Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1908-01-25
Governors INAUGURAL

Jackson, Miss. Following is the in
Augural address of Gov. L, +. Noel, de-
livered today to the legislature of Mis-
sissippi in joint session:
Legislators, Ladies and Gentlemen
The choice of Mississ.ppiaus brings me
today from private life in an interior
town to this spot, to be clothed with the
highest honor their sLhrages can be-
stow. For their generous confidence |
am deeply grateful-so very grateful
that even its faint expression exhausts
my command of words. Every energy
and effort, mental and physical, shall
exert to the utmost to demonstrate my
profound and lasting appreciation to
bring to our people their full share Of
the blessings OF Divine Providence and
to protect them from the forces Of ad-
versity. Experience in other Offices tells
me that the duties 1 am now to assume
are so trying and difficult that we shall
face disaster whenever ! fail to receive
the cordial support of our patriotic cit
izenship and the cheerful cooperation OF
my co-workers in the public service.
Upon this support, essential to success,
| shall confidently rely.
The smoke has cleared from the field
of our recent political contest. Conflict
ing policies and preferences were sub
mitted to the arbitrament of the ballot
on the implied agreement that all should
accept and sustain the choice Of the ma
iority. He who lost should give to Of
fcers chosen the same hearty co-opera-
tion he would have expected from his
late opponents had success been the re-
verse. Feelings of eXultation at victory
or the disappointment at defeat should
be forgotten. All should unite in that
spirit of emulation which prompts each
man to do his best for the common good.
In his distribution of blessings the
Giver of All Good was to Mississippi
exceedingly generous. Our climate, soil
and forests possess, if properly utilized,
the elements of marvellous prosperity.
In the purity and excellence Of the line
age of our white citizenship our State
is unsurpassed Exclusion OF tax de-
linquents, illiterates and criminals from
suffrage puts our destiny in the hands
of an electorate of the highest order.
To those of our people who make the
best use of means, time and talents
good fortune opens wide its doors.
While our State administration has been
honest and efficient, we should press
steadily forward in the effort to make
our government, in theory and in prac-
tice, the very best in all the world.
Justice demands that each county
should contribute to our States eXpen-
diturcs, according to its wealth. and
should be represented in our Legislature
according to its population. These
truths are sclfeyident. The constitu-
tional barriers which cause unequal legis
latiye representation are not now needed
and should be removed Our State tax
is collected upon the varying standards
of assessment adopted by rs counties
and the railroad commissioners, each
wholly Independent of the other. In
stances exist where land of the same
kind and value on one side of the coun
ty line, through higher assessment, pays
four times as much State tax as other
land Just across that line. Some form
of fair tax equalization, by which indi-
vidual and corporate property, regardless
of location or kind, would be taxed ac-
cording to actual value, can be devised
ard is imperatiyely needed
Under our constitution each county
contributes to the State school fund in
proportion to its assessment, and is re-
paid from that fund in proportion to the
number, regardless of school attendance
of its educable children. Gross injus-
tice, calling for remedy, frequently re-
suits from this defective system.
Just equalization of taxes and dis
tribution based on the average attend
ance of each county, its educational OPP
portunities utilized, would probably cor
rect existing disparities.
Only such taxes should be collected as
are absolutely required for honest, eco
nomical and efficient public service, and
the people should receive full value for
every dollar expended. Bonds should
not be issued except to meet inherited
Indebtedness, or for erection of perma-
nent improvements, whose use would be
shared by coming generations.
Establishment of repositories for pub
lie funds, allotted through fair competi.
tive bidding, would increase the demand
and value for State, county, levee and
municipal securities; would lessen the
contraction of currency at times of our
greatest need, and would lower taxes by
getting interest on deposits and dispen.
sing with needless offices.
Government should be brought nearer
the people whose average sense and yir-
tue should be crystallized into law and
reflected in its enforcement. No good
reason now exists for failure to carry
into effect, in letter and in spirit, the
declaration of our constitution that "all
political power is vested in and derived