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WAYCROSS JOURNAL.
FRIDAY, JILT 3, 191L
MESSAGE OF
GOVERNOR SLATON
To The State Legislature of
w
CONVENEDJUNE 24
Governor Slaton Touches All the lm-
portont Questions Which Will Be
Considered at This Session of the
Legislature.
State of Georgia. Executive Department,
Atlanta.
June 23, lOH.
To the General Assemblet
I rejoice with you in the general pros
perity which has blessed the state during
. the past year. Since your last session
the people hare enjoyed the favors of a
generous Providence. Their crops have
been bountiful and their industries hare
flourished to a degree hitherto unknown.
The farmer, the merchant, the manufac
turer, hare utilised with ceaseless energy
their opportunities, unrestrained in ef
fort by the hampering*effect of unwise
laws. The schools and institutions of
learning are giving to the children and
youtii the keys of knowledge and provid
ing them with that equality of opportu
nity which is all tlie worthy can demand.
And more important than all, the church
In every community is teaching the les
sons of Him upon obedience to wliose
statutes rest? the welfare of all nations.
You are entitled to the thanks of
grateful constituency for tlie achievements
of the session of 1913. You did not multi
ply laws, but with courage and intelligence
met and solved problems, not of your
creation, but which affected the honor
and fair name of Georgia.
As an aid in the exercise of the suf
frage you provided a permanent regis
tration system which wUl remove unnec
essary encumbrances in the way of the
voter and at the sXine time preserve
proper safeguards. You made it pos
sible for the farmer, often remote, to
mail or send his taxes by his neighbor
witltout risk of disfrancliisement. The
merchant, the traveling man, in fact, all
classes occupied with the affairs of busi
ness are placed on an equal footing with
the professional politician who never for
gets the last day for registering.
You provided not only for the present
but for the future in the education of
the children and for the afflicted In the
Institutions, and recalling the past and
our obligations to those who cheerfully
Imperiled their nil in behnlf of the south,
you made provision for the declining
days of the Confederate reterans.
Finanee.
In future years your body will be dis
tinguished ns the debt-paying legisla
ture. When the dishonor of repudiation
may blight the fair name of other states,
you and your descendants may point
with |>ride to the enactment of laws es
tablishing a financial system which paid
, the debt of the Ante, made possible the
i refunding of our bonded indebtedness,
f rehabilitated our fiscal system and, above
all, gave to people the means of checking
expenditures by making the tax levy
fleet the amount appropriated by their
representatives.
Now it will be easy for the people to
know what appropriations their agents
are making. Any condition which per
mits concealment or interferes with a
ready understanding by the principal of
tlie actions of the agents is Indefensible.
1 hare seen a constitutional amend
ment submitted to the people Involving
an extra annual appropriation 4f a half
million dollars, without. provision being
made for raising the money,'and so ar
ranged as to conceal the necessity for an
extra revenue. However worthy the
cause, suck legislation is indefensible.
The comptroller-general in his report
•f 1913 Midi “In other words, the entire
appropriations for tlie year 1919, exclu
sive of common schools and pensions,
should be met by a tax Icyg jtf about
enr-tkird of one mill.** In his report for
1914 he declares that, excluslre ( of com
mon set tools and pensions, all of the
appropriations could be met by a tax
levy of about one-half of one mill
Who would wish to cut those two Items
ef public expenditure, end if anyone did
wish to lessen them, who will say the
people would permit it? With a deficit
•f over one million dollars and with ap
propriations exceeding the revenue, how
could you *ut from items other than
common schools and pensions enough to
equal the deficit?
For 1919 the total raised from the tax
levy on property was $4,800,000, and
leading Hems of expenditure were as fol-
■ense of duty in the performance of Ids If you think It wise I trust it may be pul
•worn obligation. in the form of a law.
Tax Levitation. The action of Judge Hart In perform-
You were faced with a deficit begin- ing his duty as tax commissioner hsi
ning about 1912, when the appropriations warranted the commendation you saw flf
exceeded the revenue $427,000. In 1919 to pay his appointment at the last ten
the added excess was $349,000, and in slon. A landowner. In sympathy witV
1914, a* estimated by the treasurer, $313,- the people of his state, he may be trusted
000. Prior to this time the working bal- to execute the law without harshness and
ance had been exhausted. The tax rate in full spirit of exact justice,
being limited to five mills, prior legisla- It is pleasing to know that Governor
tion had exhausted the amount collecta- Stuart, of Virginia, unanimously elected
blc. Tlie state vr«» growing. The teach- governor of that great state, practically
ers were going without their pay and commended in his message the very law
the veterans dying before getting their you have passed,
pensions. The governor was kiting in Economy.
