The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1906-06-02

the citizens or landowners OF the
Black Bayou drainage district met
at the county courthouse to discuss
| the benefits and passage of the bill
recently introduced into the last
State Legislature by Senator w w.
Stone, OF Washington county, and
passed by that honorable body. The
meeting was we'll attended by the
representative men and planters or
the district, and the speeches made
were closely listened to by all. Hon.
| A G.. Paxton, who stated that he
was no doubt responsible for the
| meeting, called it to order and stated
its object, which was to protest
against the taxing OF the district to
drain Black Bayou; to discuss the
matter in a fair business way, SO that
our supervisors could see the senti-
ment of the landowners of the dis
trict and act accordingly next Mon
day He then announced the meet
ing opened for business, and its first
| duty was to elect a president.
Hon Joshua Skinner moved that
Hon. 5. NJ Spencer be made chair
man, aud his election was unanimous.
After taking the chair he said the next
thing in order was the selection of
a secretary, and on motion Mr.. l.
Hon Joshua Skinner then called
upon Senator Stone to address the.
meeting
Senator Stone arose and stated
that he was there simply to look on;
that the meeting was called without
his being advised or consulted, and he
did not feel that it was his right to
talk unless to answer such questions
as were asked him by those present,
land which he would gladly do; that
he did not care to be made target
lof the meeting, but would speak at
the proper time.
Mr.. Skinner then. after few words
of explanation for calling upon Sen
ator Stone first, said he did so to
allow him to show the great good
that will come to the district through
the operation of his bill. He then
called upon Hon A. G Paxton to
state the object OF the meeting
Mr. Paxton arose and after lew
preliminary remarks stated that he
wa. unalterably opposed to the board
of supervisors putting the law INTO
operation by appointing commits
sion; that he did not believe it meant
ANYTHING but a worthless waste OF
money. Further, he did not believe
that it was the intention of the au-
thors of the bill to do real wrong
: to the citizens or district, but 1t did,
for it assumed that every tax payer
favored it who failed to enter his
protest before the board Mr.. Pax
ton held that the whole SCENE OF
drainage was impracticable and meant
great expense to every landowner
of the district
Hon. Leroy Percy was the next
; speaker called, and for over halt
hour held the closest attention OF
every person in the courtroom by an
:, able, fair and impartial discussion
of the bill and its benefits, if carried
out. to the planters of the district
Mr.. Percy opened his address by
stating that the question before them
was a business question and shoulc
be discussed without engenderlng any
bitter feeling; that before getting
iup the bill he discussed it with prom
inent planters of the district, and
called the names Of several; that II
drawing the bill he had like bulls o.
Illinois Indiana and other States be
fore him. and selected only those
clauses suited to our conditions, anc
framed the bill as passed which ht
considered fair and Just to every tax
paver Of the district He then spoke
of the effect the drainage of this dis
trict and its being put into cultlva
ton would have on the health or tht
country surrounding it and its boor
to immigration He said provision:
of the bill called for at the most only
ten cents tax per acre, and this woulc
hurt no man in the district. Again
he did not believe in a waste of th'
peoples money, but favored a topo
graphical survey of the district being
made, so that the practicability of th'
scheme could be determined, and OF
that the future course be decided
In concluding his speech he said
l"That If the survey proved that tn,
ischeme was impracticable, or great
er burden of expense than the dis
! trict could afford, he would oppos'
anything further being done or an,
more expense made
Representative Van B. Boddie aros,
(as he said) to question of persona
privilege, and stated that he was i:
member of the Legislature that pass
ed the bill, and that he supported i
because he thought it for the bes
interest of the people. Again, n
thought every one favored it, as h
never heard a word of oppositiof
until after the passage of the bill
that the bill was published in TIT
daily press, and he could not SCI
why Iney na0 not Ieau II.
Hon. E. NJ. Thomas followed Rep
resentative Boddie and spoke along
the same line. Speaker Thomas wa:
loudly cheered when he arose, ar<
his remarks convinced all that hs
favored any movement that wouit
not hurt his people: but. as he be
llieved, would advance the interests
lof his county, city or State. 4
He said ne voted for the bill ane
laided in its passage, because he heart
mo opposition to it, but many 70
Equests for it.
Hon. A. G. Paxton was asked hs
chairman Spencer to preside, whils
he addressed the meeting. Mr.. Spcni
lccr said ~ will admit. gentle
men, that drainage IS good; with
out drainage we cannot develop tn
resources Of the county; but, sirs