The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1905-06-08

nous sum OF Sc, 430, 096 for insurance
of one kind and another. OF this
amount. a very small percent is left
in the state, there being only three
fire and no life companies domiciled
therein. Of this total $2,S52, 495 90
to old line life insurance companies
as premiums on policies. During the
past year only $9O2, 946.14 was paid
back from the nearly three million
collected. Or in other words, nearly
two million dollars Of our money vent
to the northern and eastern cities to
help the volume Of business there.
Now the question again arises, If
life or fire insurance company can
make Millions in New York why can't
the same thing be done in Mississippi I?
We have, three fire insurance, compa-
MES doing nice business, although
the losses paid for all fire companies
IN the, state almost equalled the pre-
miums paid. Then if nearly three
million is paid for old line life and
less than million returned, why not
have the company in Mississippi? IF
officers are to be paid 100000 per an
mum and ex-presidents retired on a
salary or pension of $4,000, why not
have these men in Mississippi? IF
$4,000 is to be expended or sumptous
banquets and lavish expenditures made
off Of the policy holders money, why
not have them in Mississippi? This
is not intended to justify the expendi-
ture of such sums as mentioned but if
| 1t IS necessary to use the peoples
money in such lavish expenditures
let's have the officers and whole bunch
in Mississippi and some Of the money
would get back into the legitimate
channels Of business. Mississippi
should have several strong life insur-
ance companies backed by Mississippi
pi money, differed by Mississippi men
and patronized by Mississippians.
Then we would be in position to
know that our money was being prop
erly handled and not wasted as re-
cent events go to prove that it ha4
been in the cities Of the east.
The greatness of Mississippi is bas-
cd upon the character Of its citizen
ship and the absolute equality &C
corded to every honest man in the ex-
ercise OF his rights. The writer re-
erets to see occasionally evidences
that there is small tendency to be-
little the opinions of man who is
not we'll fixed in this worlds good:
or give due credence to his rights as
a citizen. Too often do we hear it ad-
vocated that in fixing the rate Of tax
alton upon the people the man who
pays on million dollar assessment
should be considered a hundred times
to where the man who pays on one
thousand dollars should. This theory
IS not right and the greatest advantage
offered by Mississippi over states in
the east that are dominated by the
trusts and financial institutions is
that one good man in Mississippi is
just as important as another without
reference to his bank book or proper.
ty holdings. The ability Of the mar
with the million to pay his taxes i.
just as great as the man with the
thousand. In both eases their pos
sessions are represented and there
should be no preference shown the
wealthy man. Keep it we'll fixed in the
minds of all that all honest, respecta.
BILE citizens are upon an absolutel,
equal basis in Mississippi and th.
greatness Of our grand old state viii
continue as the model for others
J. W. Eldredge, Of Rosedale, wai
awarded $31,S1S.s5 damages agains,
the Mississippi River Levee Commits
sion by Chancellor Percy Bell. HI
sued for injuries to his plantation al
Tallyho. The Australia levee left SOC
acres Of his land exposed to the river
and took 260 acres for the building
Of it.
County Superintendent of Educa.
ion John R. Ellis is preparing for tie
teachers institute for Lauderdale
county, in Meridian, on August 20. An
usually able faculty has been selected
and the institute promises to be inter.
esting and helpful.
A gentleman in the eastern section
OF the state expresses regret at the
absence of this department from the
papers for two weeks which he is kind
enough to say is one Of the most enter
tanning features Of the ready print side
Of the papers. Along with this state
ment OF appreciation is an excellent
article on sheep raising that will be
given space as soon as possible. We
would be glad to recaive weekly actual
experiences that tend to show what
can be done in Mississippi with the
nrOTer handlinu IF cronS ond foo;l;