order to maintain the state’s institutions! One strenuous objection to the passage
and borrowing money to the limit to sat- §t the law has been the feeling that the
isfy curreril obligations. The people legislature would spend any amount
were unwilling-for you to cut the great found in the treasury. My experience of
items of expenditure. What were you seventeen years in the legislature and my
to do? j knowledge the law lead me to proph-
With an ability snd fearlessness that esy that this act will not only be pro-
entitled you to the everlasting ndmira- ductive of great economy, but fn arousing
tion of the state, you took the task up in the civic virtue 4nd ‘ patriotism of the
full knowledge of the misconstruction people will so emphasise the necessity of
and criticism to which you would be sub- their watching expenses that henceforth
Jected and succeeded in a statesmanlike
manner in rendering to the people as
splendid a service as ever they received
from public offiers.
You recognized that though corpora
tions are necessary to development and
enterprise and should not be oppressed
by harsh measures, they received special
governmental privileges for wTdch they
should pay. The amounts they had been
contributing were small in comparison to
what other states were receiving, snd
you doubled tlieir occupation tax.
have heard no complaint from I
source.
A legitimate aouree of revenue to all
states is an inheritance tax. The right
to one's property during life has alway
been recognized as inherent and funda
mental, but to dispose of it after de^h
Is a privilege granted by tlie state. Geor
gia had nrver utilized this source of
enue. You passed a conservative law
providing for an inheritance tax, which
will not only he productive of large in
come but will have moral effect in dis
closing for taxation much invisible prop
erty.
Finally, recognizing that many were
not bearing their share of the common
burden while many were contributing too
much, you passed the tax equalization
Public school 12.550,000
Pensions 1,180,000
State sanitarium - 550,000
Public debt 378,000
Legislative expenses 60,000
Sum total $1,724,000
This did not include tlie Mind asylum,
the school for the deaf, the snlarics of
Ihe statehouse officers, judges of the su
preme court and other Institutions.
is easy to obtain applause by gen
eral declamation against expenditure, but
ft is much easier to obtain execration by
attacking anv one of the items of expen
diture named above.
There are those who would increase
papular appropriations and vote to re
peal revenue -tax acts, but such a course
cannot commend itself to any honest-
thinking citizen. The laws of our state
I believe no better or more necessary
w was ever passed. Its only danger
consists in In .iig misunderstood. It may
be improvrd. Time and experience will
disclose its imperfections. But who
criticise a law which in simple terms pro
vides for the honest levying of taxes and.
that burdens shall lie equally borne.
It provides that personalty shall pay
alike with land, and means nre afforded
for accomplishing this result
formed that this year’s returns will be
most conspicuous In an immense increase
in personalty, due to this and the inher
itance tax law.
There are no new features of taxation
igraftcd In the equalization tax act.
The act only emphasizes what has always
been the lnw in Georgia, that all prop
erty should hear its part of the expenses
of government and that the (axpayi
should equally liear their respective m
dens. Tliere can be no valid objection
to these two propositions.
Ieond cannot escape tlie notice of the
taxing officers, while property in the form
offiinvisihle securities can be readily con
ned. Tlie main purpose of the tax
law Is to reach Invisible property and
that it bear its part of tlie common bur
den. Every new dollar put on the digest
to that extent increases the volume of
property taxed and will result in lower
ing the tax rate, greatly to the benefit
of the landowner, who could not if he
were disposed conceal his property from
taxation. The landowner is especially
interetsed In the new tax law and ought
to warmly advocate it. If for no other
reaion than that of self-interest.
It is not intended that the law shall be
inquisitorial, but that it shall provide
means for disclosure when the citizen
who mainly uses the courts for the col
lection of his debts flagrantly shirks his
duty at contributing to tbrir mainte
nance. In passing this act you recog-
that In multitudes of instances'
much land was not given In at alt, and
my information Is that a large part of
the Increase this year comes from return
of lam’ which had not been upon the tax
books. What landowner can complain if
he and his neighbor owning property of
equal value be required to pay the same
amount? If tlie one who has been dere
lict pays hlf part his neighbor will have
to pay that much less. In many instances
which have come under my observation
the returns of one citizrn of a rounty
hare been reduced and those of another
raised. The purpose Is equality and Jus
tice. What true Georgian will complain
if he and his fellows, say in Dade county
and in Glynn, are treated alike?
appropriations wilt be made which
the people with full understanding will
not approve.
The constitution provides that no ap
propriations can be made excepting upon
a call of the roll, and this requirement
was adoptrd in order to check legislative
extravagance and to give the people an
oppoi ity to see how their represcnia-
tive voird in matters of appropriation.
