The Tupelo journal., 1917-09-21
EXTRA SESSION OF
LEGISLATURE CALLED

iiS tHtSlCot GS4uiiCo Gidt tlc LEXIS
lature shall be convened in extraor-
binary session:
Now Therefore, |, Theo. G. Bilbo,
Governor of the State of Mississippi,
by virtue of the authority vested in
me by the constitution Of the state,
do hereby issue this, my proclamation
to convene the Legislature of the
State of Mississippi in extraordinary
session and designate Tuesday, the
Twenty-fifth day of September,
1917, at ten o'clock a. M, as the
time to convene at the Capitol in the
City of Jackson, Mississippi.
In exercising my authority under
the Constitution in calling this extra
ordinary session, / am firmly Of the
conviction that the matters of public
interest hereinafter stated abund-
antly justify my action. 4 regret the
necessity that compels me to call
the lawmakers away from their bust
ness at this season of the year, but
it is devoutly to be wished that every
member will Immediately report for
duty and transact the business before
them with the greatest expedition
possible consistent with the public
welfare.
Defense Measures Coming.
Our nation is now at war and ev-
cry mans time is needed for the
common defense, l am calling this
Legislature together for business of
greatest public concern and any 9TH
er matters foreign to the public in
terest should be properly excluded
from your consideration.
The subjects that are presented to
this extraordinary session of the
Legislature are:
/. Providing the necessary funds
for the October distribution for the
support and maintenance of the Pub
lie Schools of the State for the first
part of the scholastic year of 1917
1918. This is necessary for the rea-
son that not dollar will be avail
able for the purpose of paying the
public school teachers of the state un-
til the appropriation at the January
session of the Legislature of 1918
becomes available. If this distribu-
ton is not provided for the public
school teachers of the state will be
forced to do without their pay until
the spring of 1918.
Must Reduce Tax.
2. 1t will be necessary in giving
the proper protection to the people
to reduce the state, county, drainage,
school and levee district levies since
through the efforts of the state tax
commission with the cooperation of
q patriotic citizenship, the assessors
and boards of supervisors of the
eigthy-one counties of the state, to-
gether with the railroad commission,
the assessment of Mississippi will be
almost doubled.
8. The creation of council of
state defense, prescribing its power
and duties relative to the general
welfare, security and defense of the
state. This is necessary for the
proper cooperation with the Council
of National Defense which was Gre
ated by act of Congress.
a. The creation of state MALTA
for the purpose of preserving the
public order, peace and tranquility
and making an appropriation there
for.
Must Pay OFF Debts.
5. To provide ways and means for
meeting the states outstanding obli-
cations that will mature before the
regular session in 1918 can make
provision for their payment.
6. To provide for the exercise of
the elective franchise by Mississippi
voters who are in the military, naval
or other war service of the United
States and are absent from this
state.
z To provide for the exempting
of soldiers, sailors and other persons
in actual military and naval service
of the United States from the pay
ment of any debt contracted prior
to their enlistment while the nation
is at war and for a reasonable time
thereafter, to be fixed by the Legis-
lature in the statute which they shall
enact.
s. To pass Uniform Ware
House Receipt Law
In Testimony Whereof / have here
unto set my hand and caused the
Great Seal of the State of Mis-
sissippi to be affixed at jackson,
this the Eighteenth day of Sep
TENDER, 1917.