The commonwealth., 1908-01-17

| anu virtue, or possibly naf0 prevented
the child from entering the path Of rec
titude and virtue at all.
Department of Education.
The department Of education has be-
come one Of the most important, If not
the most important, department of the
state government. There are many
recommendations made in Superintend-
ent Powers report to the legislature
which deserves serious consideration.
No class of our people contribute more
to the well-being of society than the
men and women who have consecrated
their lives to the education and develcf,-
ment OF the minds and bodies of the
boys and girls, upon whose shoulders in
a few years all the responsibilities of
ltrme anG government will rest School
teaching has become profession. The
relation of the teacher to the child is
almost as sacred as that OF parent, and
you cannot expect teacher to discover
and bring out in the child the better
parts of its nature unless the teacher
shall be trained, any more than you can
expect doctor, or a lawyer or a
preacher to succeed in their professions
without preparation.
Abolish the Saloon.
If were called upon to name the one
thing that has wrought the most harm
in the world, caused more poverty,
heartaches, blighted lives, frustrated
ambitions. than all other agencies for
evil combined, should say the intem'
perate use of intoxicating liquors.
Whisky taken immoderately is hurtful |
to man physically, spiritually, mentally
snd financially. 1t is an evil, without |
mitigating incident. 1t is the deadly |
drug into which the jewels of the. hearts
best love are dissolved and pourel into |
the mouths of men to madden the brain |
and destroy the soul. 1t is verify the
Circean vortex from whose voluptuous
whirl, comes human swine to scatter
the seeds of sin and death, from which
will surely spring the tares of sunless
sorrow. trust that you may see fit
to enact laws at once which will forever
wipe this stigma from the state of Mis-
sissippi.
Public Service Corporations.
The right of the state of Mississippi
to regulate public service corporations
in intra state matters Ia settled beyond
dispute, and the duty of the state to
regulate them does not admit of ques
tion. The public must be protected
against the greed and cupidity of these
and the public convenience
demands that there be some remedy for
their indifference. There is no question
before the American people today which
touches more vitally the material in
Lerests of the masses than the matter
of passenger and freight rates on the
railroads.
The Judiciary.
Ordinarily, poorly paid public Off
,ial as an economic agency is a failure.
rhe state should not ask its citizens to
'ender efficient and intelligent service
without giving to that citizen fair ,
for such service. The cost i
II living has increased, and all the ex.
,enses of maintaining home have
,earlv Goubled in the last decade. The
ircuit and chancery judges receive to-
lay the same salary that was paid them
" the state twenty years ago-twenty- !,
even hdndred and fifty dollars per year. !
This salary is too small to tempt a law
-er who is capable of perfel ming the !,
unctions Of that great office, even if i
here were no travelling expenses and ! y
otel bills to pay, but with these not
nconsiderable expenses added, it makes
he compensation for efficient service :.
xceeaingly small. /.
Elective Judiciary.
While | think there is no cause Of
opplaint or Just grounds for criticism n
the men who have served the state n =
> judges under the apopintive system, n
or do / believe the character of the =
.lges will be improved by change in r,
he method of selecting them, still I be. ii
eve the method of electing by the 81
eople more nearly accords with the n
emocratic idea of government, and out n
respect and Difference to u demand II
the state for change in "
le system. h
State Depositories.
Experience in other states has demon
rated the wisdom of state repositories. Of
believe that prudent, wise system of n
ate repositories will facilitate the tc
election of taxes, simplify the dis. /
lrsement of public funds, prevent the 81
'ngestion of money in the state treas
~. Keep the money in circulation
the beneficent function for r.,
hich money was created-and at the ol ,.
me time add to the states revenue. ~
his recommendation is made, of course, nv ~
it'll the idea in view that the legisla. .e
re shall provide by law for such safe M M
lards as will render impossible the loss VI VI
the states funds by peculation, bad u
vestments, or misfortune on the part
the borrower; and to also provide
,ainst the possibility of such deposi- tn
ries becoming corupting influence in in
ate politics. up
Soldiers Home. re
Your attention is directed to the re. III
rt of the board of trustees of the Sol III
srs' Home. cannot too highly COM co
md the fidelity to duty and the eff lu
ncy of this board in carrying out the IT,
,islative will in the management Of ye
is splendid home for INDECENT and 70
meless ex-Confederate soldiers. While OF
ere has been some Ettle friction, and 20
W and then little complaint on the HI
1T Of the unfortunate old fellows, still an
I'm of the opinion that the home could pr
t be managed better, more care and th'
idly attention given to the old sol
rs than have been accorded them in
D home by the board of trustees, the poi
and the matron. Of
The State Militia. OF
The state militia of Mississippi is in tul
ter condition today than ever before sfi
thin its history. Under the wise and eas
,oted direction Of Ad;utant Ceneral pal
dpe a degree Of efFiciencv has been ISL
aimed which 1t has never enjoyed be- on
e and II is a golden augury of what dle
y be accomplished in the future. Sn
County Convicts. 10, ~
)ne of the necessary reforms that cen
uld be made in our penal system Is An