Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1918-03-29
SESSION IS
NOT IMPROBABLE
MORE THAN 100000 HAS BEEN
VOTED BY PRESENT STATE
LEGISLATURE.
REVENUE CAUSES WRANGLE
Sources From Which the Revenue !:
to Come Still Confront Solons.
Four Millions More May BE
Tackled on.

Jackson.-Both houses Of the Miss'1
sippi Legislature were running under
forced draft last week, with the idea
In view OF completing all fiscal legis'
lation possible preliminary to wind! lg
up this class OF work within the coz
s~titutional five days. This object
could not be attained, as the results
showed, and the usual subterfuge for
getting around that little scrap OF pa
per called the constitution was adopt
ed. The legislature has done well In
the matter Of appropriations, having
already put through more than $10.-
900, 900 in bills that have become law,
and in addition there are others that
will add three or four millions more
to the sum.
But the very important featurs OF
legislation on hand which still re-
mains to be disposed of is that In re-
gard to producing the revenue with
| which to meet the sums appropriated.
| This must be decided before adjourn
ment, and the ~oft-repeated cry OF the
economists and alarmists, where are
we going to get the money!" must be
answered.
The House Of Representatives has
gone on record in this matter by pass
ing a bill fixing the ad valorem TAI
levy at six mills on the dollar for 1918
and 1919. This is an increase over
the present basis of four mills, under
the act of 1917, and that is the basis
for which it Is said the governor and
his advisers of the state tax commits
sion are insisting.
The governor has let it be known
In plain terms that he would veto any
bill providing for an increase in the
ad valorem rate. The senate major.
ity seems disposed to- knuckle down 10
this demand, having refused to pass
a six-mill rate, and even gagged at a
compromise rate of five mills, which
was suggested. At the present time
1t seems as If the governor holds the
trumps, as 1t was stated quite posi-
lively that he had reiterated his de
mand for the lower rate.
There is an impression prevailing
that the revenue-getting atmosphere
may be cleared up in a few days. Just
which way, whether to stick to the
five or six-mill basis and then put the
onus on the governor for veeoing the
increase, and incidentally causing be
fore the present year has expired an
other extraordinary session, which
would establish q record for a single
administration since reconstruction
days.
There Is still a mass OF general leg
i~slation on both calendars, but mucl
of this will either be i~ndefinitel.
postponed or fail to reach a hearing
on the calendar.
Speaker Sennett Conner Of tn
house Of representatives was host t
his colleagues at a dinner given b,
him complimentary to the men WHOM
he has so ably and strongly led dul
ing the first two years Of his legi'
lative experience. There was nc pol
tics in the gathering in any way q
sense. 1t was the young speakers d
sire to meet his colleagues social!
. and he desired to do this just no
before they begin to break up for tn
| session. Altogether it was n of tn
most enjoyable social events of tn
present session. and a genuine g.
change of greetings and affectionat
IA reWellS