The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1910-10-05
WILL THE GOVERNOR
CALL AN EXTRA SESSION
or THE LEGISLATURE?


That is question State-house
officials are asking these days, and
one. it seems. will eventually BE- 3
answered in the affirmative.
The belief hinges upon the fact
that the State needs money, and
the present tax levy of six mills
will not bring in anything like
sufficient revenues to meet the OBJ
legations Of the State.
The treasury is practically
empty. There is probably SAC, 900
no hand, but the State must, not
later than Jan. 1, 1911, pay out
two-thirds Of the general school
fund, amounting to nearly $1,000, !
600, while the pension fund is due
Nov. ], which amounts to $500 900,
and the question is where will the
State get the money
The Governor has been relying
on the $500, 900 of State bonds to
relieve the situation, but this
would not be more than half enough
to meet the demands of the public
schools and pensioners, while there
would be nothing left for the other
State institutions. This is the
situation the Governors must meet,
and many think there is no way of
meeting this except to call an extra
session of the Legislature to raise
the tax levy to seven mills.
This State of affairs has been
brought about by the wholesale re-
duction Of personal values in many
counties Of the State. The State
would not have received sufficient
revenue, basing its income on that
Of last year, to meet its financial
obligations, but with nearly
81, 900, 900 cut off for next year, it
is difficult to see how the State can
meet this deficit, except BY calling
the Legislature together to increase
the levy.
This will be hard on some coun-
ties, where the values show a
healthy increase. For instance, in
Kinds, Harrison. Leflore and
others, but the assessors of other
counties have made such tremen-
dous reductions in some instances
that something will be necessary to
meet the situation. just what
action the Governor will take, if
any, is known only to himself, but
unless funds are forthcoming from
some source, the States education
'al and eleemosynary institutions
will suffer, as well as the public
schools.
The total appropriations for the
next two years amount to 81, 72l,-
437. 80, while the total revenue,
basing the receipts on those Of last
year, would be Sc, ,607, ,927. 80, leav-
ing a decfiit Of 81, $40 staring
the State in the face. Then, too,
the loss in personal values will be
considerable, but just how much
cannot be ascertained at this time,
which will run the total deficit up
to even larger figures.
Of the total appropriations Of
81, ,72l ,473. 30, the public schools
and colleges of the State receive
S4 ,568, ,649. or, including the Farm
|ers' institute, experiment stations,
State normaIs, ETC., leaving only
So, ,152, 1928 for all other purposes.
The amount of money is supposed
to be derived from taxation, but
where the assessors and supervisors
are constantly reducing values,
there is but little chance Of the
State getting the money required.
In making the assessment, the
assessor learns first how much
money it will take to run the coun-
ty government, and makes the as
sessment accordingly, regardless OF
the State. Lands that are worth
from SIS to $100 an acre are assess.
ed at from So to $5 an acre, and il
is such work as this that brings
the State face to face with situa-
tion that almost demands an extra
session of the Legislature.
Even that will not relieve the
Isituaiton next year. and the only
alternative will be for the State t.
float more bonds, and at a higher
rate of interest than that fixed foi
the present issue Of $500, 900.
Unless this is done the employees
of the State will not be able "a
draw their pay. This will apply te
levery one ia the employ Of any
State institution, and will hittsome
/ of them rather hard, as they arr
not in position to negotiate theil
salary with the banks, as the other
officers Of the State can.