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lie IV.
NOL’S m; SS VUE.
l ■wrnor’s message is of
I livoluminous for the col
ne Enterprise and we give
l extracts as are most strik
the question of free schools
w.
freatest trouble encountered
nlstering the finances of the
P some years past has been
ree school fund. As is well
to your honorable bodies, the
is*assss* paving been fully discussed
last session, it has been im
|to ■ meet, teachers when due, the de
the of the state
Itesorting to temporary loans
flpknks Iporily and without advan
for school purposes
Splints collected and appro
pr other purposes, to he paid
K of the school fund next
Bis condition has been due
let that your predecessors
►d appropiations for school
Krom year to year without
Mg funds adequate to met
•Inly jBtrenehment place, therefore, for fur
is in reducing to
Hpam ■filnstutions the appropiations to the
supported wholly
HB|by ■jt the state, and in with
--H|$400,000 the remaining $200,000 of
voted to the tree
p j>y your predecessors. Should
po this you will still have a
ttfpftnd Sgjjire of $1,236,000, exclusive
of convicts which is still
■pjpiated, and which may be
■o the school fund. If this is
fRthe fund will reach nearly
Ki hundred and fifty thousand
m, which will be sufficient to
B>e schools for at least five or
Bnths in the year, in which
Bhild in the state, white and
Bttay be taught what the fram
HLjthe constitution intended
j|le mRs taught, “the elementary
of an English education,”
Pjlnat p/%nse can be lawfully taught at
of the state, and all that
pessary to prepare our youths
Bhe ordinary business of life.
§ dollar of the public school
japplied tG.the teaching of any
else is ’ Apable violation of
1 f a
lonstitution. of the
ers of the constitution was to
'd to all the cuildren of the 6tate
[ties for acquiring, at the ex
e of the taxpayers, an English
sation. Sr
ucation in the text books
the schools crime was di
shed, as many of us at one time
;d would be the case, there might
reason for imposing even
taxes upon our people for
support of schools. But this is
true, for it is a startling fact, cs
by the experience of thirty
[rs, that while under our system
THE WATT-HOLMES HARDWARE
Help Yourself!
..... To the Information we are about to give jou.
?Give us
* In your mind until we s'ore some ideas that will bo a MONEY IN
l VESTMENT for YOU in the future.
> The prices on our FINE CB1NA and CROCKERY make
them next to a present to you.
We want “come again” customers, and our Elegant PAR¬
LOR. HALL and HANGING LAMPS surely are
‘‘WINNERS” to that way.
Don’Cwait for winter—prepare now! Get a HEATER
that will HEAT! We have them.
(Make every CENT COUNT—WE save you DOLLARS
where other people save you cents, every time you
buy SILVER and STEEL Table Cutlery, the latest
desirable designs.
Kvhen you have examined our line of GRANITE KIT¬
CHEN and COOKING Wares, you CAN’T GO TO
SLEEP until you have purchased a full kit and in¬
stalled them in the kitchen. #
ECONOMY, itself, is a good revenue.
OUR price on PAINT will enable you to paint your
bouse, inside and outside, and have enough money
left to buy an elegant BUGG\ r beside.
% » Get a VINEYARD PLOW and a pair of PRUNING
\ SHEARS and put the orchard in ship-shape.
have what you want, come and get it!
■ATT &
HARDWARE COMPANY.
i Fitzgerald,
FITZGBJRALD, GEORGIA, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER3, 1899.
of free schools illiteracy has rapidly
decreased, especially among our col¬
ored population, crime has much
more rapidly increased among them,
and with the increaso of crime the
expenses of administering the crimi¬
nal law have increased in the same
ratio. All of these expenses have
to conie out of tax pavers, not out
of the men who commit the crimes.
