Tensas gazette., 1912-03-15
TWO STATE ADMINISTRATIONS.


now in session, is having trouble in I,
providing sufficient revenue for the
expense of the State. That body
recently fixed the State tax levy at
six mills, but realizing that that
rate would not produce sufficient
revenue, bond issue of half mil
lion dollars was provided for. Ap-
preparations were 50 pruned that no
provision at all was made for the
State Agricultural and Mechanical
College at Starkville.
A contrast between conditions in
our sister State and in Louisiana is
not inopportune in view Of the per-
sistent attacks made on Governor
Sanders administration for alleged
profligacy and extravaganza.
AS stated above the State tax
levy in Mississippi is six mills; in
Louisiana it is five mills.
The whole of the State tax in
Mississippi goes to general and edu-
cational purposes, no part going to
levees and none to interest on the
public debt, for that State has
no public debt, having repudiated
same.
Of the five mill tax in Louisiana,
one mill goes to levees and nearly
one mill more to payment of inter-
est on the State debt Of about
81, 900, 900 Ga legacy fron-the re-
construction period, thus leaving
only about three mills for. general
and educational purposes.
It thus appears that the State
tax in Mississippi, for purposes
other than levees and interest,
amounts to about twice as much as
the same tax in Louisiana.
Is this marked difference in tax,
alton the result Of fewer and lesl
efficient State institutions, such al
schools, asylums, &C., or of small
er salaries paid to public officers
Let us see. Louisiana maintains
the State University and Agricul
tural and Mechanical College a
Baton Rouge, the Normal Schoo
at Natchitoches, the Industrial In
stitutes at Ruston and Lafayett'
and the Southern University (fo
negroes) at New Orleans--all insti
tutions of the highest efficiency ant
of which Louisiana is justly proud
1t maintains two Insane Asylums
a Blind Asylum, and an Institut
for the Deaf and Dumb. The sal
aries Of our State officials an
Judges in Louisiana, without bein
extrayagantly high, are adequate
In Mississippi, on the contrary
the State maintains only a Stat
University, an Agricultural College
a Normal school for girls and
University for negroes, and it is t
be noted that no appropriation wa
made this year for the Agriculturs
College. 1t maintains only one In
sane Asylum and we believe ais
an Institution for the Deaf, Dunn
and Blind. The salaries paid pub
lie officials are VIGOROUSLY niggard
ly and inadequate.
Certainly, it cannot be contend
ed that the above comparison show
that our sister State is blessed wit
a more honest or efficient govern
ment than is ours in Louisiana.
Nor has it ever been charged tbs
there is State Ring in Missil
sippi which wakes fat of the fruit
of its misgovernment. Bitter as
factional politics in that State n
such charges have been made 8
have been mercilessly and inais'
emily made against the present ad
ministrstion in Louisiana.
The fact is that when partisa
rancor shall have died away an
the administration of Jared Y. San
ders comes to be judged in th
calm, cool light Of reason and san
ity, the merits Of that Administrs
ton viii come to be recognized an
the people Of the State viii admi
the debt they owe TO q faithful put
lie servant and viii regret the blin
partisan fury which caused them I
throw discredit on his Aaministrs
ton.