The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1912-01-12

The state should either apportion it's
tax among the different counties in
proportion to the county tax they col
lect, for lowering assessments and rails
ing county leyies would not avail; or
through effective state equalization
board, or by constitutional amendment
permitting the state to collect its ad
valorem tax from railroads, and banks,
or such corporations as can be readily
and accurately assessed throughout the
state on the same standard Of value.
By q scientific classification OF land,
according to its quality, and use, and
separate valuation of improvements, rs
recommended by the International Tax
Association, immense Improvement over
our present crude system could be made.
Finances.
The books and reports Of the auditor
and state treasurer close with the last
of September, the end of the fiscal year.
Neither of these reports has yet been
received. They have been expected daily.
Without them, detailed review and fore
cast of matters financial cannot be def
nitely stated, for their biennial period.
Estimates are made by comparisons. The
future is gagged by past experience.
The Live Stock Sanitary Board.
Chapter LOG of the laws Of 1908 Gre
ated a Live Stock Sanitary Board, in
vested with plenary power to deal with
comfortable or preyentable contagious
or infectious diseases of animals. Pri-
marily, the law was intended to obtain
the effective cooperation of the federal
government in tick eradication work;
and incidentally to prevent and control
hog cholera, and like infectious live stock
diseases. For 1908 and 1909, $4,000 .
year was appropriated. As the depart
ment of agriculture supplied the skilled
employees, veterinarians to train and di-
rect the unframed state and county in
spectors, regulating the extent Of its
service by the measure of state CO.
operation, but little work was lone in
these years; and that in Marshall and
Benton counties. The obstruction and
defiance to quarantine laws and the fail
ure of local officials to deter or punish
offenders became such q serious obstacle
that federal cooperation was suspended,
or about to be, until I gave the United
States bureau of animal industry as
surance that my influence would be ex-
erted for better enforcement of the
quarantine regulations. The Legislature
of 1910 increased the appropriation to
$4,000 and made the governor and at
torney general members of the board,
doubtless to secure more effective quar-
antine regulation, and its better observ-
ance. Failure of observance and defiance
of quarantine law had been all along the
greatest obstacle to tick eradication.
During our term of service, the attorney
general, and myself have earnestly
sought to promote a clear understanding
and greater respect, inc better observ-
ance of quarantine regulations; and
thus contributed to the rapid and sat
isfactory progress made during the past
two years. The United States bureau
reported that the greatest and quickest
tick eradication, or like work, in the
worlds history vas performed in the
hill portion of Holmes county last year.
a Brief Review.
In giving to you information of the
state of government" shall briefly
note a few Of the naslsmportant ard
beneficial achievements o1 the last LEG
i~slature and other departments of the
retiring administration, emitting maas
important legal reforpss manifest to any
one who will examine the legislation OF
the past four years. Among their re-
forms are:
The ratification of the sixteenth
amendment to the United States consti.
tuition, by which a just share of burdens
of government can be imposed through
an income tax on many wealthy indi
viduals and corporations which par
tally, or wholly, escape taxes; and the
memorial to congress requesting the
submission of an amendment making
direct vote.
The submission of three amendments
to our state constitution, which were
overwhelmingly ratified at the polls
providing for: ~ popular election Of
judges of the circuit and chancery
courts; (2) authority to every session
OF the legislature to insert constitu
tional amendments; and 81 the aboli
ton of all restrictions on special ses
sions Of the legislature as to subjec,
matter of bills.
The prohibition of liquor selling, tn.
state refusing further to countenanee
or participate in a traffic so frought witt
spiritual, moral, physical and %financia
destruction to its citizenship.
Bucket shop gambling was outlawed
Child labor, in its evil forms, was pro
hibited, and in other respects legal,
regulated. A pure food law, just nov
/, becoming operative, was enacted, fo1
the first time affording protection t.
, grown folks and children from fraud
ulent and poisonous adulteration o
their medicine and food. The state en-
; tomologist was armed with authority
: for aggressive warfare against diseases
and pests injurious to gardens and Or
! chards. Agricultural high schools ane
l consolidated rural graded schools wer'
established. The public road system wa.
: revised, and bettered. The counties
through county commissioners, chose,
by themselves and the United States
department of agriculture, with polite:
J thus minimized, were empowered to co
operate with the federal government il
al effective campaign for diversified
agriculture, and against the boil weevi
! and other enemies of plant life.
Il The Live Stock Sanitary Commissio.