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GEORGIA KEW S*‘
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Epitomized Items of Intetest l
Gathered at Random. %
Minister Jailed for Bigamy. ‘
Rev. J. D. Woodard, a Baptist min
ister of Commerce, has been lodged in
jail at Jefferson on a serious charge
The grand jury of the county found
a Llrue bill against him for bigamy.
* * o
Wireless Station for Brunswick.
At a recent mecting of the Bruns
wick city council, a petition was re
ceived from the Atlantic DeForest
Wireless Telegrah Company, asking
permiss<ion to erect necessary poles in
the city for the establishment of a
wireless telegraph station.
* # £
Homicide at Tallulah Falis.
* P .T. Shore, a prominent and well
to-do citizen of Tallulah Falls,was shot
four time; Saturday night by Colonel
W. 8. Parris, a prominent lawyer of
Clayton, Ga. Mr. Shore died Sunday.
He leaves a son, daughter and several
Lrothers to mourn his loss. Parris gave
himself up to the sheriff. The cause
of the tragedy is not given out,
%« o *
Brown Assumes Duties.
Joseph M. Brown, of Marietta, be
came a member of the state railroad
commission Monday last, succeeding
Hon. G. Gunby Jordan, of Columbus,
whose resignation went into effect on
that day. |
Though Mr. Jordan resigned in May,j
Lis resignation to take effect August
15, the fact did mnot become known
until a few days ago, when Governor
Terrell made the appointment of Mr
Brown as his successor.
- * *
Scalpers Barred From Georgia. ‘
The state of Georgia is now free
fiom ticket scalpers and is the only
_state in the union that enjoys this
distinction, with the exception of
Pennsylvania. What is more, the Geor:
gia legislature just before the end
of the present session passed a bill,
fntroduced by Senator Howell, of Ful
ton, entitied “An act to prohibit traf
fic in non-transferable signature tick
ets issued by common carriers and to
require common carriers to redeem
unused or partly used tickets,” which
sounds the death knell of all scalpers
in this state for all time to come.
2 9 *
Dr. Mumford Passes Away.
After an illness of nearly three
months, Rev. Dr. W. E. Mumford
died at the home of his daughter in
Macon, a few days ago. Than Dr. Mum
ford, few ministers of the gospel in the
south were better known. About eight
years ago he took charge of the Meth:
odist Orphans’ Home in Vineville, then
a suburb of Macon, and five years ago
Le scvered-.his connection with that
institution and founded the Georgia
Industrial Home. An orphan himseif at
an early age, Dr. Mumford knew well
the care that should be given to chil
dren left to shift for themselves, aund
since he founded the institution hun
dreds of children have been cared
for and placed on the road to becont
ing good citizens. g
* % -
Increase Will Break Records.
The increase in the total tax re:
turns of the state for this year, aside
from the public utility corporations,
will be about $23,000,000, with the
e€xception of last year’'s, the largest
increase ever known in the state in
a single year.
All the counties have not yet sent
in their digests, but with the exact of
ficial information already received at
the office of the comptreller general
and the estimates from the counties
whose digests are not yet in, Captain
Harrison, chief clerk in the comptrol
ler's office, has been able to make
an estimate of the total increase. This
estimate fixes the net additions to
the taxable wealth of the state ai;
‘about $23,000 000 even, |
The railroads and public utility cor |
porations have alsn shown a goodly
increase and given evidence that they.
too, have been enjoying their share
of the general prosperity, the increase
in the railroads, for instance, being
$1,500,060., This, with the individual|
increases, will amount to $24,500,000,
in round numbers. l
This increaze taxed at 5 mills will
turn into the state coffers the sum of
$107,500, or when the cost of collzction
is deducted, about $lOO,OOO.
