The Tupelo journal., 1908-01-17
Pensions Of Confederate Soldiers.

Pensions OF Confederate Soldiers.
In a land of plenty and Astounding In
prosperity, the grateful emotions Of
every heart calls upon the legislature
to care for and maintain the INDECENT,
aged and needy ex-Confederate soldier.
There are but few of them left-the
gray line is growing thinner every year
but a few more days and the last n
will have crossed over the river to
spend eternity with God beneath the
shade of the trees. Out of the abund-
ance of material blessings which God
has bestowed upon u people, let the
legislature give a pension to the deserv-
ing ex-Confederate soldier, which will
keep the wolf of want from the door,
and, in part, absolve the obligation
which the sons and daughters of Con-
federate veterans acknowledge to him
for his almost infinite sacrifice for right
and truth.
Separate Sleeping and Dining Cars for
the Races.
I cannot too earnestly urge upon the
legislature the necessity for separate
sleeping and dining cars for the races,
and the strict enforcement of the law.
Experience has demonstrated that the
more widely the races are separated in
matters social and political, the greater
harmony will exist between them.
Institution for the Deaf and Dumb.
Your attention is directed to the re-
port of the board of trustees and the
superintendent of this institution. New
buildings have been completed, and it
is now one of the most handsome in
&c -, 1,.r1 -, 4ho ITnyfol
States. The board of trustees, assisted
by the superintendent, Prof. j. X.
Dobyns, deserve great credit for the
economical construction and successful
management of this splendid institution.
State Charity Hospital.
The charity hospitals situated at
Vicksburg and Natchez are well con-
Quoted, and supply in part the pressing
need of the state in matters of this
nature, but the necessity for the estab-
lishment and maintenance of a large
hospital at Jackson with the capacity
to meet the demands of the entire state
does not admit of question or contro-
versy.
Department of Agriculture and Com
merce.
1OuT dlGeIlfOH Is ulIeCtcu W III io-
port of the commissioner of agriculture
and commerce. This office has been
in existence but two years, and already
the good results are felt by the farmers
all over the state from the work done
by Commissioner Blakeslee. Mississippi
is an agricultural state, and I know of
no branch of the state government that
could possibly contribute quite so much
to the advancement of the interests of
agriculture and as the office
of commissioner of agriculture and COM
merce.
Land Commissioner.
Attention is directed to the report
of the land commissioner. The present
incumbent of that office has served
the people of Mississippi faithfully for
many years and the wisdom of estab-
fishing the office has been amply vim
Dictated.
Old Woman's Home.
The necessity for the establishment
of a home for the aged, infirm and in
digent white women of Mississippi to
be maintained by the state is manifest
to everyone. There are a great many
splendid women in this state who are
left in their extreme old age without
means to support themselves, or rela-
tives and friends who are willing to
care for them. That it is the duty
of the state to provide for these unfor-
tunate persons no just and true man
will deny.
Public Roads.
There is no question in which the
people living in the rural districts are
more deeply interested than in the i'm
provement of the public highway. There
are few enterprises that bring larger
returns for the amount invested to that
class of people who support the gov
ernment, maintain its in tim
of peace and fight its battles in time
of war-the silent toiling masses OF
the rural districts-than money in
vested in the improvement Of public
highways.
Rate of Interest.
I recommend hat the contract rate
of interest be reduced to s per cent.
No legitimate business can long afford
to paw a greater rate than that, and
| do not think that sound public policy
should permit any more to be charged.
Institution for the Blind.
I cannot too heartily commend DR..
Sims for his able Management of this
institution, and the ability, fidelity and
honesty with which the board of trus-
tees have performed it's duty. I COM
mend to your favorable consideration
the recommendations of the board of
trustees of this institution.
Executive Contingent Fund.
The usual appropriation of $4,000 as
the executive contingent fund is wholly
inadequate. Requests are numerous
upon the governor for assistance in fer
reting out crime and resisting the in
fraction of the law, and he should have
funds at his disposal at all times to
comply with these requests if, in his
Judgment, the public service demands
IL. The use of S $500 during the first
wear of nv administration enabled us
to completely extirpate the whitecap
organization in South Mississippi, the
good effects of which will be felt for
fifty years. 1 recommend that an
amount not less than $4,000 be appro-
priated for the contingent expenses OF
the governors office.
Public Health.
Your attention is directed to the re-
port of the president of the state board
Of health, and particularly that portion
of it which refers to the treatment OF
tuberculosis and the prevention of its
spread. The rapid increase of this dis
ease throughout the United States and
particularly in the South, calls for leg
~islative attention. 1t is estimated that
one hundred and fifty thousand people
die every year from tuberculosis in the