The Semi-weekly leader., 1922-01-11

all parts OF the state 1Or TlSlu eco
nomy in making appropriations. The
present budget is about ten million per
year and the state tax levy is nine
mills or nine dollars on the thousand.
If retrenchment is inexpedient it is
hoped the budget will at least not be
increased.
The governors budget shows that ev-
cry department of the State is asking
for more money. The East Mississippi
Insane Asylum, for instance, wants in
addition to an increase of $4,000 for
maintenance the next two years, $780,
600 for general improvement; the Tu-
berculosis Sanatorium wants $150,000;
the A. G. M. an additional $4,000.
The desire to abolish state offices
and institutions has almost become a
mania.
Want to Abolish Many Offices.
Bills have been offered to abolish the
following
State Board of Pardons.
Board of Prison Trustees.
Railroad Commission.
State Tax Commission.
Colony for the Feeble-Minded.
State Plant Board.
State Land Commissioner
In addition bills are pending to order
abandonment of the work of cattle tick
eradication, which would virtually put
the live stock Sanitary Board out of
existence; to reduce clerical forces in
the office of the Insurance Commission
er and to abolish the office of assist
ant to the Director of Archives and
History and put the incumbent of the
latter on a salary of $4,000 per year.
Mr.. Nelson of Pamela introduced the
first large appropriation bill, carrying
$SOO,OOO per year for Confederate Pen
sions.
A House resolution was offered by
Mr.. Lee of Choctaw providing for the
appointment of a committee of five to
study the public utilities question and
revise the statutes governing the Mis-
sissippi Railroad Commission.
Governor Russelrs Message-What 1t
Contained.
Governor Russell's message to the
legislature, read before a joint session
of the two bodies, was a document of
considerable length, much of the paper
being devoted to a defense of the anti
trust suit waged against the fire insur-
ance companies by State Revenue Agent
Stokes V. Robertson and the fight of
the Attorney General and the Commit
tee of Nine to prevent the Cumberland
Telephone & Telegraph Company from
enforcing the 20 per cent increase of
rates granted by the railroad commits
sion.
A large number of recommendations
for new legislation are set forth by the
Governor, a summary of which is as
follows:-
Adoption of a budget system for the
handling of state finances, and creation
of Utility Commission or Board of Uni
form Legislation.
Statutes providing for the inspection
of gasoline and kerosene offered for
sale in the state.
Creation of a department of Labor.
Millage tax for support of state edu-
cational institutions.
Enactment of laws for forestry pre-
servation and reclamation of the soil.
Law requiring candidates for public
office to file sworn statements showing
InelF campaign expenses.
Creation of sinking fund to replace
public buildings destroyed by fire.
Sale of the Rankin, Oakley and Bel
mont convict farms, and the two lime
crushing plants and Waynesboro and
Okalora operated by the state prison.
Establishment of Bureau of Markets
and Publicity.
Employment of a Purchasing Agent
for the state.
Establishment of Board of Motion
Picture Censors.
Enactment of a Maternity and Infan-
cy act in order that the state may take
advantage of the Sheppard -Towner bill.
Statute providing that no attorney or
other person should be allowed to
charge fee for services in connection
with pardons. The Governor at much
length defended the State Board of Par
dons and cited figures to show that
since the board was created the num-
Der of pardons issued each year, has
been materially reduced.
Statute providing for all-time county
health officers in the various counties.
Repeal of constitutional clause giving
boards of supervisors sole jurisdiction
over roads, and vesting this jurisdiction
ir. the State Highway Commission.
Creation of a state tax of two cents
per gallon of gasoline, funds from said
tax to be used for building public
roads.
Amendment to Uniform Warehouse
Act, requiring all persons using ware
houses to carry fire insurance.
Tho OF
no hope of reducing the state tax levy;
that the present levy of nine mills is
not excessive; that the proper place to
start economy is with the boards of
supervisors, and he cites several in
stances of excessive levies.
The Governor also defends present
salaries paid state officers, but says
a large number of county officers are
receiving entirely too much for their
services. The salaries of state officers,
he says, cannot be materially reduced
without impairing their work.
The Governor recommends that the
fiscal year be made to correspond with
the calandar year, instead of ending in
September.
A home for the Aged and Infirm to
be connected with some other state in
stitution, is recommended.
Creation of Public Utilities Commits
sion with enlarged powers, to replace
the Railroad Commission, is suggested,
the Governor saying that the public has
lost confidence in this commission.
Enactment of more rigid statute for
the suppression of lobbying.
Abolishing the Board Of Trustees of
the State Penitentiary and vesting au-
thority in the Superintendent.
The Governor makes a report on the
alleged deficit in account at the A. G.
M. College, based. on a report of an ex-
pert accountant. The Governor severe