So ms
and for
hard to resist them. It is easy for the
legislator to glow with personal pride as
he expends the taxpayers’ money and re
ceives the plaudits of tlie beneficiaries
and the press.
Allow roc to urgr that you make no
appropriations st this session other than
those absolutely necessary. Any amount
you appropriate will increase the deficit
already existing. I earnestly submit that
duty viewed from any angle cannot re-
quler you to give that which you have
not Such action is to be disapproved in
the citizen and condemned in the legisla
tor. It is hypocritical to favor economy
In general terms and at the same tiros
increase the defirit already existing by
spending money not in the treasury. To
appropriate more than the revenue Is ln-
defensfU^and you ran make this answer
to tlie xItmIs of all institutions: *
he just hef^^heing generous is a c
dinal maxim ^^force in legislation
well as In law.”
One of the principal arguments in
favor of tlie tux equalization lnw is its
tertdency to force economy. So long as
the tax rate is five mills and limited to
that amount, the legislator is tempted to
vote for every popular appropriation,
with the knowledge that his constituent
cannot know that he is spending
money than the revenue. The expendi
ture is not reflected in the tax rate. But
when the tax rate is cut below the five
mills, then no legislator dare raise it
without giving a strict accounting to the
taxpayer. I believe that next year the
rate will lie reduced below five mills.
The people ought not to pay the entire
deficit In one year which has accumu
lated in several years. But with prop
erty on the tax books which has never
hern returned and with rigid economy
practiced by the legislature for a short
time, the rate should be reduced to three
mills, with the certainty that the legisla
tor will be no longer tempted to appro
priate beyond the state’s ability on the
one hand and cut the revenue on the
other hand. The representative who
dares to do his duty in opposing extrava
gance will receive the commendation and
support of his people.
I commend to your careful considera
tion the report of Comptroller-General
Wright and eall your attention to the
compliment his figures pay you for keep
ing the expenditures below those of pre
ceding years.
Refunding the State Beads.
On May 1. 1918, there will con
fMTjOOO of bonds of the state, and on
July 1, 1918, will come due $9,900,000 of
bonds. Provision most be made at this
session for refunding these obligations.
We will have in the treasury from tl
•ale of the Northrattem railroad, pay
able In November. 1814, f I53J18J9,
which must be utilized in taking up these
bonds. 1 think ill the bonded indebted-
felling due in 1810 should be con
solidated. Appropriate arrangement may
be made by the state for carrying the
bonds due in May until the 1st of July.
For these bonds falling due In 1918
there is no sinking fund. For the re
mainder of the bonded indebtedness, ag
(regaling $3,000,000, a sinking fund of
11100,000 a year is provided for the retire
ment of the public debt. Therefcr.
1945 practically the only outstanding
bonded Indebtedness of tlie state will be
that falling due in 1910, for which you
must make provision.
thorized to offer the bonds bearing not
more then 4V, per cent interest at not
less than par, with the right to advertise
for bids in his discretion and to reject
any and all bids, and that your act he
so flexible as to allow not only proper
adjustment, but also such discretion as
may meet the exigencies of the situation
at the time the Imnds arc to lx- sold.
Automobile Tare*.
The state treasurer has reported to
me that tliere Is in the treasury $79,000
arising from the automobile tax, which
you provided by act of 1913 should be
distributed to the counties In proportion
to the mileage of tlie roads in these coun
ties, as shown by the census of the l*nited
States. Fedcrafauthorities have made
to • rapidly Increasing accumulation ol
f iubllcations in the basement of the Cap-
tol, largely resulting from statutes re
quiring tlie printing of volumes in c:
of what sre needed? Tlie available *.
in the Capitol is practically consumed
and thousands of volumes and manu
scripts are lying there deteriorating each
year and practically of value to no
It wopld be an immense saving to
rect tills condition, and I request that
von do investigate mid by appropriate
legislation correct this inexcusable waste.
Hilary Debts,
In the Augusta strike trouble the mi
litia incurred an indebtedness with liter
chants of that city which should linv
been paid over a. year ago. W'lie
record of this mileage, and therefore tbei drtitedness of this character has bee
distribution under the plan contemplated incurred the obligation should Ik* snth
In the act was impossible and the attor
ney-general held that the money should
be kept in the treasury awuiling your
direction.
* Official llondt.
I beg to ask your especial considera
tion of the comptrrller-gcoer iI's report
regarding the decision of tlv* supreme
court which holds unconstitutional the
law allowing that officer to £ ir execu
tions for amounts due the s ..e by tax
collectors. While justice should lie done
the official, a hearing in accordance wit? 1
the decision of Hie supreme court can be
allowed him and at tlie some time reliovi
tlie state from entering into protracted
litigation with consequent deprivation ol
her revenue. 1 suggest that your appro
priate committees take tills matter up at
once.
