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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.