The Chronicle-star combined with the Moss Point advertiser., 1947-04-25
Continued from Page y

share in the wealth and profit
of this natural resource was re-
duced to an irreducible minimum.
Can it be said with sincerity that
Mississippi was not rightfully
economically entitled 10 a great
er share of the benefits of the
wealth OF this her native re-
source? I think it can be laid
at the door of our former legis-
lators that they either did nc.
know o. were too timid to enae!
just, adequate and sufficient leg.
islation 10 give to Mississippi
her inherent equitable share in
the benefit of her very own re-
sources.
again today, Mississippi is
confronted with the exploitation
of a second great natural re-
source-her oil resources-and
when the years have rolled by
will she be as empty-handed of
benefits from her mineral re-
sources as her timber r~esources?"
NOW Ou
The answer to this question
SO far, Mr.. Currie said, is not a
favorable one for the states eco
nomie future, but is following
the pattern of the timber indus
try.
There is being refined or pro
ceSsed within the state approx
imately one-tenth of our own
domestic needs, which means
that n~ine-tenths of our home con-
sumption is exported without the
state in the form of crude, and
impored back into the state af-
ter being refined and processed,
Mississippi thereby losing the
great benefit of the income from
labor and the industry general
ly, to which she is SO richly en-
titled"
Other Southern oil producing
states are not permitting such
widespread improbable expoita-
ton of their oil, he said. He read
to the gathering a telegram from
Oklahoma state officials which
said: "forty-one percent of crude
oil produced in Oklahoma re-
fined in Oklahoma in 1896" a
telegram from Arkansas which
said "fitty-three percent of oil
produced in Arkansas in 1916
refined within state;" from Tex
as; approximately rs percent of
oil produced in Texas refined
within state" Louisiana wired
mo such figures available" but
the state has a highly develop
I'd oil-refining industry, he said,
and it is known that much of
Mississippi's crude is exported
70 Louisiana.
Tax Program
Il conceive ii to be the bust
less and duty of the legislature
IF the State of Mississippi to
give to all industry an equitable,
lust and reasonable tax program"
Mr.. Currie said. "We welcome
capital and industry to come and
establish their business enter
orises among us. But we like
wise believe it to be the duty
of the legislature to enact such
tax laws as will properly pro-
tect and preserve the interests
Of Mississippi and Mississippians
in the expectation and Transport
tation of Mississippi's raw pro-
1ucts from without for process
ing, refining and marketing that
should take place within her
borders. Less than this will be
out a repetition of the past"
On the question of port de
velopment, Mr.. Currie pointed
out that the present 22-foot chan
mel from the lower river to the
Gulf could be deepened to 80 feet
for heavily ladened vessels with
out the expenditure of greatly
increased funds. especially since
the tides run the length of the
channel and do not sweep across
it, making maintenance a rela-
lively simple matter. Mr.. Currie
said that he and his group in
Hattiesburg Join in the prophe.
tic vision of the late Senator
Harrison and his predecessor.
Captain Hardy in visualizing
the development of the Leaf and
Pascagoula from Hattiesburg
southwark as an eventual part
of the port system. a project
which would be justified by the