The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-09-30
LEGISLATORS SHOW OPPOSITION TOB|LLS PROPOSED BY b|LBO Mississippi Governor Going to Have Fight in Passing Much Needed Measures APPEARS IN PERSON BEFORE JOINT SESSION Son of Senator Vardaman, Lieutenant In Army, Marries-11, 1000 Boys
 Are Enrolled in Pig and
 Beef Clubs
By E. E. FRANTz

Jackson, Miss, September 29.-(Spe ial.)-The Mississippi legislature held Joint session Wednesday to hear Gov Theodore G. Bilbo deliver his message in person-that being his request. The governor had discovered that there was a great deal of opposition to some of the eight propositions he had sub mitted for legislative action, and that there was disposition to take recess until the first of next January, ana go home, whereupon he got busy.
 During their first day the legislature had asked for statements from the su- perintendent of education as to why the school fund had run short by three months; from the secretary of the railroad commission as to what had been done towards making the as- sessments on the public service cor poratioEs, and from the tax commis- sion as to what they had done towards raising and equalizing assessments over the state. Superintendent w. F. Bond came and explained the neces- sity for immediate action on the school fund, but the others were not prepared t5 give the figures that were demanded the assessments not having been com pleted. After this failure to get the information needed before the state tax levy can be fixed, there was de- mand for adjournment, but Governor Bilbo has convinced the majority that it will never do to leave Jackson With . out taking some action. Assessments in more than half the counties have been doubled or trebbled, and to pay taxes on such valuations would be con fiscatory, it is claimed.
 The government reminded the law makers that one of the banks of Jack son holls the note of the state for $S00,00o, due January 10, and that ar engagements must be made now to meet that obligation, the regular session of the legislature not meeting in time and the credit of the state being endan- gered. These matters being fully ex- planed, talk of returning home with out doing anything was sihnced, bat there is determination to get through in 10 days or two weeks. In the event there is no wrangle over matters not named by the governor an early adjournment is possible but at the same time Mr. Foster of Warren, in order to be on the safe side, intro duced bill appropriating $S0,000 for mileage and per diem with $8000 for house and $6000 for senate contingent expenses. No such bill will pass for the simple reason that so large sum is not needed The ex nepeearssw 5000 per day, and 10 days session would be a small item.
 In his address before the joint session the governor went into particulars as to what Legislation is demanded, and ex- plained the reason why. A resolution to adjourn next Saturday was fought over for two hours, having been made a spe- cial order, and during the debate it was charged by MT. Everett of Newton that the demand for adjournment came from those opposed to making tax levy to fit the increased assessment, and was done for the purpose of defeating the lowering of the levy. This was resented vigor- ously by the author of the resolution, MT. Mcintyre of Rankin, who declared the insinuation false. Mr. Johnson Of CCahoma the leader of the house, sup ported the resolution to adjourn Satur- day, explaining that they had tried to get information from the railroad com mission and the tax commission as to what the valuation of all property would Le, but those boards were not ready and would not be for two weeks or more He saw no reason for holding on at heavy expense to the tax payers, and predicted that if the tax levy was reduced from to mills as proposed, without having any data tli which to base the levy, the farmers Of the state would have to bear the burden or taxation and the public service corporations would get off with a smaller tax. The speech by the gov ernor had made a very profound impress sion on the members, however, and the Mcintyre resolution was voted down by a small majority.
 Just what is going to be done about this taxation proposition is hard to tell. The value of all property has been largely increased and it was the inten- . tion of the governor that the state levy should be reduced, but it is not believed that sufficient cash would be raised on the 4-mill levy to run the state govern ment another year and pay up the de- ficit of more than $1,O00,000 now staring the state in the face, just as 1t has done for several years. For this reason there are those who would let the levy remain at mills. thus insuring enough to pay everything the state owes and be able to start next year with clean slate.
 It developed during the discussion Of the time for sine die adjournment that the State Hospital for the Insane at Jackson will show a deficit of $SO000 the first of next year; the East Mississippi Insane hospital $20,00D and the peniten- tiary s120,00O This is due to the increased cost of maintaining these institutions. the price of provisions having doubled or trebled during the past two years. so thai all estimates have fallen short. The governor will be authorized to borrow these and other large sums, including ssoo,00o, due one of the banks for money borrowed last January. Taking 1t all Tn all. Mississippi Is in sorry financial
 SENATOR vARDAMAN'S SON
 James K. vardaman. Jr.. youngest son of the junior senator from Mis- sissinpi. and who has been very much in the limelight here of late because of his opposition to President Wilson, is lieutenant in the army ana m the officers training camp at camp Fike. Sunday last his sweetheart MISS Beatrice Lane of this city, who was attending school in Kentucky, met young vardaman in Memphis and they were married by Bishop w. B. Murrah. formerly of this city. and a friend ot both the families. James k, Jr., and his older brother have been practicing law very successfully here the past four or five years. and there are not two more popular young men in Jack son--the political sins of the father having never been visited upon their devoted heads.
 FIRE CHIEF RULED OUT
 Several days ago l. B. Mcdonald, chief of the fire department of Jack son enlisted in the army as mem bcr of the Mississippi ambulance com : pany (Captain Stewart) and resigned his place as chief. few nights since his company entrained for Camp Pike, but Mcdonald was left behind, his physical examination having shown 2 flat foot" Four other men were ex-