Military Department.
.. . Since the last session of your lionorn-
ppeals are made tor money We body I have had brought ^before
many laudable purposes it is
fled at once. I suggest that the
Amount lie ascertained liy vour nppec
printe committee and provision he made
for immcdlntr payment.
Prison Department.
Time has demonstrated tlie wisdi
P lacing the convicts upon the roads.
rom tlie stand|Hiint of humanity as we
as punitive effect, I think no better di-
G notion could lie made of those wlw
ive violated the laws of the Innd anil
placed upon the people tlie burden of
courthouse*, jail* and pensions.
Practically 80 per cent of the convicts
are negroes.* Before Hie war there was
rarely a case of tulierculosi* among this
ulation licciiu.se they slept in log enb-
... ._ , llvnn -r _ I do not think it is fair or right at this
' || * .. time to make our eitizens pay more than
Thl. tax set will Inevitably lessen the thr , I00-000 . to ,|/retirement of
burden of tl.e imali property owner who tto public debt. The Indrbtedneaa wai
values his limited property and returns Incurred largely In the construction of
It arrordingly^^ I the W. & A. railroad, which is an in-
It Is the owne^v large property who heritance our children will enjoy and it
will be the suffere«%rom confiscatory tax' burdens. Our instHu-
tows, which will hare birth when the dell- >" lh i* * *•' “ u A l be “3
.. : c*re of. end they slmuld not be cramped
dt In the treasury has become larger, ^ burdened unnecessarily
and the absolute necessity will be recog- by attempting to provide an additional
nlzed for immediate hasty action by the sinking fund.
people snd the legislator. It Is far bet- In addition, I find that thirty-year-old
ter to make provision for the coming bonds will sell at a higher price than
flood by opening an easy avenue of relief ****•! l >urc h*** r * °* oonda gen-
rather than to await it. deletion of gjV ***> ■«* _* j?”** >
the entire embankment with the dtraata- , ch ,ngr. and all the nnudal
“’m wS -a. pawed nearly ^mfiKThTr ^ “f «\-W -« «—}
twenty-five years agd there was no meth- In addition, when throe bonds become I man Uieprison farm for a few motrHis
od provided for equalisation between the due Ihe sinking fund of $100,000 a year . IT.rd fof Mm
counties and In conwquencr there ww a My to cmtUimed. wUeh make, the W th^ranS&iSXn to the p>to2,
fierce competition between them to see should l£ riven the no* »rm, and when the term Is completed
OUOT . ,ne .... or our ..... ■“* T"' 1 * """" *' rr to o&Un in hUdimr^ a stortSkaa W “* "' ,u,n *>“
VI , ”“ r loweat figure. i-an tar the Durooae of Carina fur theaa convict Por transportation ..owe the
ha antd "Si M •*"> »**e*trd to mt In tWa bond., for tffTnaan that In eases of commission spends snnutUy glO,-
7. ” W . I connection that if the date of return of financial depression or panic H may to . ....
J***- B8tt ** *y* .?*:.!** *7*? I taxable property waa changed from Jan- Inadvlaable to ael] the bonds whets they I* 1 —?™. 1 " ?* 0*JJ* eUh2
?? —r S* 1 % tto *,*!* nary 1 to January 10 ttodebtor would come due. Sister atatea found It neees- !!*
P-l* -t” cannot be Bog mUled u to ^ “7,|» “fe “J* I
L.*! 4 • wW °S plan would meet with tto approval Pf£ r T!l i
when bt does it it simply under a solemn .
in acute form tlie relation existing be
tween the national guard of Georgia and
the war department at Washington.
By statutes embodied in sections 1361
1862 and 1363, second volume of tlie Code
of Georgia, tlie office of adjutant-general
and qiiartrrinaitrr-griiernl arc establish
ed, each with rank of brlgadlm-general.
Code sectioqp 1867 and 1368 give genernl
authority ttfthe governor as commander-
in-chief rk arding tlie numliers and
grades of officers.
The war»department at Washington
issued an order requiring in rff('t that
the auartermastcr-gcncral in Georg*,
should have the rank of major. Th
failure to comply with the order was vis
ited with tlie penalty that tlie quarter
master-general woula not lie recognized
for the purpose of receiving arms, equip
ment, etc., nor would he receive pay
during maneuvers.
I asked if this order could lie suspend
ed as to Georgia until the legislature
could meet and deal with tlie subject, as
I maintained that obedience to the laws
of Georgia was a superior duty and mo
binding on me than the orders of the w<
department.
This suspension was dcclinert-'finless
promised to use mv influence us chief
executive with the legislature to rrpeal
legislation conflicting with the orders of
tlie war department. This I declined io
do, and hence I designated the adjutant-
general to receipt for equipment until
the subject could be brought to your
attention.
