The Semi-weekly leader., 1922-11-18
NEWS AND VIEWS
From The--
STATE CAPITAL
BY r. n. Birtisall
BY F. II. Birflsan

IL Is estimated that the aggregate
banded indebtedness Of the SO coun-
ties Of Mississippi for roads and
bridges up to Dec. 81. 1920. was $41,-
422,0s5.15, and that the total aggre-
gate Indebtedness of all the counties
in the state up to that time was $780,
714,200.SS. It Is thought that the
bonded Indebtedness since that date
for which there is no data, to COM
pile the fa,.s-has increased to $780,
100000, and II this is true the total
aggregate bonded Indebtedness OF the
SO counties is $60,00O.00O. This is
In addition to the bonded indebted
ness of the towns and cities Of the
state and 10 the state bonded indebt-
edness which is said to be the great
est since the state was admitted into
the Union. II appears that there Is
no law requiring the compilation Of
the various indebtednesses or the
counties, municipalities and cities as
in other states and the Legislature
will perhaps be called upon to pro-
vide for such legislation in the in
terest of the taxpayers in order that
they may know how much they owe
and for what. The above indebted
ness Of the counties will doubtless
prove an eye. opener to the peope.
State Superintendent OF Education
Bond continues to urge school teach
ers throughout the state to take
their county paper He states that
the proceedings Of boards of super
visors, school news, announcements
for office, advertisements, editorials,
tax sales and other matters found in
the county paper can be turned to
good advantage by the intelligent
teacher. In some counties in the
state, among them Rankin and Jack.
SON, 1t is said that every public school
teacher takes the county paper. Coun-
ty superintendents, as rule, are
urging all public school teachers to
take county papers, pointing out the
great benefits to be derived from
their reading, and as a slight appre-
citation of the cooperation Of the
county papers for better schools,
longer terms and better pay for the
teachers.
Sam Bagnell, the sheriff Of Clai-
borne County, possesses a unique
triplicate record. He enjoys the dis.
tinction of having been the first tax
collector to settle with the state au
ditor for the past three years. He
collected the taxes SO efficiently IN
his county as to obviate the neces-
sity of publishing a delinquent poll
tax list and he has standing cash
Sffer of 800 for any information tnat
will point him unerringly to the To-
cation of an Illicit still. Recently in
raiding still it became necessary for
Sheriff Bagnell to shoot and wound
one of the parties at the still who
attempted to draw pistol. Visitors
from Claiborne County to the capital
state that IL sheriffs we're able to sue
ceed themselves under the constitu.
tion Bagnen would perhaps pe re,
elected for lire.
All the Democratic nominees from
United States senator down were
Overwhelmingly elected at the No
vember election, the Republicans
and Socialist candidates receiving a
very meager vote, joint vote of per-
haps less than 10 per cent. The con-
stitutional amendment taking the
trunk highways out of the hands of
the boards of supervisors and plac-
ing them under the control Of the
highway department in order that
Mississippi may receive a million and
a quarter dollars annually from fed
eral appropriations carried by good
vote and will be incorporated as a
part of the constitution when the Leg
islature convenes in January, 1924.
The amendment to abolish the office
Of county treasurer was also adopt
ed. but by not as large vote as the
other amendment.
The board Of supervisors of the
Capital City of Mississippi, of which
Hon. Lamar Puryear is president, has
immeasurably gratified the taxpayers
Of the county by reducing the county
levy two mills. This reduction mas
been made notwithstanding substan-
tiai Countrywide improvements during
the past year and 1t will not inter
fere with contemplated additional
for the next year.