Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1912-01-12

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absolute desd letter.
Reports of State Institutions aad
Officers.
I respectfully direct your attention
and careful consideration to the reports
Of all state officers, and of educational,
eleemosynary, charitable and other in
s-.tutions sustained wholly, or in part,
by legislative appropriations. All these
reports are valuable agencies for de-
termining past conduct and usefulness
and the future needs of these instru-
mentalities for the promotion of public
welfare.
Educational Institutions.
The legislature Of 1910 established
agricultural high schools, q long felt
want; wisely provided for the CONSOLE
dAtion of rural schools, graded; created
9 normal college for the training of
teachers; added to the efficiency of the
physical and educational equipments of
the University and three state colleges;
and donated $34S, 176.O0 more to public
schools than had ever before been given
in Mississippi. While this involved q
large increase of taxation, it constituted
by far the greatest educational advance
we had ever made. Judicious use of
the mental and manual training, thus
provided, and il was so used, would
constitute this expenditure a wise in
vestment of state funds, n that will
yield, possibly, a hundred fold return,
in the future development of our states
resources. About 60 per cent of the
states revenues are applied to the edu-
cation and training of its children.
In addition to the normal courses
which have been, and should be, main
tanned, at the University and the In
dustrial Institute and College, the peo-
pie of the state have long and earn
estly sought a strictly normal college,
and was the last state of the Union
to be provided with this educational
necessity. Our free school system abso-
lutely depends for success upon the
efficiency of its teachers. Their eff
cheney a only be attained by special
training. The courses at the University
and at the Industrial Institute and Col.
lege, along with the normal college, will
not provide sufficient opportunities for
those needing special training for teach
ing, but all three should be fully util-
lied.
Board of College Trustees.
Careful and intelligent reading of the
first biennial report of the board of
trustees of the states higher educa-
tional institutions will convince almost
any fair-minded man of the wisdom of
the last legislature in creating that
board, and Of the high character and
admirable qualifications of it's member
ship, as well as of the excellent service
this board has rendered to those insti-
t~utions, and to Mississippi.
Efficient oversight of these four higher
institutions of learning necessitates con-
siderable time and skilled study. The.
majority of the members of the board
are of that successful business class
whose personal services command from
$4,000 a year on up to four times that
sum.
Blind and Deaf and Dumb Institutes.
These splendid educational institu-
tions are of convenient access and should
be visited by every legislator. No one
acquainted with their work will fail to
commend their admirable service. Those
in charge are worthy of perfect conf
dence. Their requests are moderate and
just and should be fully granted. An
institution for the colored blind should
be erected and maintained.
State Board of Health.
The very interesting, instructive and
valuable report of this board, with its
accompanying publications, merits your
profound consideration. 1t shows the
very important character of public work
in which the board has been engaged,
the general health conditions of the
state, and contains many highly i'm
portant suggestions. Protection Of the
people from the suffering and loss en-
tailed by needless sickness and death
ought to be one of the most important
state functions.
The Insane Hospitals.
The main hospital here, used for both
white and colored patients, and the one
at Meridian, are under skilled and
highly experienced arrangements. Each
superintendent is thoroughly familiar
with the requirements of the position
and the personal needs of the inmates.
The P%enitentiary.
The report of the board of trustees is
brief and can be easily grasped. The
membership of the board represents the
three different sections of the state. In
dealing with a large and successful farm
ing enterprise, the board has been gov
erned by an honest and earnest desire
to promote the states best interests.
The superintendent possesses in an emf
nent degree the qualifications needed for
manager of large and diversified farming
interest, having successfully and profit
ably conducted, a statutory requisite for
appointment, his personal farming and
business affairs.
The present number of convicts is
1929, an increase Of about 500 in four
years. All but about 100 are negroes.
For the 81 months elapsing between
October /, 1909, and June 80, 1911, the
period fixed by law, to be covered by the