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LET’S BOOST JACKSON AND BUTTS COUNTY VOL. 49—No. 9 GEORGIA TO GO m GASH BASIS GOVERNOR-ELECT HARDWICK SAYS IT IS TIME FOR STRICT ECONOMY. TOO MANY BOARDS, HE DECLARES The state of Georgia will be plac ed upon a strictly cash basis during i administration, and its credit and reputation will be saved the injury that they have suffered from the in ability of the treasury to pay promptly funds that have been ap propriated for various institutions and activities, declared Governor elect Thomas W. Hardwick in ad dressing the Atlanta Real Estate 3oard Thursday at the Capital City club, in a speech that was remark able for its clarity and frankness. • No state in the union is in better i shape in its fundamental finances than Georgia, the Governor-elect de clared. Georgia’s bonded debt is far below the average and the state is possessed of revenue returning prop erty the Western and Atlantic Rail road, which is worth several times the $6,000,000 bonded indebtedness. “There is no state in our union whose finances are in such splendid shape,” said Mr. Hardwick. “Un fortunately, however, Georgia’s credit has been reflected upon and injured in the eyes of those not fa miliar with the facts through the inability of the state treasury to pay warrants to meet al obligations, as they fall due. It has been necessary to borrow money with which to de fray the cuiment expenses. “When I become governor, the state is going upon a cash basis, and Georgia is going to pay as it goes. I shall insist that the legislature ap propriate no funds until adequate provision has been made to assure that' the funds will be available when needed to meet the obligations thus created.” The governor-elect expressed the deepest interest in the development and maintenance of the state insti tutions and declared that he favored a liberal policy toward all of them. Time for EconoC~y “But it is futile and absurd to appropriate funds for cur colleges mid our schools and our pensioners until we make adequate provision for raising the funds and having w in the treasury and available for the payment of warrants when they be come due. " “The warrants of the state of Georgia and the credit of the state shall not be hawked about during ,-ny administration if I can help it, and I promise you that I will assert the stem power of veto to prevent it, if that becomes necessary. It isn’t right, it isn’t fair, it isn’t busi ness for the great state of Georgia to call and rely upon private inter ests to finance our institutions.” Governor-elect Hardwick attended the realtors’ luncheon as their guest of honor to discuss the subject of taxation. His remarks concerning the finances of the state were pre liminary to a general discussion of taxes, which Mr. Hardwick smilingly declared was a subject generally un unpopular with all classs. Mr. Hardwick expressed the view that the income tax is the fairest and most equitable scheme of taxa tion thus far devised, especially in mo far as the federal government is concerned, but, he added, be hoped t would be unnecessary for the state to resort immediately to this method of taxation. “The time is upon us in this pe riod of deflation for retrenchment and economy in government, as well as in business,” he said. As govern or of Georgia, I am going to strive relentlessly to hold expenditures to the minimum. I am going to dis courage appropriations that arc not essential, and I am persuaded that there are many boards and commis sions and agencies of that kind which may be dispensed with. They may or may not be all right in their vay, but the present period of strin gency is no time for squandering the money of the people in the main tenance of agencies that are not ab solutely essential.” Mr. Hardwick declared that in jrging a policy of retrenchment in expenditures he will be moved pri marily by recognition of the fact that the time is not now ripe to lay additional burdens of taxation upon the people. It will be said, his ef fort to make the burden of taxation as light as possible. “You realtors here assembled are, of course, especially interested in the taxation of visible or tangible property,” he said. “What you nave and what you handle never es ;apes the tax collector. It is in sight THE JACKSON PROGRESS-ARGUS WORKMEN’S ACT WAS EFFECTIVE TUESDAY CITY OF JACKSON INSURED ALL ITS EMPLOYEES BUT THE COUNTY DID NOT, HOLD ING LAW UNCONSTITUTIONAL The - workmen's compensation act, passed at the last session of the Georgia general assembly, became effective Tuesday, 1. The city of Jackson recently in sured all its employees, the policy being written by a- company doing that line of business. The premium on the policy being $lll, it as an nounced. / Butts county has not insured its employees. County Commissioner J. O. Gaston takes the view that the law does not provide for a levy to pay the premium. All establishments employing over ten persons are embraced in the act, which wjll be administered by a board created for that purpose. KNIGHTS TEMPLAR TO BE INSPECTED GRAND JUNIOR WARDEN WILL VISIT ALEXIUS COMMANDERY FRIDAY NIGHT. TO CONFER ORDER OF TEMPLE The annual inspection of Alexius eommandery No. 22, Knights Tem plar, will be held night, March 4. At that time |jie Grand Junior Warden, Sir Knight Perry L. Blackshear, of Atlanta, will be present and inspect the eomman dery. The order of the temple- will