The Tupelo journal., 1906-03-09
A LETTER FROM DR.. HOYLE


ter working body, yet we seem
far from the end as yet. We
have about completed one-hal1
of the Code, or about seventy
five chapters, but we have yet
some of the most important ones
to consider that will bring on
much discussion. On yesterday
we did fine and considered quite
a lot Of Code work, but am con-
vinced it was mistake to en-
ploy any Code commissioners.
| believe we would have made a
better Code to have the two
houses take up the Code of 1892
and revise and codify it with all
the sheet acts and put in the
amendments of this session our
selves. Besides, we would have
saved several thousand dollars
that has been spent on the pre-
sent plan. The above plan was
suggested by Hon. w. J. East,
of Tate, at the last session, but
unfortunately was not accepted.
The present Commissioners have
put on many new sections but in
most instances they have been
rejected by the legislature and
left as they were before. An
other serious hindrance to this
session is the great number of
local and private bills introduced,
many of them unnecessary. as
they could have beenlcovered by
general bills. But as the doors
were open to all things we were
flooded by these private and To-
cal matters. Take for example,
in the first days lof the session
| introduced a bill authorizing the
Board Of Supervisors to pay for
glandered stock ordered to be
killed, it fingered in the commit
tee rooms waiting to be put in
the Code chapter for Board of
Supervisors, and there has since
been mere than fifty local bills
for that many counties, introdu-
ced into both houses forthe same
thing. 1t has been figured on in
the house that it cost something
like fifty dollars for each bill pass
ed through both houses and sign
ed by the governor, and often
that bill is to repay to some one
ten dollars that was erronously
paid, and which might have been
repaid by other authority.
We have reached very near the
five million dollar appropriations
for the next two years, not count
ing the amounts already given to
the schools, and other public in
stitutions, this added in is now
about five and a half million.
And yet we have large budget
to provide, | believe it will re-
quire seven million dollars in
cluding the amount that will
cover bond issue of one and a
half million. Our disbursements
for the last two years was nearly
six million dollars If we can
get off the next two years with
the seven million, | think we will
be exceedingly fortunate. We
are expecting quite an increase
III the amount arising from new
land assessment this year and an
effort will be made to increase
the privilege tax. 1fthe bill is
passed and becomes a law to eX-
empt money loaned at six per
cent. it will knock out some but |
think it will be more than regain
ed by increased value of real
estate and personal property by
the assessment for year 1906. We
find the Delta members extreme
ly anxious for the six per cent.
exemption, for they made almost
a complete failure last year in
crops of corn and cotton. High
taxes and the revenue officer have
scared the money out of the state
and unless the banks have some
thing to compete with them they
will charge openly ten per cent.
besides what bonus they can get
outside. In fact money is now
being readily loaned at ten per
cent. In most of our growing
cities, taxes, state, county and
municipal, are three and three or
| a half mills, and to loan at 8 per
cent is only to get about four and
a half net interest. At these
figures money will hide out, go
down in your sox leg, or leave
the state. But, if six per cent
net can be obtained, the money
will be put out at interest thus
helping out those who must have
it and giving the lender a fair
rate. These are the arguments
used by the delta farmers and
they seem plausible.
The weather here is fine, open
and sunny, but cool, vegetation
|seems backward. 1t is to be hop
ed we will have a good crop this
year. All the state is not SO for
! tunate as Lee county was in
making good crops. You would
| be surprised to hear about the
shortness of crops in the bottom