Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1922-11-24
VIEWS AND VIEWS FROM THE
STATE CAPITAL.
BY 2. r. BlrdsaII

BY :. r. BirdsaIl
II is estimated that the aggregate
banded Indebtedness Of the 50 coun.
ties OF Mississippi for roads and
bridges up TO Dec. 81, 1920, was SAL,
422, 095.15, and that the total aggre-
gate Indebtedness of all the counties
in the state up to that time was $780,
TIA, 200.98 1t Is thought that the
bonded Indebtedness since that date
for which there Is no data to com.
pile the fa,ts-has increased to $780,.
900, 900, and II this is true the total
aggregate bonded indebtedness OF the
50 counties Is $50, 900, 900. 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. 1t appears that there is
no law requiring the compilation Of
lhO VullIub Ih'bNCuhCbbpb VI IA
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 mgch they owe
and for what. The above indebted.
nnao ~ khn cnnpktno uiI1 dpnht1noo
prove an eye opener to the peopfe.
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, a joint vote OF per.
haps less than 10 per cent, The con.
stltutional amendment taking the
trunk highways out OF the hands OF
tho 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 a good
vote and will be Incorporated as a
part OF the constitution when the Leg
islature C%onvenes in January, 1924.
The amendment to abolish the office
Of county treasurer was also adopt
ed, but by not as large a vote as the
other amendment.
Federal Judge Edwin Holmes de-
livered a moGt drastic charge to the
grand jury at the recent session of
the federal court of the southern dis.
trict of Mississippi at Jackson on the
violation of the Volstead act. He
pointed out that 1t was a physical i'm
possibility for the federal court un-
aided by the state courts and state
officers to cope with the Illicit dis
filling evil and showed tnat the state
courts had concurrent jurisdiction
and that they had power to send vic.
lators IF the liquor laws to the peni-
Tertiary for three years while the fed
eral court only had jurisdiction to
send them to the penitentiary for six
months. Judge Holmes invited a con
ference of Mississippi judges and
state officials for a cooperation to
suppress the liquor evil. His charge
Ia being commended In the highest
terms by the press and the people
are saying that he has pointed the
way to a suppression OF violation OF
both federal and state laws.
Sam Bagnell, the sheriff of Clai'
borne County, possesses a unique
triplicate record. He enjoys the dis
tinction OF having been the first tar
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 pol
tax list and he has a standing cash
offer of 800 for any information thai
will point him u%nerringly to the 10
cation Of an Illicit still, Recently In
raiding a still 1t became necessary for
Sheriff Bagnell to shoot and WOUND
one OF the parties at the still who
attempted to draw a pistol. Visitors
from Claiborne County to the capita
state that II sheriffs were able to sue
coed themselves under the ~constitu
ton Bagnel, would perhaps be re
elected for lire.
The board of supervisors Of thu
Capital City of Mississippi, of which
Hon. Lamar Puryear is president, ha,
UNNECESSARILY gratitied the taxpayer,
of the county by reducing the count,
levy two mills. This reduction ma
been made Notwithstanding substan
, tial countrywide improvements during
the past year and II viii not inter
> fere with contemplated additions
improvements Cor the next year
State Superintendent of Education
r. Bond continues to urge school teact
l ers throughout the state to tax
4 their county paper. He states tina
49, .,aAlt~~- - NnrI. 80 l,rN