be conferred. It is expected that a good showing will be made by this eommandery, which has a large membership in Butts, Jasper and Henry counties. All Sir Knights are requested to be present promptly at 7 o’clock. MONTICELLO SCHOOL DISTRICT TO VOTE ON BOND ISSUE On March 8 the citizens of Mon ticello school district will determine whether! or not a bond issue of SBO,- 000 for school purposes will be is sued. ' The bond issue has been re commended by the board of trustees of the Monticello school district. Of the proposed amount of SBO,OOO, $72,5000 would be used for building a school house and $7,500 for equip ping same. This is a progressive step for JMonticello and Jasper county and if the bonds are authorized the school facilities there will be equal to the best in the country. SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT HAS HIS SALARY DOUBLED In accordance with a recommen dation of the county board of edu cation the salary of Mr. T. H. Phin azee, county school superintendent, has been raised to $3,000 per year. The salary was formerly $1,500. In addition to his duties as school superintendent Mr. Phinazee will act as truant officer.—Monroe Ad vertiser. always, and the bulk of the taxes collected in Georgia are paid by real property. Intangible Property “It is estimated, and correctly so I think, that the intangible, invisible property in this country, far exceeds in value the real property, yet the bulk of it escapes taxation. If the taxes v-.ere fairly distributed as be tween tangible and intangible prop erty, I haven’t a doubt that the bur dens on realty would be materially lessened. “I have given long thought and study to this problem, and as a mem ber of the Georgia legislature many years ago I served on a special com mission to investigate the question. I am not now prepared to commit myself to any particular plan, but I wish to assure you gentlemen that I hope ,to devise a plan of taxation In Georgia that will make for a more equitable distribution of the burdens. “I do not wish to be misunder stood as advocating, directly or in directly, anything that will drive capital out of the state. I am not a baiter of foreign corporations. 1 welcome them to our state, but I feel that when they come they should come with a disposition and willingness to meet us half way and help to pay the expenses of our state government-’’ Governor-elect Hardvvck’s speech made a directly favorable impres sion on the realtors, and be was given an ovation at the conclusion of bis remarks. JACKSON, GEORGIA, FRIDAY. MARCH 4, 1921 Kill Two Birds With One Stone If the legislature of every cotton growing state were called to gether in extraordinary session and laws enacted prohibiting the planting of a single stalk of cotton during the year 1921, it would have a wholesome effect. In the first place it would insure at least cost for the cotton grown in 1920. In the second place it would rid the South of the boll weevil. Such a plan has been suggested in South Carolina and a bill to that effect will be introduced, it is stated. For the legislature of the several cotton growing states to take such action would be a radical step. But it is time to take action of some kind if the South is to be saved from bankruptcy. There is no way to get rid of the boll vueevil except to starve the pest. By not growing any cotton for one year the boll weevil could be starved. By flot producing any more cotton until the world uses up tbe supply now on hand, would mean better prices for the staple. It is a radical step, but the end would seem to justify the means. It is estimated that it will cost 28 cents to grow cotton this year. It cost far more than that to produce the 1920 crop. Cotton is now selling at around ten cents, many times under the cost of producing it. How can the South go on producing a crop that does not yield even cost? Such a course can only mean bankruptcy and economic slavery for this entire section. , There never , was a more opportune time to rid the South of the boll weevil and at the same time boost the price of cotton than the present. It is time for the people of the South, farmers, merchants and business men, to do*-some serious thinking. For the South to try to grow cotton and sell it below cost of pro duction, and under boll, weevil conditions, is folly. Only by concerted action and co-operation can the South save itself in the present crisis, and people everywhere should be willing to sacrifice their personal preferences for the good of all. The time for talk and resolutions is over. It is now time for action. BROWN SAYS 1921 COTTON CHOP WILL COST 28 CENTS COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE APPEALS TO FARMERS TO HOLD ACREAGE DOWN AND MARKET COTTON ON CO-OPE RATIVE BASIS. SAYS SITUATION MOST SERIOUS SOUTH HAS EVER KNOWN Atlanta, March 3.