Perhaps it may he the part of practical
wisdom to adapt tlie office of quarter-
master-general to the grade required in
the regular army, in order that our na
tional guard may receive the sup|Hirt ol
the federal government na provided by
its laws. But I believe it should lie with
the strict heed that the national cuard of
Georgia shall always owe first nllrghincr
to the state and subject to the order of
her governor as paramount mdharlty.
The national guard is ready in time of
national peril to perform the duties of a
soldier against a foreign enemy, and the
government should lie generous with it
and liberally support it on these terms.
Its memliers spend time and money and
make a tremendous sacrifice in IM a
e. But I view with disapproval
rowing tendency to militarism, wit
rge standing armv under direct control
of one man In Washington. It is not dif
ficult to suppose an occasion when such
a force under tlie control of someone
possessed of audacity, ambition and cour
age, might make it a menace to our gov
ernment and Its institutions.
I shall gladly Submit tlie correspond
ence to such committee as you may ap
point to consider the matter, and will
render them .such aid as may lie in my
“Hirer.
School Rookt.
The state board of education had
der consideration the adoption of school
books as provided by law, and performed
its duty in accordance with the directing
statutes.
They could not find a boob on dvQ
government meeting their ;approval.
Therefore they tentatively adopted a
book for the period of twelve months un-
the act of 1913, with the purpose at
requesting the legislature to authorize it
to have a booh written and published for
use in Georgia, under, the supervision of
the department of education. I commend
for consideration this rrqurxt Of the
state bpard of education.
Indeterminate Sentences.
Under existing laws there is Immense
latitude given tojudges In the imposition
of sentences. The punishment may be
from one to twenty years in the peniten
tiary in unny eases. It is difficult to de
clare why a*man is wni four vrsr* in
stead of five, or seven years instead of
six, and yet one year is a long period to
serve. The slightest incident might make
tlie individual judge, however good, vary
the punishment at different times In the
identical case.
I submit to you whether it would not
be more consistent with justice to pro
vide that the judge may impose a sen
tence between certain limited periods and
allow the good behavior of tlie convict to
determine the length of the imprison
ment after the minimum sentence haf
been served. This relieves the governor
of much work under the parole act and
places Hie imposition or punishment
where It belongs, with the courts.
Prison Farm.
The prison rommlsshm finds it difficult
to meet its obligation in view of its lim
ited appropriations, and this difficulty l»
Increased by an abuse to which I desire
to call your attention.
popi
ins which admitted tlie’ frr.-<)i air.
Now consumption is most prevalent
among them, and working upon the roads
in the open air is Iwncflcial from
standpoint of health and returns to
eiety in general some compensation for
the cx|tcnscs of their conviction.
Of course, the highest huniaffity should
he observed in tlie treatment of eonvidiS.
Cruelty, neglect, improper food, unrea
sonable service, insufficient clothing, lark
of sanitary provision should not lie coun
tenanced. Anv cruelty to even Hie most
debased slmuld lie met with tlie severest
punishment.
Yet I am not in sympathy with that
idea which would provide comforts and
luxurirs to the murderer. Hr burglar and
tlie other violators of the law denied to
the honest citizen.
Tliere are tlumsamla of tumeat parents
In Georgia who find it difficult to provide
tlieir children with sufficient apparel to
Jreep them warm in winter. They learn
their lessons by tlie dim light of a pine-
knot fire and as soon as opportunity
arises go forth Into life to struggle for
heard. They are not provided with an
education in trades, hut must meet the
problems, facing tliein with the small
equipment that poverty ran furnish.
It hardly seems consistent with justice
that tlie privileges of trade education
shall he granted only to tlie criminal
while Hie honest arc 'deprived of It. 1
do not believe Hie struggling bend of a
family should wo*rk longer Muir* and
make more sacrifices to give facilities tc
the convict which are not granted to lib
children. Especially Is this the ease
when the average age’ of the convict
would lie lie tween 25 and 30 and 80 per
cent. Wing negroes, have Wen In thr
habit of making their living by manual
labor.
In addition, it is not fair to create
competition Wtween convict lalwr and
free lalior. The honest merchant and
artisan should be given every encourage
ment to maintain and support tluise de
pendent upon him, and there is no Wtter
citizen than he.
The making of good roads is a trade
In itself and is far healthier than em
ployment-in mines with tlieir accompany
ing hardships.
Ititjhwau Commission.
In this connection I Wg to call your
attention to my preceding recommenda
tions in regard to a highway commission
The prison <9tmniission has provided an
engineer to visit roads and solve techni
cal problems. It is hard to exaggerate
the nmount of waste resulting from thr
Improper ••i}K-rvi-,ioii ami inainiriiaiicc of
highways.
