Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1912-01-12
GOVERNORS MESSAGE
h~ISSISSTPPrS EXECUTIVE GIVES
ACCOUNT OF STEWARDSHIP.
Tells Of the States Financial and Its
Public Observation-Disclosures Many
Important Recommendations

Jaeksen--FOllOwing is a synopsis of
IOv. NOePs message sent to the legisla-
ture Wednesday:
Gentlemen of the Mississippi Legislature:
The responsibilities imposed upon the
governor are far beyond the means of
performance placed at his command.
Oaly approximately, under existing cir
cumstanees, can he fairly fulfill the high
trust imposed.
Addressing you, in general terms, IL
affords me pleasure to state that the
affairs of Mississippi, in all of the .
rious departments of government, dur
ing the past four years, have been con-
Quoted in q ust, economical, efficient and
patriotic manner. The states credit and
financial affairs are in better condition
than they were four years ago.
Depression among our citizenship, over
the heavy reduction in the expected
yield and price of cotton, should eau 10
serious nor prolonged Encouragement;
but should serve us for earnest, per-
sistent and intelligent study and effort
for moral spiritual, educational and
material u~pbuilding of our beloved COM
monwealth.
By ayailing ourselves of the informa-
ton and assistance of the United States
department of agriculture; of our agri-
cultural and its experiment stations and
farmers institute and extension work;
of our Agricultural High Schools and
Beys' Corn Clubs, and of the various
other agencies provided by the federal,
state and county governments, Dur peo-
pie, soil and climate considered, will
have no reason to BE disheartened.
An intelligent backward look, cover
ing act merely a few months, but the
whole decade, will clearly prove that
the whole South, especially Mississippi,
has much reason for congratulations on
past achievement, coupled with al alb
lsolute assurance of a successful and pros
Ferrous future.
Law Enforcement.
The prime object Of governments is
che protection of life, liberty, property
and the pursuit of happiness. The de-
gree of accomplishment of these most
important objects is the measure of sue.
cess or failure. Our legislatures have
given US, in the main, q good system of
laws, Of course subject to human i'm
PROJECTIONS, and the need of occasional
betterment. Our courts, whose exclu-
sive power and duty it is to apply the
general rules Of conduct established, or
authorized by the legislature, to indi-
vidual, ~litigants, or offenders, have rem
dered admirable service. It's civil bust
ness has never been more efficiently nor
justly nor expeditiously handled.
The execution Of antitrust laws have
been practically suspended by the court
decision, that section 5018 of the code
gave to offending corporations absolute
immunity, after being required to pro-
duce books or papers pertaining to con-
tracts violative of our antitrust laws.
Without such writings, secondary evil
dence being inadmissible, hardly any case
could be made out. The introduction
of the only practicable proof acquits Of
tenders. Corporations are not protected
by the constitutional guarantee that no
person shall be forced to give testimony
which might criminate himself, without
making that testimony carry immunity
from prosecution. This section of the
code of 1906 was entirely needless, as
evidence was legally obtainable, estab-
fishing %offenses by corporations, mere
creatures of the law, without any i'm
munity attachment, and it should be
promptly repealed.
According to a recent supreme court
decision, section 1859 of the code of 1906,
through the misuse of a word, imposes
no penalty on cashiers and other Off
GERS Of banks for receiving individual
deposits, knowing the bank to be prob
ally insolvent. Considering our lament
able failure in having provided no sys-
tenn of state bank inspection, this sup
posed Jaw was one of the chief safe
guards, commonly thought, to be ex-
tended to depositors. This law should
be promptly amended, and also strength
ened by making every deposit in a bank,
for q few months before failure, pre-
sumptive evidence of criminal receipt of
money, tAus throwing upon officials of
broken banks, who have the best oppor-
tunities of knowledge, the burden of
showing whether or not they had good
reason to believe the bank was solvent
when deposits were received. The urgent
need of such a law, or of efficient bank
inspection, or both, is being now con-
ciusively established.
Our courts have fully upheld the law
Of 1910, comforting upon chancery courts
authority to enjoin liquor-selling, as a
nuisance, in addition to sustaining at
tachment, and imposition of penalties.
This law, chapter 1874, should be en-
Iarged to include malt, and all other
intoxicating liquors, and q separate pen
atty be made enforceable for each sale.
II, in addition to this, all buildings
whose owners have reasonable notice of
their use in connection with liquor sell
ing, we're made liable for the penalties;
and the agents, as well as the owners
of property so used, be made subject
to Indictment, u liquor laws would -
greatly improved. Some confirmed liquor
SELLERS have procured partial or total