The vidette. (Iuka, Tishomingo County, Miss.) 1912-1967, 1920-04-29
The Nine-Mill Tax Levy and
100000 Dollar Bond Issue.
BY W. T. BAzzEL.

BY W. T. BABEL.
During the administration of Gov.
'Bilbo the state tax levy was kept
down to five aud one-half mills.
The recent session oJ the Legisla-
ture increased it to nine mills.
Moreover we authorized the issu-
ance of $1,000, 900 of state bonds
for permanent improvements at the
various State Institutions. Now |
believe that the tax payers ought to
be informed of the reasons why the
Legislature thought Unnecessary to
increase the burden of taxation,
and this article is written in order
to explain where this money goes,
and why the appropriations we're
not cut downt to a smaller sum.
Remember that all operating ex-
penses are provided for in the in
creased tax levy, and that the $5,-
900, 900 bond issue is for PERMA-
NFNT BUILDINGS AND I'M
PROVEMENTS at the various in
stitutions.
THE former tax levy was too
low, and previous appropriations
wholly inadequate to maintain the
state institutions. / do not desire
to criticise the former administra.
ton nor do | condemn the previ-
GUS Legislature. for we were at war
drive after drive was made to help
to win the victory ;living expenses
and STATE EXpENGES were cut
down to the lowest possible mini.
mum. The appropriations made
for maintaining the Institutions were
not sufficient, and Gov. Bilbo had
to borrow large sums OF money dur
the last year OF his administration
to maintain the asylums, hospitals
and schools, and Notwithstanding
all the money borrowed in 1919
to be paid by the Legislature in
1920 all the state institutions were
almost at the point Of collapse. SO
in addition to the large increases
necessary because of the increased
cost of living, we had all this ac-
cumulated deficit piled upon us,
and we had to face it. The time
had come when we had to either
almost double the espRsopriatlons
Tor CLOSE THE DOORS OF the asy
lums, hospitals, colleges and PUB
Lie SCHOOLS.
| Every one knows that our
pnblic school system was actually
going to pieces. Many rural schools
were already closed because teach
ers could not be secured at the
prices permitted. 1t was impera
tive that large increase be made
lfor public schools, so the appropria-
, ton for common schools was almost
doubled. Now the higher educa-
tional institutions of the state were
lin a condition similar to that OF the
public schools the same H. G. OF
IL. that had almost wrecked our
common schools had hit the higher
institutions iast as hard. Moreover
during the past few years the Agri-
cultural High Schools have been
preparing the boys and girls OF the
state for college in such unprece-
dented numbers that the University,
the A & M, the Normal College,
the College for Women (I. /, q CD
and the Alcorn A. & M. have all
been crowded to the very limit, and
could not accommodate all the stu
dents seeking admission. 1t was
up to us" either to 60 forward. or
close the doors of our colleges.
3-The tuberculosis Sanitarium
had proved its worth, and on the
small appropriation given them has
given scientific care and treatment
to hundreds of POOR PEOPLE who
were not able to go to a private in
stitution for treatment. The calls
upon this institution have been
enormous, but only a few could be
admitted. Hundreds and hundreds
of people suffering with tuberculosis
| ir all stages have been turned away
TO DIE, or to wait uutil the dis
ease had become incurable. SO we
appropriated a large sum to this
worthy cause, giving them nearly
ten times as much as they had here
tofore.
4-The Insane Asylum at Jack
son now has more than 1900 in
mates, and the East Miss. Asylum
at Meridian over 600. The Asylum
at Jackson is a larger institution
than many people imagine it to be.
CO uniting the Doctors, Nurses, help
ers and laborers the population OF
this institution is about 1000, or
nearly TWICETHE POPULATION
OF THE TOWN OF IUKAi Re-
member all these insane people are
supported entirely by the Slate, and
the allowance made for them by the
previous Legislature has not been
sufficient to care for them properly.
The insane are the most expensive
class Of people we have, because
they are not capable OF working tc
A.. on1 kna~..n<