Bills are pending in congress for the
purpose of aiding the various statrs In
the construction of good roads, and these
bills generally provide for exiienditurrs
of tWse contributions through highway
commissions.
TW commission might lie created with
out tlie necessity for extra expense by
utilising Hie engineer already suppllro
by tlie prison rontmission and thr pro
fessor of civil engineering at the Univrr*
•Ity of Georgia ami the profesaor of a
similar department at the Georgia School
of Technology. Their suggestions and
Advice would lie Invaluable and the serv
ice would be economical. Any plan ac
complishing the same result would be
■aslly satisfactory.
' While the building of highways from
county site to county site is beneficial to
them, tlie great .maiorlty of the people
on other roads should not be forgotten.
Along these roads Is Hie path of the
rural free delivery, and In proportion as
they ran be traveled rapidly the farllity
for distribution of mall to thucc who live
in tlie country is increased. It is Im
possible to overrate the benefits result
ing In-the shape of education and in
creased joy of living that arise from this
great privilege. As far as practicable
states found It aece»>
i procedure last Tear. counl ) r timid pay the expenses
I toiparp r scticall r T transportation or tW sentence should i
n put tV boQdjupoa to to tto prtad. torm.
siu'il he public ninils.
Tlie wisdom of tWJaw providing for
the working of comTci* on Hie highways
is further demonstrated in Hie flexible
provision made for Hie small and less
wealthy counties* of the state. It is Im
possible for many of them to utilise their
own convicts except at prohlMHve cost,
ami lienee Hie feature of rxcliange was
wisely included.
Induet rial Training School for Wayward
Girle.
I beg to report to you that in accord
ance with law I declared on June 20,
1914, tlie industrial school for wayward
rirla, which waa created by you at ths
last session, open for the reception o!
those entitled to its privileges.
Fulton county made the donation of
the land, which is worth many thousands
of dollars.
The hoard of trustees, appointed In
accordance with your direction, represent
the various sections of the atste,* and
there is no board of higher personnel
than this.
Wlille the segregation of the wayward
girl from oilier criminals is demanded by
the loftiest humanity, at the same time
the management of the institution mutt
always hr accompanied by sardty as well
as sympathy. *
There could \* M greater crown upon
the state than thr reformation and rrrla-
. mat ion of wayward girls. The problem
. hat always hern, and la, a moat difficult
one. When Hie Inmate Is not subject to
reformation and proves unresponsive to
the efforts In her behalf, she should not
be permitted to utilise this school as a
•lace for recuperation Until she elects to
tome of all corrections, and tlie purnost
of the creation of this school will Ik
largely effectuated If these inmates are
made content with the rewards of in
dustry.
This institution is an experiment in
Georgia ami is entitled to the earnest
sympathy of the good people of the state,
hut the expenditures slmuld l>c measured
by the progress* achieved. At no time
would it be justifiable to make a contrast
between the Imnest, hard-working girl
and the vicious one living in luxury and
Idleness anil supported by the state.
While only 820,000 was appropriated
to this Institution, it liiust Ik* rcuiemliered
that more than four million dollars of
tuxnhle values are rei'pitred to pruduee
this amount. The constitutional limit is
five mills mid collection costs cent.
I desire to eall your atteutlohto a di
errpaney between the books of the trea.
urrr and the eomptroller-peo<*i , al arising
from tlie law authorizing the department
of agriculture to draw money directly
from the trensurv. 'lids prevef * * '
ance between the honk* of the
and comptroller-general in tl*
teiu of the state. I think this should’bv
remedied liy legislation end request th
tlie matter lie investigated by approp!
ate committers of your limly.*
A udilor.
I again lieg to call your attention
the necessity tor the creation of state
auditor. So far a* I am awa
i» the only state which has m* official
whose duty it I* to examine Un-
hooka of the state with rrfrrriic
expenditure of money appropriated by
tlie legislature.
It is impossible for the govcrnoi
keep cheek on the several institution
determine tlieir requirements. No mu
should lie drawn from the treasury
crpting when absolutely necessary,
long as tlie money lies in Hie trcasiirv the
state draws 2 per cent interest, but* if it
lies in hank to the credit of any depart
ment tlie state rrecives no interest, and
Its ability to borrow in time of need is
lessened.
There can he no wiser provision t
constant and efficient checking of all p
He expediturrs. Tlie recommendation)
such an officer to Hie appropriation rom-
mitteea of the legislature would Ik* inval
uable and Hie money spent would lie far
more than compenaated by increased
economy.
Parole Ixne.
