The north Mississippi herald. (Water Valley, Yalobusha Co., Miss.) 1888-1929, 1920-02-27
Rep. e. {. DENLEY
WRITES
Tells of Legislative Activities
Over 500 Bills Introduced
and End Not Yet in Sight.

Almost three months up the 1920
Session of the Legislature has passed
into history, and yet the final adjourn
ment is perhaps q month or more in
the future. While there is quite a
spirit of unrest among many of the
members who are anxious to get
through and go home, as many of
them who We're somewhat extravegent
have already about exhausted their
,r>,.w and per diem and should this
Alast pn+il April or later all
I'D finaR th 4iseiyes IN tnis Boat, anu
while the Indications in the beginning
of the Session that but few bills
would be introduced as compared
with tn number during other regular
an idea to that effect has already be-
gan to realize the mistake for already
there has been more than 800 bills
introduced in House and several in the
Senate. This morning more new
bills found their way to the clerks
desk than in any single day since we
convened. While the different Com
mittees have killed some 5 bills to
each one recommended favorably yet
this don't seem to deter or make a.
fraid, and still they come. While q
great per cent Of measures passed
have been of minor Importance or of
lite interest yet there has been some
constructive legislation enacted at
this Session,
Aside from the fact that the indi-
cations are that in the expenditure Of
money for appropriations and salaries
are entirely too free hearted and lib
eral and as before stated in former
letter the State tax rate viii neces-
sarally have to be raised to perhaps
71z or mills. While all of course
understand that under the conditions
that exist at this time appropriations
will have to exceed the amount here
tofore made and more especially is
this true where permanent improve
ment is necessary as building material
and labor have more than doubled IN
price and just at this time it appears
that as State we have outgrown our
institutions, and there are peope
knocking for admittance at the door
cf both our elemosynary and educa-
tional institutions and are being turn
ed away All of us believe Mississip-
pi is big enough to take care of and
educate the blind the deaf and dumb
and to take care of the sick, and that
every boy and girl who seek admit
tance to our higher educational insti-
tutions should be admitted and with
the 81 Agricultural High Schools and
C ther High Schools over the State the
number who are seeking admission is
increasing in large numbers each year
and unless provision is made for their
4ccomodation they will knock in vain
and Just at this time it looks like the
educational interest Of the State is
Icing safe guarded as never before
our appropriations for the Common
Schools has been considerably IN
eeased. Our country visitor next
year will be more than double to what
it has been heretofore and every ef-
fort will be made to furnish accomo,
dations in the State Colleges for all
who come, to do these things however
il requires the expenditure OF large
sums of money, and the increase IN
the State tax rate must OF necessity
follow. At last we have passed the
Compulsory education law, and my
judgement this is one of the best and
most far reaching pieces OF Leglsla,
ton that has been or will be enacted
during this Session.
So far few appropriation bills
have been reported back to the House
but every indication is that the
increase will be anywhere from 80 10
80 per cent over former approprla-
lions. We all realize that we are
living in fast age and most certalnLy
in an age of high prices and majority
Of the present members have certain