and is full
Of statistical matter showing the progress
Of the State during tha past four years.
The document is a voluminOus one and
over eighteen columns of matter, in
which is exhaustively considered every sub
1ect OF interest to the people of this State
After referring to the honesty and integ-
ri:y OF the various state officials and the
harmony existing between them. the gov
ernor speaks feelingly of the death Of Su-
preme Court Clerk Brown and in compli
mentary terms OF George c. Myers. his sue
cessor. He then plunged into a statement
Of the various State institutions. ali OF
which ne fiEds to be in good condition, with
aHars ably handled.
The ppnitentlary comes In for q more ex-
tended reference than the other institutions.
and the governors opinion as to the manner
In which the affairs have been managed un-
der his administration may be gathered
from the following extract:
'''rhe fact that the penitentiary has not
only been self-sust aiming. but has been an
nually paying into the State treasury a
handsome sum in cash over and above all
its expenses. including the enormous cost
of developing this farm. ought to all
fairmindet. people, be proof sufficient OF the
economy and wise management exercised in
the conduct of its affairs"
Bond Sale Unnecessary.
Passing to the question of finances, he
II ain aware that much random gossip
has been engaged In recently to advise the
legislature and public that a large bond
sale Will be necessary this year. While 1t
Is undeniabte prerogative of the leg1s
latnre to order the issuance of interest
bearing bonds. yet 1 apprehend it Is unnec
essarE to remind this body Of intelligent
repre- sen ativcs of the people that before
saddling large bonded debt upon the State
that they should first thoroughly study the
necessities Of the subject for themselves
rather than accept the vagrant theories OF
the unadvsed selfish bond advocates
In addition to being e1-oficto chairman OF
all the State boards intrusted with the
disbursement of State funds. the law makes
agent for the State by requiring his ap
proval of all such claims before payment
Thus with the experience of four years
emphasized by the personal. pa1nstakin&
and direct connection which the law i'm
poses upon me as to the Affairs OF the Va
=ious State institutions and interests. an
constrained to venture the opinion that th(
revenues which will come into the treasury
from the ordinary channels will be su@
cient for the economical and proper con
duct Of the State government and for thu
different objects which draw support from
the treasury during the next two years
without curtailment of Confederate pen
sions or lessening appropriations for public
schools. In support Of this conclusion
beg to submit the following careful esti
mate Of funds reasonably sure to become
available during the years 1904 and 1905
VIZ:
Estimate OF Expenses.
State tax. 19O4-5 at 6 mills, 81, $50. 600
State privilege and insurance tax, $3.50,
Land sales, including Chickasaw schoo
lands, $15O.OOO.
Fees collected, $4,000.
Back tax collections. 100000.
Net receipts from penitentiary. $3.50, ,OOO
United States appropriation to A. & N
Colleges. $4,000.
Miscellaneous sources. $780, 900.
Poll tax collections. 5000 600.
Total. $4,S3O.OO0.
Though under the operations Of the RI
cent constitutional amendment poll take
are retained for school purposes, yet inas
much as the money therefrom will doubt
less be taken into account when you com
to make appropriation for public schools,
>>,have included said polls In the estimate q
available funds. -..-.-
= Affter referring to the great liberality q
formeA legislatures, the governor recon
mends thAt the,o old capitol grounds be sol
ana the pr>pceeds turned into the treasur,
Havfne ia Anind the necessity of q ne
mansion. hey suggests how it can be dor
In this language
The Way Out.
ST deem it proper here to direct yov
attention to the fact that the State owl