Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1906-01-26

The legislative session now at Jack
son is the source of many lines of
news matter and columns of specula-
ton at present. The law makers are
grinding away at their Herculean
task, and fairly good progress is be-
ing reported daily. The appropria-
tions for common school education
has passed the house, although a lit
tie opposition has been encountered
there. This goes to the country
schools and every citizen participates
in the benefit more or less. The pen
sion appropriation will go through.
the same as last year. The "A. & M.
College asks for something like $780,
100000 in addition to the regular APP
preparation, and the University and
L. /. & C. are also seeking additional
appropriations. While the legislative
body is not inclined to be parsimoni-
Gus in the least, these demands will
be trimmed considerably before be-
ing made laws. The Medical Asso-
citation wants 100000 to erect a char
ity hospital at some convenient and
centrally located point. Supt- Whit
field wants 100000 to build a nor
NAL training school for teachers, Gen.
Lee and the Veterans Association
want 100000 for monuments at
Vicksburg, the Deaf and Duslb
board asks for SIS, 1000 for an addition
to their new building, the Insane hos
pital board asks for something over
100000 to enlarge that institution
the National Guard want an increas-
ed appropriation as well as other in
terests too numerous to mention.
There is no denying the fact that
every one of these demands is backed
by a present need and if the funds
were available, they should be given
what was asked, but on this eff"
there hangs a tale. In the senate
gentleman with the statistics at hand
made the statement that expenditures
in Mississippi during the past five
years had increased 20 per cent fast
er than the increase in revenue. This
is not very healthy state of affairs
and calls for careful consideration
at the hands of the legislature. Ex-
penses are bound to increase but there
should be corresponding increase in
the receipts. A period of prosperity
that necessarily increases the expen-
ses of handling the states business
should show corresponding increase
in the revenues. While the demands
for increased appropriations for es-
ta'blished institutions continue, moth
ing specifically is done to increase
the source of revenue. Over half the
land In the state is paying taxes at
the rate of Slips per acre or less when
it should be much higher. Millions
of acres is being denuded of its tim
Der and allowed to waste and wash
In gulleys. Billions of dollars worth
of crude material is being shipped to
other states for manufacture and the
profit lost to Mississippi. Would it
not be well for the lawmakers TO Sc
riously consider the proposition to
spend a few thousand upon depart
ment that would tend to increase the
revenue to counterbalance the in
creased expenditures? Several bills
have been introduced looking to the
establishment of department under
the head of agriculture, commerce,
immigration or various combinations
Of the names. None of them have pro-
gressed very far from the fact that
they are opposed by conflicting inter
ests, in some cases by some of the in.
stitutions asking for the largest in
crease in appropriations. A bond IS
sue of more than million dollars is
imperative, and without some means
of increasing revenues bond issues
will be multiplied as the years go by.
The thinking people can devote some
serious thought to this subject with
profit. There is a great deal more
that can be said upon the subject but
this is enough to get your thinkers
busy.