Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1908-01-23
Governors INAUGURAL

Jackson, Miss.-Following Is the in
augural address Of Gov. z. p Noel. de
livered today to the legislature Of Mis-
sissippl in joint session:
legislators, Ladies and Gentlemen
The choice Of Mississippians bring. me
today from private life in an interior
town to this spot, to be clothed with the
highest honor their suffrage. can be-
stow. For their generous confidence I
am deeply grateful-so very grateful
that even its faint expression exhaust
my command of words. Every energy
ami effort. mental and physical. I shall
exert 10 the utmost 10 demonstrate my
profound sEd lasting appreciation to
bring TO our people their full share Of
the blessing. of Divine Providence and
TO protect them from tks forces of ai
vers,,y. Experience IN ether Offices tell.
me that the duties ! am now to assume
are so trying and difheult that we shall
face disaster whenever ! fail % receive
the cordial support of our patriotic cit
iEenship and the che,rfal cooperation Of
my eo-vcrkers IN the pablic service
Cpcn this support. ssscntal to Success,
I .hall confidently rely
Tie smoke sas cleared from the ieLl
of our recent political contest. Conflict
ing policies ard preferences were sub
mittcd to the arhi;ramsnt Of the ballot
on the implied agreement that all shouhl
accept and sustain the choice Of the ma
jority 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. Feeling. of eNultation 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 Coed was TO Mississippi
exceedingly generous. Our climate. soil
and forests possess. il properly utilized.
the elements Of marvellous prosperity
In the purity and excellence OF the line
age of our white citizenship our State
il 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 90 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-
ditures, according to its wealth. and
should be represented in our Legislature
secoriing TO its population Th~e
truths are self-evi.lent. The eonstitu-
tionai barriers which cause unequal legi.-
lative representation are not now needed
and should BE- removed. Our State tax
is collected upon the varying standards
of assessment adopted by = 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 a 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 ae-
cording to actual value. can be devised
and is imperatively 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 a dis
tribution based on the average attend
anee of each county, its educational op-
portunities utilized. would probably cor
rcct existing disparities.
Only such taxes should be collected as
are absolutely required for honest, eco
nomieal 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 eominy generations
Establishment of depositories for pub
lie funds, allotted through fair eompcti-
tive bidding. would increase the demand
and value for State, county. levee and
municipal securities; would lessen the
contraction Of currency xt times Of our
greatest need. and would lower taxes BY
getting interest on deposits and dispen-
sing with needless Offices.
Government shouH be brought nearer
the people, whose average sense and yir-
tue should be crystallizei 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 ~aIl
political power is vested in and derived
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stcnr ~ ANrIENT LStcrnox