In a large proportion of cases in which
I have granted clemency it lias been upon
the recommendation of the judge and so
licitor-general, who have been convinced
that justice would he served by tlie
cics of executive clemency.
The parole law la as binding upon Hie
governor aa any oilier law.
It ia not the number of cases in which
executive clrmency is exerrisiri, but Hie
character of them which merit* approval
criticism. We have consrrvnthi.
lands and forests and material resources,
hut the conservation of hiimnii Inii.gs is
“e most essential of all.
So long ns the effect of puni*luiirnt Is
preserved, the release and reclamation of
criminal are in accofdnnm* with the
demands of a Immune civilization. Many
in the convict rump wIki would make
good citizens if rrlcHNcd, and it rrtiuire*
the exercise of painstaking care and
rretlon to wisely exercise tlie powe
the governor as vested In him by the
stitution.
1 submit herewith, in aecordance with
law, those cases In which I have exercised
clemency.
Official Reporte.
I beg to call to your attention'the
ports of the various deportments and
Institution* of stale. The liends of these
departments are familiar through experi
ence with needed corrections and I com
mend them to your careful investigatloa
Contingent Fund.
There are many expenses which by
custom have been paid from the contin
gent fund. I think each department
snould pay its own expenses of operation
and Hie contingent fund be utilised only
in rases of necessity wliere provision
could not be made. In this way economy
BARN BURNED
EARLY SUNDAY
Sunday morning shortly after 2
o’clock fire of unknown origin de
stroyed a large barn belonging to
M. L. Goodyear, who Uvea on Church
street. The barn w*aa Insured for
$600, the Calhoun & Calle agency
having the Insurance.
Owing to the location of the barn
considerable adjoining property waH
in danger and it required much work
on the part of the firemen to confine
the flames to the barn. When the
alarm was turned in the entire barn
was a mass of flames. Two horses
and a mule quartered In the bam
were saved. Two buggies and a wag
on, however, were destroyed. Mr.
Goodyear estimates his loss at a
thousand dollars. x
MORAN STAYS LIMIT;
NEGRO GETS DECISION
I'aris, June 29.—Jack Johnson, the
heavyweight champion fighter, Sat
urday night retained the title by de
feating Frank Moran, of IMttaburgh,
In a twenty round contest on points.
There was plenty of hard hitting on
the part of Johnson hut not a single
knockdown, or anything that looked
like a finishing blow. Moran's face
was bleeding from cuts on the nose
and under the left eye. Johnson
showed no marks. Towards the end
the crowd Jeered a good deal at somo
tactics of Moran who hung frequent-
i Johnson to save himself. When
the gong rang Referee Carpentier
Immediately announced Johnson as
viuuer.
260 EXECUTED
BY THE REBELS
El Faso, June 29.—Two hundred
and fifty “Colorados” (Federal Irreg
ulars), captured by General Bena
vides soldiers at Halina yesterday,
were executed by firing squads, ac
cording to dlspatclios received here
today. The rebels accuse the Colo-
radoB of rapine and robbery under
tho guise of war.
w
TO LOSE LIFE
would to tnrouragto ud tto' iuwd. o't » n 01 W»gcroM.
tin* departments be known to the Irgis- —■
1,lurF - tr. * a. n«!rood BATHERS APT
The committee appointed in accord- ■
■nee with a resolution adopted by you
at Hie session of 1919, with power to. In
vestigate and report regarding Hie leas
ing ot the Western k Atlsntir railroad, — — •' ■
r 1 ^yssrirf'lto hi** y« r * of 1 b * u, ^ in „ w »^ c ™* «■
piitrMbm ,nd ««rl«ie«, I comrurod 10 rec «'*» » not l»»»l 1"-
their reeamrnrndstioo to your serious Juries while bathing If \ they touch
consideration. It Is needless to comment electric light fixtures while sitting or
£ X ■?-«"■« 'n ttolft«to. j TUglntonn—
rrct disposition will affect the Mttrtf *l*»«»*r not pram atartllng,. but
state. here’s what an expert has to any on
th'e 1 subject in the Run day American:
l#glJ V you WMt to * TOld the ducer of
Load Titles.
Tlie nation si government is Interest!
In the matter nr rural credits, snd Isgl—
lotion will likely be passed providing?nr *»lng accidentally electrocuted, nsrtr
22 INJURED
the state. This sugges- (u at tremendous —~ T Priatiay. hare and live a vicious and profligate
rural communities, mi f rrrnmrnil that tbs gorirras he an- T** *t»to librarian calls my attention Reasonable work la the most whole-
MRS. MARTHA JONES
DIED HERE TODAY.
At tho homo of hor daughter, Mrs.
