The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1905-11-16
IGNORAMUSES DISCUSSING THE
STATES FINANCES.

IGNORAMUsEs DISCUSSING THE
STATES FINANCES.
The following editorial appeared in
the Newton Record last week:
When il comes to figuring on the
state finances, some Of the Jackson
newspaper men are experts. They
can tell all about what is necessary to
run the state, yet in telling about it
they show their ignorance. In long
article few days ago. the Jackson
News went on to tell about what the
governor lad done and what he would
have to do. It went on to enumerate
how much would be asked Of the Leg
islature for the public institutions,
and estimated that $500, 900 or $500, 600
or more would be necessary to run the
state in addit'o on to the usual appro-
priations. Then that paper goes on
to say that the state revenues for the
next year will not be over 800, 900 in
excess of those Of Hast year. Just
where it gets this information, the
writer does not know, but he does
know that it is erroneous. The as
sessment rolls this year for the state
show an increase in valuation Of prop
erty to the extent of more than 3d..
600, 900. The state tax on that amount
will be $3.50, 600 or more, 30 it will be
seen that the increase in revenues will
be nearly 100000 Then for the two
years the period for which the aprro.
priations are made for the state insti.
tutions) the increase in revenues will
be nearly 81, 900. 600. There are few
papers and people who would like TO
see the present administration q fail.
ure when it comes to managing the
finances Of the state, and they ale con-
tinually seeking to show defects where
there are none"
Under caption of IA Bright Boy"
the Jackson News replies to the Record
as follows:
"A few days since the News printed
carefully complied article showing
the condition of the states finances,
the figures cited therein being obtained
from official sources, and proving
beyond doubt that the next legislature
will have to be either very penurious
in making appropriations or else float
another bond issue.
THE Newton Record, edited by q
little fellow named Cunningham, who
imagines that all the wisdom of the
world is rolled up and stuffed into his
peanut Uranium, takes exception to
these figures, and treats the public to
the following wonderful lesson in
arithmetic:
The assessment rolls this year for
the state show an increase in valua-
tion Of property to the extent of more
than So, 600, 900. The state tax on that
amount will be $3.50. 600. or more, 20
it will be seen that the increase in
revenues will be nearly $500, 900. Then
for the two years (the period for
which the appropriations are made for
the state institutions the increase in
revenues will be nearly s, 900, 1000. "
1.-THE state tax on So, 900. 600 on six
mill levy amounts to just $4S, 900 in
stead of $3.50, 200, as stated by Mathe.
matician Cunningham. Any second
grade school boy could see that at a
glance. Furthermore, the total in
crease of the state assessment this
year is about $4,000, 600, instead Of
So, O00. 600, as stated by the Record.
This would give additional taxes
amounting to SIS. 200. The News
estimated total revenue increase for
the state of 500, 900, and the remain
der will be received from additional
privilege taxes.
Editor Cunningham is one of Gov
ernor Vardamsn'S appointees, holding
q trusteeship in the East Mississippi
Insane Hospital If this is Q fair
sample of his arithmetic he ought to
be an inmate of that institution in
stead of member Of the governing
body"