The Iuka vidette. (Iuka, Miss.) 1894-1912, 1909-09-30
Reply To Criticisms.
Ed. v1DErrE:

was severely criticised for failing
to levy school tax at its Oct.
meeting. As | was specially per-
sonated in this matter, | ask space
in the columns of your valuable
paper, not to reply to his criticism
but to set myself right before the
citizens of the county. The gen.
tleman enumerates about 6 reasons
assigned by me for not voting for
said tax, when in fact only as
signed two. L. The Board
could not levy a school tax till au-
thorized by majority of,the quail
flied electors of the county out
side the separate school districts.
2. That said tax when levied
could only be used to prolong the
school term and not to supplement
the salaries of the teachers. Now
| fail to see any reason for contro-
versy over this question. Any
one interested who will read Sec
1872 of the code of 1906, will see
that my position is well taken.
Tho above section plainly states
that the question of school levy
must be submitted to the people
in an election by the Board of SUI
pervisors; and the board is pow
erless to order said election until
petitioned to do SO by not less
than 200 qualified elect ,rs of the
county outside of separate school
districts. So we see the first
move must be made by the peo-
pie and the Pante graph man be-
ing one of the people, we roll the
responsibility for the failure to
levy said tax up to his door.
Now we think lhis a wise law,
for it allows the people to settle
this question for themselves, and
government by the people is
strictly democratic, and as such,
will meet with the approval of the
people
Now in support of my second
reason, will say that the same sec
ton plainly states that said tax
when levied shall be used for the
maintenance of the public schools
after the expiration of the four
months required by the constitu-
ton. This language of the stat
ute plainly sets forth the fact that
said tax when levied shall be used
to prolong the school term and
not to supplement- the salaries of
the teachers.
The gentleman asks why did
not Mr. Oaks enjoin the sheriff last
year from collecting the school
tax? Now | will answer by say
ing l didn't have to. He thinks
that it is my duty as an officer to
do SO. The sheriff is an officer
also and it would have been as
much his duty to refuse to collect
the taxes as it was mine to enjoin
him. Had l enjoined the sheriff
| would have had to do SO as a
citizen and become liable for the
cost. Enjoining the sheriff was
the business of the taxpayer and
as the gentleman is a taxpayer
we roll the responsibility up to
him again.
Now in view of the fact that /
have been governed by the law,
he thinks my position as an off
Ger open to criticism. There has
always been a class of people in
this county that criticised me but
the people of my district have al
ways endorsed my actions, and
pu my critics to shame. The
gentleman claimed that the Board
ought to have levied the tax wheth-
er authorized by law or not for
the people were expecting it.
Now want to say to the gentle
man that as supervisor l am
creature of the law and that no
man has right to go beyond the
power that created him. If the
time ever cores in the history of
this county that the people de-
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