R. L. Mare, Mrs. Martha Jones, agi
84 yoara, died oarly today. The fu
neral will he be held tomorrow, aer-
vlcos being conducted at Mrs. Marr’s
homo, No. 62 Howe atreet, Interment
to be at Lott Cemetery. W. L. Hin
son la in charge of tho funeral ar
rangements.
Mra. Jones la survived by two
daughters, Mrs. W. L. Bennett and
Mra. Marr and one son, J. C. Brown,
i ta farmers at rates that will permit take a bath In a room where the elec-
InTrBtnwntiiin lamto with rooMqiwnt wL trie lighting flituru nro Insulin) In
vantage to the agricultural Interests of h
our state. An essential pre-requlslte to * UC B>» W *Y thtt th «Y c * n b« reached
such a plan is security In land titles, when yon are standing on.altUnf’ In
The law should provide an easy and the tub.
good and unincumbered. In many cases who k** bw,n *u v «9tlffatlng the
It Is impossible to rive this assurance In large i umber of accidents from elec-
Georgia today. While the Torrens sys- trie shock occurring In bathrooms.
23&, 2 n Z 'r tar "‘T; “ “
tion, in order Hist this state may be nre- trom coming In contact with an elav
pared to take advantage of such Htlga- trie current while taking a hath ow
lion „ mt*y to |>»ss*A Congress hss |„, u, th, fgct lhln whm Ue anrfac ,
ssraA'AiK 1 w *- wr •? -«•» or.
mens, insy to ellmlnstedby providing '* ri le« ^ resistance to She current
totter system ot Isnd titles with e coo* then when dry.
■rnnrnt reduction of espenee to tto bor* Undw , uch COIld ] llmn currenU of
Cmrlruln. “ *»» tension ns II rolls tnsy giro
I sh.ll from time to time present such °ne a sorcro shock or even cause
other rommunicstion. as conditions may death.
regain. JOHN M. f'.ATOV, Those who hare studied the (ab
ject strongly ad rise igalnet tbt wide
spread practice of Inetalllng electric
llgbta Inside walls nt such a height
that they may he touched by a person
BY EXPLOSION *'-* ain * ,n tub or on the Door.
1 towwitoiw The only safe place for electric ax
iom In the both room to done to tho
Milwaukee, June fl.— 1 Twenty-two *° •*■* * h «r can ho operated
men were Injured, ton protob.y f.tol-
y today by an explosion ISO fast nn- Derby hats hare been found to ha
jar tha surface of Lake Michigan nt another fruitful cause ot death or se-
:he and of tha new intake which ax- fton* Injury by alectrldty. Tha steel.
reads from Lake Park oat under the
like for over I mllea
Many suffered broken bones and In
ternal Injuries. The explosion waa
caused by compressed air In tha tap- power, currents art cantlonad never
Hi.
KILLS P08SEU* BT
MISTAKE FOB XE0B0.
The community about here to arm-jug, , negro, waa found guilty of tha ary by a military detachment.
ed and reports from the Interior enyj mnn |„ ot Samuel Chandler aad wife, >
negroes art analog mid Protecting ot CdTla. La. sentenced to ha tooted. cnAj , CE g UiUCtm
and was an route to Alexander 90 min
■tea after being placed on trial here
today.
the murderer.
Shaw, Miss., July 2.—Fred Young,
jiber of a posse hunting Jake Far-
^negro murderer, shot and kill- SENTENCED TO DIE IN
^JoIIjr, another posseman,| NINETY-MINUTE TRIAL#
i for an attacking negro, j Winfield, La., July 2.—Beth Jeffer-
perlor Court by the Williams Wagon Tha defendants nre Attorneys
, Worto, of this city, for IMAM dam- Hardeman, Jones, Park and Johnston,
.» lf.aao. ffnsnn Ulohnnl mns! I'.nin
ages for alleged malicious prosecu- of Macon; Upson Michael nnd Orcon,
PROMELTTIOXs 8l'ES. tlon The pialntlfT alleges that bank- of Athens; It. L Smith nnd 8. J. Smlilt,
Macon, July 2.—Seven lawyers, two ruptey proceedings were Instigated Mrdwarc dealers of Commerce, and
Because of threats of violence the hardware dealers and a harness com- against It when It was a well known the Cottrell Saddlery Company, of
negro was escorted to the penitent!- pany have been sued In the Bibb Su- fact that It was amply solvent. Richmond, Va.
wire which forma tho framework of
*?4fZ.derby malms tho boat possible
conductor for un electric currents
This lu why electricians and others
whooo work brings them close to hlgh-
to wear derbies.
The weekly papers of the state
have already defeated a certain can
didate for trying to run on a “Free
Announcement” platform. And
a groat many people jump on Slaton
for buying spac*>.->Dijblln Courier-
Herald.
