The sea coast echo. [volume] (Bay Saint Louis, Miss.) 1892-current, 1916-04-22
GOVERNOR B|LbO'S
ESTIMATE OF THE RE-
CENT LEGISLATURE
Says It's Deliberations Were
Timely and It's Work Along
Constructive Lines, Garry
ing Out the Pledges of His
Campaign and Administers
tion-A Summary.
To the people of Mississippi:

The Legislature has adjourned; and
viewing its accomplishment as whole,
| it must be gratifying thing to every
sense of patriotism to relalize how
admirably and completely the progress
sive and contructive ideas and ideals OF
the people of Mississippi, awakened to
expression in the last campaign, have
been reflected in the world of their law
| makers. The result proves, again, the
value of agitation; and the wisdom OF
talking, in a Democracy like ours,
every great question to the heart and
conscience of the people, trusting i'm
| plicitly in that great tribunal for just
adjudication.
The campaign which preceded the
election of the present legislature was
instinct with issues of the most vital
| consequences; the people were keenly
| alive to all of them, because they were
clearly defined and their merits threshed
out in every county in the State; certain
principles and policies of government
| were presented to the voters of the State
and engaged their interest in every
bailiwick; they constituted what we
call "issues' of campaign; they were
examined and canvassed and talked
about in every community; they were
controverted and contended for; they
were subjects of discussion and of argu-
ment wherever men met. Thus a uni
versal interest was awakened as, per-
haps, never before, in governmental
questions as related to the welfare OF the
State: and this quickened intelligence
demanded that candidates for the legis-
lature should share that interest. The
result was the selection Of a Legislature
that came to Jackson better prepared
TO work, with q broader and deeper
understanding of the States needs than
any which had been assembled, at the
Capital for many years; they came
hither to reflect sentiment and public
opinion that had been created out of an
agitation, discussion of questions OF
State policy that ran through many
months; which agitation had been 80
unctuously deplored by the self-con-
stituted guardians of the people, as a
menace to the social security and the
business integrity of the State.
But, you, the people of Mississippi,
knew what you wanted more than you
wanted s'peace and harmony" and
striving for those things, you created
and commissioned legislature that
would reflect in its enactment, the con-
chsions reached by you out OF these
peace discussions and agitations; and
how well they have justified your choice
is written in the splendid record OF
their accomplishments.
Let us look at that record; read il
and understand it; and say, whether il
is not the best, in point of progressive
and constructive work, in volume ano
character of beneficial legislation thai
has been written for Mississippi, since
the heroic days following the rescue Of
our State from the dominion OF carpet
| bag rule. Former legislatures have
done splendid work; they have builded
wisely and we'll; they have met crisis
bravely and manfully; on the whole
so far as the legislative department il
concerned, our State has been well gov
erned. 1t is no part of my purpose tt
disparage the splendid work OF any
preceding legislature; but only to direct
attention to the excellence of that ac.
complished by the present law-making
body as an evidence of the wisdom and
usefulness of a wide discussion o.
public questions, before nominations
are made and elections held, in ordel
that the will of the people may be re.
flected in their government. Here is {
summary of the important Legislation
which adjourned last Saturday:
Board of Pardons.
| Highway Commission.
| Industrial and Training School TO
Delinquent Children.
/ State Tax Commission.
/ Restoration of the Old Capitol.
7 Printing Bill.
! Abolition of Fee System.
i Stricter Prohibition Laws.
i Mississippi Centennial Exposition.
| State Tick Eradication.
Fish and Game Protection.
: I X
tuberculosis Hospital.
Industrial Building for Blind Institut
Tax and Revenue Commission.
Il Educational Commission to make