—ln a letter ad dressed to the farmers of Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture J. J. Brown announce? that a careful in vestigation made by the State Board of Entomology together with its staff of cotton specialists shows that on a conservative basis, the cost of producing the 1921 cotton crop will be 28 cents per pound. In this estimate, Commissioner Brown states, the present prices of ■fertilizers, (calcium arsenate and other essential materials were taken into consideration, and the farmer was allowed a wage only about half that paid by various corporations over the country. Normal seasons and no more than usual ravages by the boll weevil; were also consider ed. “How can our farmers afford to plant a cotton crop under these con ditions, and when the sales now be ing made by the exchanes for fall delivery, are at aprice just one half of the known cost of production of this season’s crop?” That’s the way Commissioner Brown puts it up to the producer, and he continues: “Conditions every day more dear ly demonstrate the folly and useless ness of planting a normal crop. We have tried to be conservative in rec ommending a half a crop of cotton, in the hope that the cotton con suming world would realize the fairness of our position, and be will ing to pay the cost of production, The well known aroma of fertili zers v.vfted on spring breezes has not been as mpeh in evidence this year as heretofore. t MICKIE SAYS v keeper. cxpopukAtyrrwia \orov / 1 CIRCUIMt LETTStS, ’BOON© “CVMfeX TOWVi,UVK\V- ME TVJVAfeUft IWtt J POWB AWE TbO QAZXM DANS NOAStfe TVVS6 REAtftVi® | tvArt'octtovi'vErrcßS''. vAumSEuw > a >aam A“uerre.“ out NACavrr j \ V/AVE. WWA READ rt Sen V READS / zz v ViEMOSPAVERS /j S W E O**ol£9 wmir with a reasonable profit.” “Under present conditions, with the high prices of materials, it is practically impossible for the South to produce more than 75 per cent of a normal crop, even if the present price were satisfactory; and it is more than reasonable to assume that since present prices are only aboat half the cost of production this year, there will be a voluntary curtailment of at least 26 per cent. In the face of these facts, it is diffi cult to see how the short sellers can continue to soil for fall delivery at around 14 cents a pound. “We are in the midst of the greatest struggle that has ever been waged for the survival of the cotton producer. In recent trips through Georgia covering some sixty coun ties, I found thousands of farmers who will not plant a single cotton seed this year, and many others who will plant only one third of their tillable lands. This policy throughout the cotton belt, and a co-operative system of marketing like the California plan, would win the fight for the South, and she could hold the pricing of cotton in her own hands. “I again appeal to Georgia farm ers not to plant any cotton unless they see where they can sell it_, at the cost of production plus a reas onable profit. It would be far better to buy the cotton from those who are selling it for less than cost, arid let them produce it—if they can.” KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS AT TEND ATLANTA CELEBRATION Supreme Chancellor Wat One of Principal Speaker* A number of Knights of Pythias from Jackson attended the fifty-sev enth anniversary celebration in At lanta Friday night. The Supreme Chancellor, William Ladew, of New York, was present and made the principal address of the evening. There was a large attendance, not only of resident members but from other cities in the state. The exer cises were held at the castle hall and daniing, music and refresh ments added to the pleasure of the evening. Among those from Jackson who attended v;?re Messrs. J. G. McDon ald, Warren Furlow, V. W. Fretwell, Winfred O’Neal, Edgar McMichael, W. E. Merck, S. P. Nichols. GREEN TOMATO FOUND IN GARDEN IN FEBRUARY Show* That Past Winter Was a Very Mild One Mr. J. H. Blackwell, former coun ty demonstration agent and now en gaged in farming near Flovilla, sent to this office Monday a green tomato that he found in his garden. That it was possible to find tomatoes dur ing February shows the past winter to have been a very mild one. JACKSON WOODMEN' TO UNVEIL MONUMENT MEMORY OF J. H. KIMBELL WILL BE HONORED BY MEM BERS OF LOCAL CAMP. THE PUBLIC IS INVITED Jackson Camp No. 87, Woodmen of the W’orld, will unveil a monu ment Sunday afternoon to the late Sovereign John H. Kimbell, whose death occurred the past summer. Mr. Kimbell was one of the most ac tive and useful members of the order. The Woodmen will meet in their hall at 1 o’clock and the exercises at the cemetery will take place at 2. It is stated that a special drill team from Forsyth will be present and members of other camps in this sec tion have been invited. The public is invited to attend the exercises at the cemetery. ORDERS A. B. 6 A. PAY REDUCTIONS FEDERAL JUDGE SIBLEY AU THORIZES CUTS AMOUNTING TO FIFTY PER CENT OF IN CREASES SINCE 1917 Atlanta, Ga.—Federal Judge S. H. Sibley, signed an order Monday authorizing a reduction of wages of employes of the Atlanta, Birming ham and Atlantic railroad, effective March 1. The order instructed the receiver, B. L. Bugg, to put into effect the schedule of reductions which Mr. Bugg, as president of the road had contended for before the railroad labor board. It amounts to ap proximately 50 per cent of all the increases granted the employes of the road since government assumed control of the property in 1917. The Atlanta, Birmingham and At lantic railroad was placed in the hands of a receiver last Friday in response to a petition filed by the Birmingham Trust and Savings Company and concurred in by offic ials of the road. In issuing the order Monday Judge Sibley indicated his willing ness to grant a hearing to the em ployes should they desire to make a showing in court as to their con tentions in the matter. The wage reduction granted by the court is exactly that sought by the A. B. & A. in