It is estimated the expense of ad¬
ministering the criminal law in Geor¬
gia is 600,000 per annum ;tlie records
of the courts show that 85 per cent,
of this expense is chargeable to ne
gio criminals, Thus we have a
burden upon the shoulders of the
tax payers of S500,000 incured in pro¬
tecting innocent negroes and in pun¬
ishing guilty ones. Add to shis the
money expended in educating the
children of the race, and that neces¬
sarily expended when the militia
have to oe called into sendee to pro¬
tect them from the mob. infuriated
by the crimes committed by them,
and we have a sum expended on
account of the negro alone equal to
the total expenditure of the state
for all purposes in 1860. And yet
the total taxable values in the state
in 1860 were nearly twice what they
are now. In other words, the negro
costs the tax payers now as much as
both races cost them in 1860.
in view of these facts and the ad¬
ditional facts, equally well establish¬
ed, that 90 per cent, of the crimes
committed by negroes are committed
by those who have had the oppor¬
tunities of free schools, and only 10
per cent, by the ex-slaves, who are
illiterate; while 90 percent.of the prop¬
erty acquired by the race since eman¬
cipation is in the hands of the ex¬
slaves and not in the hands of those
educated in the free schools, it
seems to me that justice to the tax
payers of the state demands that we
adher more closely to the limitations
prescribed in the constitution and
confine our public schools to the ele¬
mentary branches of an English ed¬
ucation only, leaving to the churches
and to private enterprise and to local
taxation the support of schools for
higher education.
• We would point out that all this
applies to the negro but not to the
white free schools. If all this be
true, no one need wondor if the
white people of the state who pay
the great bulk of'the taxes should
one day revolt and ask to be
relieved of the support of negro
free schools, but their attitude
toward the white free schools is and
will be quite different To condemn
both because one is found wanting is
not the kind of justice that appeals
to the American mind.
The governor does not leave out¬
side intermeddlers with the Southern
negro problem a leg to stand on, but
the facts he cites are abundant
j proof that even if there had been
no meddlers the problem would still
be with us. The governor is right in
declaring that the “race situation”
in the state imperatively demands a
strong disiplined militia force. His
recommendation that the example ot
neighboring states be followed and
the constitution be so amended as to
restrict the ballot to the “virtue and
intelligence” of the state will no
doubt he generally commended. The
picture cf the evils resulting during
the past thirty years from “a large,
ignorant, unpotriotic and purchas¬
able vote” is not overdrawn.
THE BALLOT.
The experiences of more than
thirty years have demonfftrated ttie
dangers of an unrestricted ballot.
The only safety for a republic is in
the virtue and intelligence of those
endowed with the elective franchise.
In a state in which there is a large,
ignorant, unpatriotic or purchasable
vote, often the rich and uncrupulous
candidate triumphs over bis poor
and honest competitor. Good and
capable men too often shrink from
politics because they cannot without
loss of self-recpect resort to the
means necessary to securs success.
Thus the standard of political morals
and of official ability and integrity is
lowered and the people lose respect
for and confidence in their public
servants; the word politician be¬
comes a term of reproach, and poli¬
tics is regarded as a synonym for
trickery and dishonesty. When we
have lost respect for those who
make the laws the people lose respect
for the laws.
The man who will directly or in
diaectly sell bis vote is unworthy of
a vote, and it should be taken away
from him. The man who is virtuous
and intelligent, however poor and
humble, of whatever face or color
lie may be safely entrusted with it.
I therefore recommend that an
amendment of the constitution be
submitted to the people for ratifies
tion or rejection restricting the
elective franchise to those who re¬
cognize the sanctity of the ballot and
realize the responsibilities of citizen¬
ship.
SMALL POX.
Early last winter this loathsome
disease made its appearance in many
of the counties of the state, and
while it has been stamped out in
some of them in which its spread
was at one time alarming, it h4s ap
peard and still exists in quite Bi um
her of others in almost every flirt of
the*state. It has existed in an un¬
usually mild form, and because of
its mildness it has been the more
difficult to control. It has prevailed
mainly among the colored population
who, owing to their careless habits
and their roving disposition and
their inclination to conceal the ex¬
istence of the disease when it ap¬
pears, have made it extremely diffi¬
cult to treat, and especially to ar¬
rest the spread of the contagion.
