The sea coast echo. [volume] (Bay Saint Louis, Miss.) 1892-current, 1906-06-23

FOR AN IMPORTANT CONFER
ENCE. SOUTHERN COUNTIES
COMPLAIN THAT THEY ARE
ASSESSED HIGHER AND DO
NOT GET ADVANTAGES OF
NORTHERN COUNTIES IN THE
STATE.
Hattiesburg, Miss, June IS. = The
convention of the county supervisors of
Mississippi, which is believed to be the
most important gathering which this
State will entertain this year, excepting
| only the State legislature, met here this
morning as per programme, with about
| $50 delegates in attendance. Most of
| these delegates come from South Mis-
sissippi counties, the southern part Of
the State being most in sympathy with
the purposes of the convention; but
there is a fair sprinkling of delegates
also from the delta counties. In addi-
ton to members of boards of supervi-
sors there are in attendance many gen
tlemen of prominence in politics and
public affairs who have only an indirect
interest in county governments.
The sessions OF the convention are
held in the court room OF the new court
house. This is the first use to which
this room has been put, for the building
is only recently completed. The court
room has not yet been furnished, and
the convention is provided with chairs
and desks rented for the occasion. How
ever, the chamber is commodious, airy
and pleasant in every way.
The convention was called to order
shortly after II o'clock this morning by
Hon. F. M. Morris, president of the
board of supervisors of Perry county.
The convention was first called, upon
the suggestion of Mr.. Morris, who in
the course of his opening address threw
out some general suggestions as to the
matters which should receive the atten-
ton of the convention. He referred to
various problems which confront the
county governments, as, for instance,
the manner Of working the public roads,
whether by contract or by convict labor;
the maintenance of the public schools,
the basis of assessments, and such mat
ters, intimating that whereas the law
requires that all property shall be given
in for assessment at it's current market
value, there may be wide difference of
opinion as to what fair market value
would be, and pointing out that the
residents of one county who give in
their property on that basis are placed
at a great disadvantage as compared
with residents of other counties who are
not so honest.
After an invocation by Rev. E. J.
Currie, of this city, the address of vel
come to Hattiesburg was delivered by
Hon. J. P. Carter, lieutenant governor
Of Mississippi, who referred to the Won
derful advancement of this State in
wealth and industrial activity and the
necessity for the official in charge of
county affairs to keep pace with the
progress and improved methods obserY-
able in private affairs.
One of the striking addresses of the
day was that delivered during the after
noon by Hon. J. w. Treen, chairman of
the Lamar county board of supervisors.
This gentleman has been quite active in
working up this convention, and had
provided himself with a formidable ar
ray of statistics going to show the ine-
qualities of the tax and school fund
distribution systems in vogue in this
State. He had tabulated figures to
show that the great bulk of the school
fund of the State comes from the south
ern section; that most of the money is
drawn out by the counties of North
Mississippi, because of the scholastic
census they were able to adduce with
their heavy negro population; yet these
northern counties conduct their schools
seven to nine months in the year, pay
ing their teachers $50 to so per month,
while the southern counties, which pay
the money, can afford TO have the
schools only from three to five months,
paying their teachers from SIT to $50
per month. MIR. Treen proceeded to ex-
hibit figures to show that the northern
counties escape taxation by rendering
their property for assessment at much
lower rate than it is given in by the
Visited forty-two counties of the State
and had gotten records showing the
prices at which fair property had been
selling during the past few years and
the value at which it was returned for
assessment; and the showing was ealcu-
lated to indicate that while the southern
counties are now called upon to render
their pine lands for taxation at full mar
ket value, the farm lands Of the north
ern part of the State are now and have
for long time been escaping taxation
by means of low assessment.
Col. H. M. Street, of Meridian, who
for many years has been the apostle OF
the creed of Unequal distribution of the
school fund, spoke during the afternoon
and was followed by Hon. w. NJ. Me-
Alhster, State senator from Wayne
county, who at the last session OF the
legislature was chairman of the famous