3 * * * |
Tax Rate May Be Lower. l
Within the next few days Governor
Terrell and Comptroller General
Wright will ix the <tate tax rate for
1 1904,
! While no definite conchision on thei
' matter has been reached ,it is learned‘
that the tax rate for 1904 will be less{
lthun 5 mills. The governor and thei
comptroller general have not finishedi
figuring on the matter yet, and wiHi
not do so until all the returns have|
heen received. ‘
However, the governor is satisfied
that they will be able to make t‘nel
rate less than 5 mills, though just how
much less it is impossible to predict
at present. ‘ |
The fact, however, that there wml
be a reduction in the state tax rate|
this year will be welcome news to?
every section of the state. This taxl
!r:xte is to secure funds for expensed:
'for 1904. The appropriations biils just'
[passed by the general assemhly were
for 1905, and the tax rate under which
l(he money appropriated for next year
will be raised, will not he made until
about September 1, 1905. '
* * *
Populist State Convention. - l
The populists of Georgia will meet |
in state cohvention at the state capi-{
(ol on September Ist for the purpose
of ratifying the nomination of Thomas
E. Watson and Tibbles for president
and vice president. State Chairman
Hollaway, who issues the call, says
he Jdoes not know whether there wiill
be a state ticket. The following is the)
| call:
Notice is hereby given that 2 stale
convention of the people’s party of
Georgia is hereby called to meet in the
state capitol at Atlanta, Ga., on Tues
day, September 1, 1904, at 10 o’clock
a. m., for the purposes of ratifying
the nomination of Watson and Tibbles
for president and vice president of
the United States, fer putting out anl
electoral ticket and for such purpcses
as the convention may decide upon.
Each county will be entitled to twice
as many votes as it has repregentalives
in the general assembly, and to as
many delegates as may be chosen by
the party in each county in such man
rer as shall be determined by the ex
ecutive committee of each county.
J. J. HOLLAWAY; |
State Chairman, Clem, Georgia.
J. D. WOODALIL,
Secretary, Barnesville, Ga. |
* * * |
No Money Provided for Judgez.
An interesting oversight on the part
of the general assembly is general!
ly commented on at the capitol. While
the legisiature passed a bill inecreas
ing the salaries of judges of the su
preme and superior courts to $4,000
and $3.000, respectively, and the sal
ary of the governor to $5,000, it failed
to appropriate any money to pay the
increases given.
This makes it necessary for the judg
es to wait until after the legislature of
1905 appropriates the money to pay
the back salary increases, to which
they will be entitled under this bill,
before they can get the money.
' The bill provides that the increases
shall not apply to any judges who were
in commission at the time of its pass
age, but it will apply to; all judges
who are to be elected at the coming
election in October. Associate Justices
Evans and Lamar, of the supreme
zcourt. will get their new commissions
as soon as the election is over, and
the result declared, because they are !
serving unexpired terms, and the in-!
crease for them will then begin, The
increacse for Chief Justice Simmons}
and Associate Justice Fish will begin
January 1, 1905, but all of these must
wait for the money until after the next
legislature has appropriated it. It
is the same with the judges of the
}superior courts, whose new terms'
’practically all begin on January 1 next,
that is for all those who are elected l
at the coming election. <
Strangely enough, however, the bill |
operates to the decided disadvantage l
of Associate Justices Andrew J. Cobb
land John S. Candler. Justice Cobb will
'not get the advantage of the increased ‘
salary until January 1, 1909, when
his new term will begin, if he is
elected in 1908. Notwithstanding the
'fact that they must wait for threc
tand five years to get the increased
.saiaries, they must, in common with
iail other judges, give up any free
'railroad passes and franks, which
%courtesies may have Lecen extended
to them.
- & ®
‘ Educational Conference Re:zclutions
I The Georgia Educational Cenference
lat its seszsion at the summer schoo.
|in Athens paszsed some imporiant rez
lolutions, a condensed report of swhizh
lwe give bhelow:
| Education lis the right of every
child born into a civilized common
)wealth, a right that is independent of
icircumsta'nces of life or conditions of
fortune. To guarantee and secure tv
the children of the state the oppor
tunity for such development is the
prime duty of organized society.
~ We rejoice in the fact that Georgis
was the earliest in the Union to rec
ognize these fundamental truths oy
providing in its constitution for the
first system of public schools; was the
first to grant a charter conferring
upon a woman's college the right te
bestow academic degrees; the firs:
to recognize agricultural education in
}the gift of Dr. William Terrell for a
chair of agricultural chemistry'; ani
’the first bequest for strictly normal ed
tucation in the will of Governor Gil
mer.
