The vidette. (Iuka, Tishomingo County, Miss.) 1912-1967, 1920-04-29

beds. light, fuel. medicine and
nursing everything--you will be
ready to understand that they
have not been taken care OF as they
should. Moreover Ii is necessary
to pay doctors, nurses, and all
helpers much larger salaries now
/ think the above explains why we
had to spend a great deal pre-
money for the care OF the ] sane
than ever before. The incI ased
amount which We gave them 4 ews
about $40 per month for each
inmate.
5 The Blind Institute and the
deaf and dumb school would have
been severely crippled in their work
il we had not given them larger
appropriations; but | will not un-
dertake to discuss these intitutions
at length. No one could object to
the Legislature spending money to
educate the blind and the deaf and
dumb.
6 We almost doubled the ap-
preparations for pensions to Con-
federate Veterans and provid ed for
paying the pensions quarterly, in
stead Of annually, as heretofore. So
all Confederate pensioners will get
their pensions almost doubled. and
will get il every three months.
z The State Board of Health
got larger appropriation than ever
before, and this money is to be
spent in preventing disease. Mod
ern science has demonstrated the
fact that many diseases are pre-
ventable-such as malaria, typoid
fever. and tuberculosis; and they
are trying to work out plans to pre-
vent as we'll as cure influenza,
pneumonia and other diseases.
They have laboratory, where they
prepare all sorts of serums and
vaccines for inocculating and vac
cinating against various diseases.
and where they treat people for hy-
drophobia. The demands upon
this department has increased enor-
mously, and the Legislature thought
the cause OF public health to he OF
sufficient Importance to warrant the
expenditure OF larger sums OF money.
8 The salaries of all state Off
GERS were increased about 20 per
cent whereas labor in nearly all
lines Of work receives wages from
100 per cent to 800 per cent greater
than four years ago. But the in
crease In salaries if comparatively
small item in the total amount
appropriated. 1.-THE entire increase
of salaries was distributed equally
among the people of the state it
would not amount to more than a
postage stamp for each person.
All the increased expense OF the
state mentioned above is provided
for in the extra four and one-half
mills added to the tax levy.
But for several years the great
buildings at all the state institu-
tions have been growing older, land
extensive repairs are imperative.
Also these institutions are growing
larger, and new buildings ar, need
ed. So the SIS, ,000,0 900 bond issue
| is to build new dormitories and
homes for teachers at the educa-
tional institutions, new wards at
the hospitals, new power plants at
the asylums, etc.
Before closing / wish to call the
attention OF every reader to two i'm
portant facts relative to the tax
increase.
First, a dollar does not purchase
as much as it did four years ago,
and il you paid $3.50 on piece of
property then, you can pay $500
on that same property now easier
than you could pay the $3.50 four
years ago.
Second Tishomingo county will
get more money out OF the state
treasury than it will pay into the
treasury. We will get at least
$4 4.O0 for every educable child in
the Co. for public schools, and
probably more. And we shall get
much larger amount for Pensions.
For every extra dollar we pay oil
the increased tax levy, m IRE than
a dollar will come back t. us for
public schools and pensions. Are
you not willing to put dollars into
the state treasury if you can get
back Z dollars every time you put
in 81
Another fact which / wish to
mention is this: The chief burden
up.n the taxpayer is local and
county taxes. The state tax is only
a small part OF the taxes which we
each have to pay. Look at your
tax receipt. and subtract five and
one-half mills from the amount OF
"millage" you pay, and the rest is
lacal and county taxes. and the
Legislature has nothing to do with
| that.
In conclusion / win say that
Mississippi has been at the very
bottom OF the list OF all the states
in respect to the money we spenC