To aid local authorities in their ef¬
forts to successfully treat and pre¬
vent its spread, there being no state
board cf health in Georgia, I, early
in the year, secured from the sur¬
geon general of the marine hospital
service of the United States for a
few weeks the service of Dr. C. P.
YVertenbaker, an expert in the treat¬
ment of smallpox, and by bis skill
and energy he was of great service
to country and city authorities upon
whom, under our law, the duty of
handling epedemic disease of this
sort devolves.
To prevent mob violence and bring
offenders to trial before the lawfully
constituted tribunals, I have brought
to bjar all ot the powers of the exe¬
cutive department. In my efforts to
re-enthrone the law and restore the
supremacy of the civil tribunals 1
have been ably and faithfully secon¬
ded by the prosecuting officers and
judges throughout the state, and in
a number of cases men threatened
by the mob have been rescued by
the military and brought to trial in
the tribunals established by the law.
Of one provision of this law, how
ever, I am prepared'to speak, that
one which makes the prison com
mission a board of pardons. It has
fully met the expectations of the
friends of the measure, and it has
afforded great relief to the executive
office. Without advisory power
lodged somewhere, it would he no
longer possible for the governor,
with our large number of convicts
and the constantly increasing num
ber of applicants for executive cle
menoy, to give that careful and
prompt consideration to them that
justice to the applicants and the im
portance of the subject demands;
but after the board of pardons has
gone carefully over a case and made
a brief of what is in it, and sent it
with their recommendation to the
governor, his labor is greatly light¬
ened and he can quickly reach a con¬
clusion and take such action as the
facts warrant.
The Legislature.
Wednesday the first day of the
session several very important hills
were introduced:
B^ the joint tax conjjy !
class of incomes in ttis state, niul
for other purposes.
By Mr. Swift, of Elbert—A bill to
prohibit the forming of pools, trusts,
monopolies and combinations for the
purpose of controlling the markets
and effecting and fixing the price cf
erode and commerce.
By Mr. Duncan, of Houston—A
hill to fix tho death penalty for an
“assault with intent to rape.
By Mr. Jarnagin, of Warren—A
bill to create a state text book com¬
mission and to procure for use in
the public free sc bools in this state
a uniform series of text books, etc
All of the above mentioned bills are
on important subjects but not know¬
ing the exact provisions of each hill
we are not prepared to express an
opinion as to their merits.
Mr. Hardwick of Washington, a
bill prescribing additional qualifica¬
tions for electors of this state.
This is one measure f tie passage of
which will agitate all clas-es of all
sections of the state and is of the
greatest importance. It signifies the
beginning of an effort to correct the
bad effect of the 15th amendment of
the constitution of the United
States.
IN THE SENATE.
A bill by Gross, of tho Twenty
ninth—To provide for requiring rail¬
road companies to pay the expenses
of holding an inquest ever and bury¬
ing persons who are killed by i ail
road cars or engines in the state of
Georgia, and for other purposes.
Bill by Wingfield, of the Twenty
eighth, to require all railroad com¬
panies in this state who have already
leased or who may hereafter lease
their property or line of road to
another railroad company or to a
private person or persons, to have
the eontract of lease, etc., recorded
in the clerk's office in each county
through which said road runs.
These bills seem to have no greater
merit than an effort to bleed the
rail roads.
Bill by Fouche, of the Forty-sec¬
ond to amend the constitution so as
to exempt land in this state from
taxation except for county and mu¬
nicipal purposes, arid for other pur¬
poses.
Bill by M. W. Gross, of the Twen¬
ty-ninth district-To amend paragraph
3 of section 4 of article 3 of the con¬
stitution to provide for biennial ses¬
sions of the general assembly by
striking out the word “annually” in
the third line of said paragraph and
inserting in lieu thereof the word
“biennially,” and for other purpo¬
ses. .
This will probably add to the list
of abortive efforts to change the
sessions of the legislature, which is
probably well enough as it is at least
until absenteism is curtailed by the
passage of an anti-free-paS3 law.
Thursday, the second day was
spent in celebrating with Lieutenant
Brumby.
