Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1919-11-06
GOV. RUSSELL
MAKES ADDRESS
Chapel Crowded With Students-Held
Audience Spellb0und From Start
to Finish.

One of the largest gatherings OF
students ever assembled at the Uni
versity of Mississippi listened with
rapt interest to forceful address by
Governor Elect Lee M. Russell, yes
terday at chapel.
Gov. russell is graduate OF the
literary and law departments OF the
University, native product OF this
tLatayette) county and one OF the
strongest friends the University has
ever had. In his service as law-maker
for the past twelve years he has been
the active and consistent friend OF tine
institution and has saved the day IN
many a hotly contested fight for ade-
quate appropriations for this old and
plendid school.
Governor Russell was presented to
the crowded auditorium of students
by Chancellor Powers, who, in ap-
propriate words spoke OF the excel
lent work of the governOr-elect for
this school in the days gone by and IN
warm terms welcomed him back to
his alma mater.
The address of Gov. Russell was
along new lines. His address was an
appeal to the entire student body Tor
AL active cooperation always in gov
ernmental affairs and especially urg-
...g them to take Jealous interest,"
in the problems confronting the peo-
ple at the present time and advised
them that the next legislature would
have before them many problems IN
the solution of which every citizen
was vitally interested. He then OUT
lined, in detail, number Of measures
that he proposed to submit to the
legislature for their solution and these
matters being along the lines he had
discussed before the people in the re-
cent campaign.
Praises Tax Commission.
He explained at length the old and
the present method of assessing ana
collecting taxes, calling attention to
tine work being done by the present
State Tax Commission. He stated
that the present commission had done
"a great work toward equalization IN
this state and that wholesome CO.
operation by all it's citizens would
mean that sufficient revenues would
be available to adequately supply all
the funds for the various departments
of the state. He stated that while he
believed in being conservative and eco
nomical in expending the peoples
money yet this state was amply able
to care for her citizens in every de-
partment of the state government
He explained that we were not pau
pers; that we owed but little money
;, compared to that of other states and
that money spent for good roads,
schools and the public health was
money we'll expended and would. in
days to come, bring the largest pos
.sible returns.
- Good Roads.
,Goou roads, ne contInued, We're lill-
operative. That no people could marAeI
Their produce and carry on their bus
mess in the way they mad done be-
fore: to keep abreast OF the progress
,of other states we must have good,
.all-year, hard surfaced roads. He ex-
tplained further that the state high
way department and many of the
leading business men Of the state
were doing a great work in this line
and that he would advocate in his
message to the legislature, tax on
gasoline per gallon and this revenue
(which would bring in large return) Z,
added to the already privilege tax
would provide sinking fund that
would be ample to care for the bonds
which he proposed to the amount OF
twenty five millions ($25, 900, ,000), and
this added to the help of the federal
government would put this state on
the map in road building. He said
that this would not be a tax upon the
J. lands and other property of the state
but would simply make every man
who used an automobile pay just
land proper taxa tax in accord with
the amount of the fuel he burned;
this would pay also for the amount of
road that he helped wear out
Good Road Conditions.
Good health was his next subject.
The proper inspection and care Of the
growing child in the schools was of
paramount Importance. He advocated
an all-time county health officer and
such reforms along that line that
n ov,I cysc M n.