The new South-news., 1906-03-17
The MISSISSIPPI
LEGISLATURE
OUR COR r E SP0NDEnI
WEEKLY LETTER.
RESUME OF The PAST VIZ K
Subjects Of Legislature Recommend
ed and Acted Upon From Day &c
Day---House and Senate Bills Pass
Ell q ID Other I.ems Of Interest.

Chairman Eddins, Of the eaueaiion-
ol committee. has compiled the fol-
ment to submit with his report when
lowing interesting statistical state.
that comes up properly 10 eod'
routine.
"IIistory ieacaesTs that al great
reforms have e leraliy encountered
the indifference Of those most 20 be
benefited. feel .he same cannot be
tfae Of us, for q tribute TO eaca %
you the same loh.r motives that
prompt me to do m best in the af-
fairs Of the state, an while do not
look for great reform. az this special
session, IN the subject ow up for dis
cussigD, yet / pause long enough 20
say that we have now collie TO tie con
sidcraiion Of Chapter 400, entitled
:" Schools one of the ION. est, and, in
my opinion, the most important chap
ter IN the code of Jaw. ] confess that
] have labored 10 the best OF my hum
bic ability to consider, along wiih
my committee every phase OF school
work In our state. No other invest
ment Of Mississippi is equal to that
mob. .a. tI.
tion and education of the mind, and
hearts Of the white boys and gifls
OF our great country, and il had my
way I would withhold no good thing
looking 30 the highest development of
the Anglo Saxon race. The states
making the greatest progress in the
history. Of the nation taday are those
which sustain the best public school
for the people. do not wish to appear
too forward in these remarks. but be-
fore we begin this chapter | want 10
say that your committee has given n
much time and attention; we have Of
fered some important amendments
looking to the beterment of the pu1-
lie school system, and by way of en-
phasis | want to say that our entire
public school system is operated
through these sections, and | hope
gentlcmon, you will give thi, chapter
the serious consideration that it de
serves. But before we take il up /
want to call your atisntion to tAess
significant facts; \ -
Through the provisions Of this act
we disburse biennially the enormous
sum Of over s3000,000, or by far over
half of the entire income of the state.
This fact alone deserves our undivid.
ed attention in dealing with its sections
Of law. Agreeable to the law
herein we have enrolled in Mississip-
pi 423,13l children between the school
ages of 5 to 2l years. OF this num-
bsr l99,2 are white against 224,43s
negroes.
There are in actual attendance in
the public schools of the state today
ll4.7sl white children and 12l,ls3
negroes, some of the Delta country
showing five negro children to every
white child enrolled. We have 5.0Ag
white teachers employed in the coun-
try schools at an average salary OF
S36.4l, while 3,2SS negro teachers in
in the country schools receive ON an
average of S20.5S. In the separate
school districts Of the towns the 73l
white teachers receive an average sal
AIRY of S5445, while the 27l negro
teachers in the towns receive an aver
age salary Of S2S.06. OF the totah
1888 teachers employed 5,714 are
white and 1859 are negroes.
The legislature has accepted an in
vitaiion TO visit Gulfport, whose peo.
pie are SO persistent in their earnest
and pressing invitation that to ignore
it was out Of the question.
Colonel j. r. Jones. of the Gulf x
Ship Island railroad ON behalf of the
committee Of Gulfport citizens. ex-
tended a cordial invitation TO the two
branches of the legislature and ten-
dered them a special train IN which to
make the trip.
This will be the third trip Of the
legislature by special train rendered
BY people 81 as many as seven diff
ferent towns. II there are any more
in sight for the remainder Of this ses-
sion. it is not IN evidence. though
there does not seem 70 be amy place
to be visited besides these. The trip
made to Meridian by a majority Of
the legislators was not a pleasure trip
as The Others have been. as it was to
Meridian, the city of sorrow and of
storm wreck, and on mercy and help
bent.
lor1nS-a,rr lnf March VII