Friday, the third day of the sesston
one important bill which had been
favorably reported was defeated in
the bouse. Mr. Hall, of Bibb, was
its author.
Th,e bill has before made its ap¬
pearance in the Georgia legislature,
prohibiting the issuing of passes and
franks to all state, county and city
! officials.
There was a lively debate over the
measure, but it was finally shelved
on a motion to table by Mr. Mc
Loughlin, of Meriwether.
Mr, Hall, the author of the bill, de¬
siring to put every member on rec¬
ord, called for an aye and nay votp.
The result was 81 to 63 in favor of
tabling the bill. Mr. Hall then gave
notice of a motion to reconsider.I
The Entei . prise trusts Mr. Hall will
he more successful on the next vote. .
T1 / 6 following new bills were
troduced f in the house by Mr. Over-
8treet < of Screven.—A bill to requhe
J ;bo ordinaries of state to publish
j n the newspaper or public gazette
i in wblch the sheriff’s advertisements
are Published all citations, notices
and advertisements they are re
ff uir ed by law to publish.
As the law now stands the ordi
naries have a right to select an or
j f 0J . b j a legal notices regardless
of h 8herIfl , 8 0 Mr 0 vei
.
8treet seems t° think they should
use the same paper.
By Mr. Easterlin, of Macon—A bill
to require the officer or officers in
charge of the county affairs in each
county of this state to furnish two
■ trained bloodhounds to the sheriff.
This bill if it becomes law will neo-
1 sitate the purchase of 274 dogs by
the different counties of the state.
The presence of these trained man
hunters would no doubt often deter
would-be criminals,
By Mr Morris, o* Cobb—A bill to
provii|e aj^em j a special J trial qf raj^e
ttl\
courts when motions for new trials
are made.
Some measure on this line has
been consideied necessary by the
best posted men in tbo country.
Saturday the fourth day.
The time of the house was de¬
voted almost entirely Saturday
morning to the consideration of re
tolutions expressive of regret and
sorrow at tlie death of those mem¬
bers who passed away during the re¬
cess of the body. >
The highest tributes of praise and
esteem were paid to the memory of
the late Representatives Alex S. Er¬
win, of Clarke; T. W. Fain, of White;
W. C. Wade, of Brooks; W. S. King,
of Houston; and John R. Barwjck,
of Emanuel.
Monday: Aside from many bills
of local nature, or of small import¬
ance; the following.
By Mr. Bass, of Habersham—To
prohibit public officials of this state,
both state and county, to charge
mileage and expensts when the same
is furnished free.
Another way of getting at the
free pass.
By Mr. Dews, of Randolph—To
levy a lax on clogs to provide for the
collection of said tax, the killing of
dogs in default of the payment of
same.
Mr. De\v3 is a man of unusual
courage.
By Mr. Calvin, of Richmond—To
amend section 2417, col. 2 of the
code of 1895, which relates to in¬
surance and return of marriage li¬
censes by adding at the end of said
section the words: “Failure to re¬
turn each such license, with his cer¬
tificate thereon, to the ordinary for
record within thirty days from the
date of marriage ceremony, shall
cause such judge, justice of the
peace or minister of the gospel, Urns
delinquent to forfeit the sum of ten
dollars for every such delinquent
act, to be recovered at the suit of
-the cierk of the superior court and
added to the educational fund of the
county
A law of this kind would knock¬
out thexomanco of secret marriages.
By Mr. Bennett, of Pierce—To
amend section 98 of volume 1 of the
code of 1895, providing for the offi¬
cial term of county officers to be four
years instead of two years.
Mr. Bennett’s bill will meet the
fate it deserves—defeat.
By Mr. Carlton, cf Clarke—To
amend section 2876, of the code of
Georgia for 1895 relative to the legal
and contract rate of interest.
If Mr, Carlton’s measure will
correct the crime of usury as prac¬
ticed on the laboring classes by shy
locks in every Georgia city it should
become a law.
