The vidette. (Iuka, Tishomingo County, Miss.) 1912-1967, 1918-02-21
FORMERSPEAKER MAKES
SOME POINTED
COMMENT.
Col. Street Explains Why the
State Is Always Dealing
With a Deficit.
Editor Daily News:

the chief causes of this condition.
The two principal causes are schools
in politics and the habit OF legis-
latures to make appropriations and
fail to levy taxes to pay them. We
should not be confused by having
pensions charged against the county
where the pensioners reside. The
state alone should pay all pensions
to Confederate soldiers and combin-
ing these payments with school dis
tributions serves only as camourhage
for the excessive school distributions
where the counties should pay part.
The Auditors report shows that
the four counties of Attala, Jefferson,
Carroll and Lafayette paid state
taxes in 1916 amounting to 500, 244.-
80 on 6 mills. | see it stated that
they, on four mills in 1917 will pay
$97 ,S26,35 These four counties
drew from the state for schools alone
including two Agricultural High
Schools for the year 1916, 1919, 344.-
IS. If they draw the same in 1917,
they get from the state 500 ,517. SO
more than they pay in from all
sources, including privilege and
railroad taxes.
These four counties have railroads
running through them and the tax
on the railroads and otherpublic cor
porations is credited to the counties
in the above statement.
AS the de bit of the state is grow
ing from year to year the interest on
the deficit must be taken into ac-
count.
This loss of $39,51793 with five
per cent interest annually, will
amount in tenyears to over $500 900.
1t was recognized by many mem
bers of the Constitutional Conven-
ton of 1890 that the present method
of raising and distributing the
school fund was not practical, but
it was hoped that the conflicting
interests of the counties would re-
suit in reasonable compromise
which would be just to all and pro-
tect the treasury of the state. There
was one element, however, that
was overlooked. Irefer to members
of the Legislature who were expect
ant candidates for an office where
votes from counties other that theil
own, were desired In this state
ment, | disclaim reference to any
legislature of which | wss not a
member, as | know nothing of any
other.
The legislature of 1892 made the
first distribution under the present
constitution. Realizing, as | had
never before. the trouble likely to re :
suit, | resigned the speakership in
1894, introduced a substitute for
section 206 of the constitution which
passed three readings in the House
and went to the Senate where a
member of that body who afterwards
became a candidate for a state of
flee, succeeded in securing its defeat.
In 1908 | suggested the propriety
of combining school appropriations
within constitutional limits by pro
viding money for only four months.
Any interference with a school ap-
preparation was like red FLAG be-
fore a Texas steer. To my surprise.
members from the southern part of
the state from counties paying two
dollars to the state to get one back
IN the school fund distribution. were
as intolerant as those from counties
getting back all that was paid in.
This is a case of inequality which the
Tax Commission seems rather to
have intensified than remedied. It
Is aninequality that causes other
taxpayers to feel they are unjustIy
treated when they see four counties
absorbing all their own state taxes.
including that on nearly one hun
bred miles of standard guage rail
roads and approximately $4,000.
bonus besides.
In addition to this, the mileage
and FER diem of legislators must be
plid, to say nothing of judicial and
executive expenses and support of
Charitable institutions pensions and
colleges.
WI ither are we bound for if not
to bankruptcy?
II. NJ, STREET,