We note with unbounded gratifica
tion the evidences of cordial and pra:-
tically unanimous support given ir
all the counties of the state to the
pending constitutional amendmen®
permitting local taxation for public
schools.,
We deplore the agitation for tak
'ing away from the negro schools the
support they have for thirty years pas*
had in Georgia, and limiting then
support to negro taxes alone. It woti,
be an unspeakable calamity to strike
down this policy which has been our
proud boast and the complete cindi
cation, of our justice and Kkindnes:
to the negro. As soon let us say thal
the poor 'counties of the state shoul.l
receive for education only the taxer
paid in by them; or that in any com
munity the monies derived from thc
wealthy be expended upon the wealthy
| —and only those, of the poor upon the
|poor. Such a measure against negre
!schools would be a violation of tha!
high obhligation which the superim
Irace by virtue cof its power owes 1o
the weak and disadvantaged race. The
lexisting educational policy has be~n
lconfined in its administration to the
whites alone, enabling boards of edu
cation in each county to adjust the r=
lation of the funds fror the separa:e
schools as is €quitable and proper lo
cally.
We appeal to the women of Geor
gia to organize themselves into scho >’
improvement societies and thus t»
bring to bear in behalf of educationa’
intere:ts and of school buildings those
!fine qualitics and powers of womar
hood which make them so indispen
l~=a‘zfle to the churches of the land.—
T. S. STEWART, -of State University
I The longest railroad in this country
is the Chicago Burlington & Quincy,
I whica owns 7764 miles and operates
l 7.971 miles. |
CURBS MONEY LENDERS.
Georgla Legislature, at Last Moment,
Passes the “Antl-Shark” 81111.
The “money ghark” bill was favora
bly acted upon by the Georgia legis
lature at the closing session and wili
now beconie a law.
Despite the strenuous and determin
ed opposition of Mr. Hall, of Bibh, who
fought it at every -turn, and left no
stone unturned to accomplish its de
feat, the house adopted the substituie
reported by the general judiciary com
mittes by a vote of 106 to 34, and
then passed the biil on rising vote, by
92 to 7.
Thus has the house put {tself on rec
ord along with the senate in favor of
protecting the poor and ignorant bor
rower, and warnings almost amoun:-
ing to threats had no avail to stop the
tide of votes in the measure’s favor.
The main provisions of the housa
substitute, which will nocw become 2
law, are:
The kindg of security dealt with by
the bill, as enumerated in section 1,
are:
' Household or kitchen furnitura,
household goods, wearing apparel, sew
‘ing machines, musical instruments and
wages. _
{ Section 6 provides for the keeping
of books showing facts concerning ev
ery loan made, the name of the bor
rower, amount, date of maturity, etec.
Section 8 provides that these books
shall be open to the inspection of the
ordinary or grand jury of the county
wherein the business is located. .
Section 10 provides that feesg for
investigating the security or title may
be charged as follows:
Fifty cents for amounts of ss:or
less; seventy cents for amounts be
tween $5 and $10; one dollar for
amounts between $lO and $2O; one dol
lar and a half for amounts between
$2O and $35; two dollars for amounts
between $35 and $6O. No fees shall
be charged for reversals and one loan
of practically the same amount follow
ing closely on another shall be con
strued, under this section, as a renew
al. No original loans shall be sgplit
into smaller loans for renewal pur
poses. On loans of more than $6O the
fee charges are left to be settled on a
fair basis between borrower and lend
er, provided such charges do not ex
ceed 6 per cent of the amount of the
loan.
Section 11 provides that all pay
“ments aggregating more than 8 per
cent interest and fees permitted shall
be construed as payments on the prins
~cipal.
~ Section 12 forbids charges for fire
insurance on property mortgaged.
Sections 14 and 15 provides for for
feitures of licenses for violations of
the act.
Section 16 provides that before any
criminal demand shall be issued om
any transaction growing out of th»
business dealt with by the bill the
lender shall make oath that he has not
violated the terms of the biil.
Section 17 voids assignments of un
earned wages. ’
Section 18 excepts banks, bankers
and pawnbrokers.
| Black Cats’ Island.
} There is an island in Puget Sound,
inot more than half a mile across,
- which is so thickly populated with
cats that they may be seen cover
\ ing the rocks on a sunny day, from
the riggings of passing vessels.
~ _The cats number many thousands,
and the strangest thing is that they
are all black. Every evening a boat
load of fishermen land on the island
and lay out & seine a quarter of a mile
long. They pull it in with never less
than a ton of fish, but next morning ’
these fish are gone. The cats devour
them all.
These cats have been placed here
by men w!o are supplying the mar
ket with woemen’s muffs. Once a year
there is a great round-up, and several
‘thousaud pussies lose their lives.