By Mr. Swift, of Elbert, to require
all persons selling or offering for
sale hay, shucks, shreded cornstalks
pea hulls and cottonseed hulls in
bales to mark or stamp in letters
not less than one-half of one inch,
the weight on each bale, and to pre
sribe a penalty for its violation.
Tuesday.
By Mr. Bower of Decatur—To ex¬
tend the powers of the railroad com¬
missioners so as to give them power
and authority to regulate the oper¬
ation and charges by sleeping car
companies in this state.
By Mr. Nesbitt—To prevent child¬
ren under 10 years of age uncondi¬
tionally from working in factories,
mines, workshops and other manu¬
facturing enterprises and provide
penalties therefor.
By Mr. Gross—To provide for re¬
quiring railroad companies to pay
the expenses of holding an inquest
over and burying pereons killed by
railroad cars or engines in the state
of Georgia.
This bill was very propperly killed
by committee.
A Traveling Schoolhouse.
A traveling schoolhouse would be
very attractive to the average school
boy< There is one such in the United
y ta tes. The Westinghouse Air-Brake
Q omptlny gives instruction to rail
roa d men in the use of tho Nesting
house air-brake in a schoolhouse of
three years, fitted with ali appliances
and managed by competent instruo
* ors - tbo eight years since its
^tabHehmunt traveled 55.000 this miles, schoolhouse and instructed has
n 2 ,000 students.—Journal of Edu
cation,
Dissolution .Notice,
To all parties concerned, that this
dry and date, the firm of Clay &
Justice, Fitzgerald Real Estate and
Immigration Bureau, has disolved
partnership. All bills will be collect¬
ed and settled in full by J. A. Justice.
W. H. Clay retires and J. A. Justice
takes full control of the above firm
this' date. W, H. Clay.
J. A.- Justice.
Oct. 27, 1899.
\
The W Fitzgerald Bakei •
n M A, .
MASHBURN & DENMARK, jccl
New Cash Drug Store.
tan
We have just received a large ;
... .assortment of. • • • ‘■imm
DRUGGIST SUNDRIES f
\\ r c sell Crown Perfumery Those
and Purple others Azalea in quality Soap. and
cel all cost no
the cheap immitations. We sell toctfh
from 5c to 50c each; Hair brushes
$2.75 each; combs from 5c to 75c
ving brushes from 10c to $1.00;
cum Powder 5c box, same as racket
for 15 cents per box.
WASHBURN & DENMARK I Tits New Gash
Buy Your Stationery From
in Wrapping '
.
Butter
& Paper
\
and Inks* ig
\t
k.
i.
Two Ounce Black Letter I
per dozen.
MAIL ORDER I*
mm ill HI HI Attend Promp cl ME
FREIGHT .
3 Of
■ ■ PREP
On all orders ... A
b<
aper
* of
Amounting to
■
10 dollars for
low
The
lias,
>k
SEND FOR
e
* • «
GELDERS j vwmv
“of C
4
FITZGERALD, -:-
Fruit Growers and Shipper’s As¬
sociation.
October 29, 1899.
Fruit Growers and Shipper’s Associ¬
ation was called to order by Vice Pres¬
ident Simons. Letter from State Eto
mologlst Scott, relative to kerosine
sp’-ayers, was read. L. H. Simons, ot
committee on Cane Sugar, etc, made
report recommeding prompt action iD
securing cane seed. Vice President
promised final report on statistics at
next meeting. This has been a work
of eoniiderable magnitude. Considable
discusssion, as to kinds of cane, ways
of planting, etc,, resulted in red cane
and single stick planting being recom¬
mended. Secretary was instructed to
write state etomologist to visit us; a^BO
to write to Hon. P. if, Fi\zg< r
n
DEA
Fancy
GROCE!
Our Stock is Go
Prices Right is
is increasing. v
We Sell—.
Heintz’s Pic
Relishes, PreserveAN
“Clover Hill,’U'
made, Oleomarg^Nu
Crockery of ?)|
„ Bottom n.T Pnce StTTirraM* 5u wi J
' Tot/--~—T M r;