its showing be fore the federal railroad labor board and announced by the officials of the system in December, 1920, to' become effective February 1, 1921. This original wage cut order was held up by the railroad labor board, however, and at the recent hearing in Chicago the board declared that it had no jurisdiction in the case in its present status. As authorized by Judge Sibley’s order the wage cut applies not only to the officers of the road, employes in all departments und skilled labor of all kinds, but also to unskilled labor, v.hich latter class cf employes will be paid on a different scale. Under the terms of the order wages paid unskilled labor, such as section hands and common laborers will be regulated in each community so as to conform to the general scale of wages paid common laborers in that particular community. In a brief statement issued Mon day Receiver Bugg declared the pe tition for the order empowering him to reduce wages “was a last re sort to keep the road from going to the scrap heap.” 348 BILLION DOLLARS WAS COST OF WAR Coit of Live* Loet Ettimated at 43,- 000,000 by Harvard Profeiaor* Total costs of the world war were declared to be more than 348,000,- 000,000 by Dr. Richard P. Strong, professor of tropical medicine at the Harvard medical school, in a lecture at John Hopkins university, Baltimore. This total, Dr. Strong said, in cluded estimates of the direct cost of the war, amounting to $186,000,- 000,000, the direct costs aggrigat ing $84,000,000,000 and the cost of lives lost estimated at $78,000,000,- 000. The-potential loss of life due to the war was placed at 43,000,000 by Dr. Strong. HAKE 1921 A YEAR OP HOG AND HOMINY $2.00 PER YEAR IN ADVANCE WOULD PAY TAX OFFICIALS SALARY GRAND JURY RECOMMENDS THAT ONE COUNTY POLICE MAN BE RETAINED. WANTS COURT HOUSE REPAIRED We, the Grand Jury sworn and empanelled for the February term, 1921, of Butts Superior Court, beg leave to report as follows: Through our various committees we have examined the books of the various county officers and find that they are keeping them according to their understanding of the laws. The various officers have handed in their reports as required at this term of court and same are attach ed hereto and made a part of these presentments and ordered published. We also attach hereto the reports of the various committees on public buildings, county farm, and the chaingang and order that they be come a part of these general pre sentments. We recommend that the County Commissioner put. all side reads leading to the main public roads in passable condition and especially the road leading from J. B. Rich’s east to the main public road. We commend •the Commissioner of Roads and Revenues for his good work on main public highways. On account of economy being de manded by present conditions, we recommend that only one Count Po lice be retained in the service of the ebunty. We have elected Mr. W. H. Ham mond to succeed himself ns a mem ber of the County Board of Educa tion. We recommend that Mr. W. .1. Long and his wife, both blind, and without any means of support, be paid the sum of $5.00 per month each. We recommend that Mr. Bartow Smith, who is unable to work and without means of support, be paid the sum of $5.00 per month. We recommend that the registrars appointed for the purpose be dili gent and prompt'in the reporting of deaths and births in the county. We commend our County Com missioner, Mr. J. O. Gaston, for his efforts in trying, to, equalize the tax es of Butts county with the State Tax Comnffssioner. We recommend that our Repre sentative, Hon. W. E. Watkins, have passed a bill placing the tax collec tor of Butts county on a salary of $1,5000.00 a year, making his bond r.s the law now requires. We recommend that our Repre sentative also have passed a bill placing the Tax Receiver of Butts county on a salary of $1,500.00 a year. We recommend that these pre sentments be published in the Jack son Progress-Argus, and that the sum of $25.00 be paid for same. We extend our thanks to the Hon. W. E. H. Searcy, Jr., for his cour teous treatment of this body. We also wish to thank our solicitor for the assistance rendered us, and for the courtesy and consideration shown us. We thank our bailiff, M. L. Duke, for the faithful discharge of his duty. We thank Henry Thomas, our jan itor, for the faithful discharge of his duty. We desire to thank the foreman, the clerk and his assistants for the courteous manner and efficiency in dealing with various matters brought before this body and for the faithful discharge of their duty. All of which is respectfully sub mitted, W. J. BANKSTON, Foreman, S. P. NICHOLS, Clerk. Ordered that* these general pre sentments be entered on the minutes of this Court and published as here in recommended. Feb. 24, 1921. WM. E. 11. SEARCY, JR. Judge S. C. F. C. Report on Chaingang We the committee appointed to inspect the county chaingang beg to make the folowing report: We find the sanitary conditions of the camp to be good. Find the follovVng equipment: 1 30 H. P. Tractor, under repairs; 1 20 H. P. Tractor, under repairs; l .scarifier; 2 engine machines; 3 mule machines, 1 under repair; 2 three way drags; 20 mules and 1 horse, 11 mule wagons; 3 dump wagons; 7 wheelers; 3 six-horse plows; 2 four-horse wagons; 1 Ford ear; 2 Trucks, one under repair. Camping Equipment: 15 felony (Continued on next to la*t page)