The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1918-03-29
A GLANCE AT SOME
LEGISLATIVE DOlNCS

Ia GLANCE AT SOME
LEGISLATIVE DOINCS
Tax Levy Holds Law-Making Body
Over. Some, Side-Lishts. on the
Tax Levy Matter. The Total Ap-
propri.tions. Salaries of Some
Capitol Employes Increased. Some
Reports. -.
| The legislature was to have ad-
journed on Wednesday but owing TO
the fact that an agreement had not
been reached on the state, tax levy,
its was deemed advisable to remain
over util March 80. The wrangle
over the tax levy he's many side
lights. 1t dates back to the creation
of the tax commission and the call
ing of the special session last Fall
to reduce the tax levy-and it will
be remembered that it. was done, the
levy was made 4 mills instead of 6
as for a number of years-but after
the reduction was made it was found
that the tax commissioners were no
better figureres than a ten year old
boy, that the state lacked several
hundred thousand dollars last year
Of collecting as much as it spent. In
short, the whole tax levy affair shows
that somebody must have been engag-
ed in trying to fool the people about
tax reductions. This legislature has
spent somewhere near $14,000,0O0
and Hon. Alf Stone, credited
with being the best fnancier in
the house and man who has
given much study to tax prob
lens, says that nothing less than
a mill levy will do the job
for the state. The Governor has
stated that he would veto a levy OF
even mills and it is understood that
he preferes Az mills. OF course
some compromise will have to be
reached between the Governor and
the law-making body. In due time
it will be seen who was right and who
was wrong. Of course, with the
great power given the tax commits
sion to extract money from the peo-
ple, it is possible to raise the neces-
sary taxes with even 3 mills. The
tax commission raised assessments
last year $17O,0O0,00O and it is as
sumed that it will add another $780,
600, 900 this year Any way, money
has gone free and easy. The pres
ent administration has set pace
that will be difficult to follow in ap-
proliriations unless somebody goes
broke. This week, increases in the
salaries of the stenographers ant
numerous other employees Of the state
capital, were made far beyond wha
those of similar capaciy get working
!, ,lfos private concerns or individuals
The time put in by these state enl
ployes is much less than is requires
Of those not on the public pay-roi
: and the funny thing about much o
!, lit, too. was that the proposal cam
a from the major general OF the io'
: lpressure brigade To the credit O
n Grenada county's representative
i Hon. w. A. Winter, he voted TO
4 none of these sentimental salary In
e creases Extra pay was voted witt
! a lavish hand to others.
The committee named by the low
a er house to investigate the manage
r ment of the old soldiers home a
lBeauvoir, reported Tuesday. The re
e port stated that the business manage
= ment appeared to be all right an
that there was but little complain
i from the inmates, the report, how
e ever. stated, that Gov. Bilbo was II
r frequent company with the head nurs
of the hospital and that he was ou
with her until late hours at night
in short, the report strongly intimat
n ed that the Governor and the nurs
: were not walking the paths of tn
virtuous.
The report of the committee ais
named by the lower house to investi
gate the purchase of the State farr
:. made by the penitentiary Board an
Gov. Bilbo, made its report Wednes
!. day. That committee stated tha
: something near $13,000.00 in fee
9 and commissions had gone to tw
l. legislators. Messrs. Z. & Frankli
and u. B. Ross. both members of tn
: legislature. Just how these afore
:. said gentlemen "got on" the repoI
- only intimated Altogether, the re
. port contained much ginger.
:, The legislature has rendered bet
:. ter service in the attempted leglsls
. ton it has chloroformed rather tha
{ for what is has placed on the statut
: books. Several important matter
were passed on by the law-makin
body. There were many faithful
worthy men in both houses and take
e as a whole most of the members ca
It |rest in the assurance that they hav
!. tried to do what they believed I
Ie be right.
% provided for to take care OF exce'
provoded for to take care of exce'
in appropriations and bonds heret'
fore issued.
While Speaker Connor started il
~ at the January term 1916, in ha
!, tmony with both the Governor and Il
- Lieutenant Governor, it became q
open secret that they did not play
each others yard any more. The u
lual resolutions were offered cor
;. Intending both the Lieutenant Go
. ernor and the Speaker for fairnes
Speaker Connor was the reclplel
as of a handsome present from his Il