The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-01-07
STATES AFF AIRS IN
|. TANGLED POSITION
Many of House and Senate Say
That the Financial Question
Ought To Be Disposed Of

JACKSON. Miss, Jan. =. tSpl)--
When the Mississippi lCgiiaturc con-
Nened IN biennial session the overshad-
owing subject OF discussion among the
members vas the states financial prob
.em, and 1t IS likely to remain At the
forefront on the legislative program un-
III buSinesslike solution is o'f"raa
Many Of the members In both house
and senate declare that no general leg
lslatlon ought 10 be considered unta
the financial question Is uIspUSSU -,
and strong sentiment is being mani
tested against wholesale statutory en-
actments. Prolific bill writer's are meet
ing with disbursement on all sides,
and members having pet schemes that
they desire TO have Incorporated into
laws find il hard 10 obtain an audience,
The legislature confronts the task Of
providing the revenue TO meet an APP
preparation budget for the next biennial
period that will be not less than $50
009 600. and some Of the members think
irwin take at least So. 900 900 to meet
the actual needs Of the various state
institutions, and grant moderate in
creasea In salaries 10 state officials. At
the outset the, lswror'-@~ -~
prospective deficit Of Ss,oVo000 for the
coming year
According to state officials who have
been engaged in paper and pencil work
| on this question, 1t is going TO be nec'
eSsaTy TO increase tho state tAN levy
| from 6is to 10 mills in order 10 prop
srly meet all demands. As they see It,
the additional money needed can be
| raised only through direct ad valorem
taxes, and it is useless 10 figure on any
considerable increase through privilege
taxes.
Gov, Bilbo In his final message to the
| legislature will touch only briefly upon
the financial question He intends, how.
| ever, 20 make revenues the subject OF
l "A q
executive office on Jan. 20. Gov.-elect
| Russell also has been devoting much
study to tne subject during the past
| fortnight, and will suhmit a definite
program for consideration by the law.
| makers.
The job of providing the revenues to
| meet the~prospective increase in tho APP
| preparation budget viii depend largely
| upon the ways and means committee Of
the house, and 1t is expected that this
committee will be selected with esper
| clal care. 1t Is generally believed that the
Craftsmanship Of the body viii be o.
| tered 10 Hon. ALI Stone, of Greenville.
| one OF the foremost business men in
| the state, Two years ago, when the
legislature was deep in financial quag-
mire.. 1t was All Stone who offered the
solution, and he became the recognized
house leader on taxation ana revenue
| questions, although he was not serving
AZ the head Of the ways and means COM
mittee.
Lieut.-Gov. Castea is going to place
a high pressure" member Of the senate
at the head of the finance committee
in that body, Tho identity. of the chair
man has not been divulged. but the new
| ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS believes in liberal
| appropriations and. he will frame the
committee with that end in view. In
the senate the finance committee does
lall Of the work performed by both the
ways and means and appropriations
committee in the house.