Newspaper Page Text
MESSAGE OF
GOVERNOR SLATON
Georg'a
CONVENED JUNE 24
wnw of duly in Ihe performance of tiu
•worn obligation.
Tan Ltyielalinn,
You were fiord with • drficll hegln-
nlng about 1012, when llir appropriation!
exceeded tbr rrvrnur #437,000, In miil
llir lidded exee»s tv m $349,000, and in
To The State Legislature of C
»nrr bud licen exhausted, The tux r«te
tiring limited to live mills, prior leglsta-
liim liad exhausted the amount collect a
hle. The state won growing. The tench-
ers were going without their pay nod
the veterans dying before getting their
*»<™*■ s r n . T “ti, A k " ii t
port ant Queitions V?hich W ill Be end borrowing money to the limit to sat-
Considered at I his Session of the isfy current obligations.
If you think It wise I tin
in the form of • law.
il max hr nul lhori/rd to offer llir bonds bearing not fa * rapidly Increasing ncnmulation ol
more than **■« per cent ihterest at not puhllrntlonn in Hie linsemrnl of Die Can-
I,.. I I.. M. ... *
The set toil of .lodge ll.rl in perform ' M * "•''in'" I;’ *d,rrt,M 'eMililngfron. Mai,.tea re
ioe 1,1. ,1.0, ... .... .. , ,ur hi* discretion uml in re iecl , ' uirlng Ihr printing of xolnuirx in excex*
1 ‘ "'V * s ,M •« •uiwi.iiiwr I..,- inj . Ml(i M bi da. , ))ut ymir „ r of what are nerdetf The available apace
ai,anted the commendation toil -au lit nexlhle as to niton not .mil proper In the Capital is iiractieullv cuii.xuined.
Ill l\ut txl> .t I » .. .1.. 1 . . l. . . . I i .I * I *1 i . ' >
isteii
.lint ;
to pay his appointment at • li
•inn V landowner, In sunpatnv
the people of Ins slate, tie mat be 1
to execute Hie law without '•arshiic
In full spirit of exact justice.
It is pleasing to know that tlg.ernor
Stuart, of Virginia, imauiniousty elected
governor of Ihnl great state, practically
adjustment. but also such .llscivlhm to and thonniinda of volumes and
ill I may meet tie exigencies of the *:tu,iticn
scripts arc lying their deterimiiting each
tear slid practical)' of value to no one.
it would tie an immense tuving to cor
rect this condition, and 1 rripirst that
you do investigate and by appropriate
Legislature.
State of Georgia. Executive Department,
Atlanta.
.lunr 2a, 1014.
f„ ihr ileneral Assembly.
1 rejoice wttli you in the general pros
perity which lias blessed the state during
the past year. Since your last session
the people have enjoyed ttie favors of a
generous Providence. Their crops Imvc
turn bountiful and their industries have
flourished to a degree hitherto unknown.
The farmer, the merchant, the manufac
turer, have utilized with ceaseless energy
their opportunities, unrestrained in ef
fort by tlic hampering effect of unwise
law- Ttie schools and institutions of
learning are giving to the children and
youth the keys of knowledge and provid
ing them with that equality of opportu
nity which is nil ttie worthy can demand.
And mare important than all, the church
in every community is teaching the les
sons nf Him upon obedience to wtuise
statutes rests the welfare of all nations.
You are entitled to the thanks of x
grateful constituency for thr 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 un aid in the exercise of ttie suf
frage you provided h permanent regis
tration system which will remove unnec-
■rn.firy encumbrances in the way of ttie
voter and at ttie same time preserve
proper safeguards. You made it pos-
lihlr for the farmer, often remote, to
mail or send his taxes by his neighbor
without risk of disfranchisement. The
merchant, the traveling man, in fart, all
Hasses occupied with the affairs of busi
ness are placed on an equal footing with
ttie professional politician who never for
gets the last day for registering.
You provided not only for the present
hut for the future in the education of
the children and for the afflicted In thr
Institutions, and recalling ttie past and
our obligations to those who cheerfully
imperiled their all in Iwhalf of the south,
you made provision for the declining
ilnys of the Confederate veterans.
Finance.
In future years your body will he dis-
I'Anguished us the debt-paying legisla
ture. When ttie dishonor of repudiation
may blight the fair name of other states,
von nnd your descendants may point
with pride to flic enactment of laws cs-
Ltfiblishing a financial system which paid
I the debt of the state, made possible the
refunding of our bended indebtedness,
I rehabilitated our fiscal system and, above
lull, gave to people the means of checking
^expenditures by making the tax levy re-
iflrct the nmourtt appropriated by their
^representatives.
Now it will'be-easy for the people to
Iknow what appropriations their agents
lero making. Any condtiion which per-
liaits concealment or interferes with a
I T( ‘.'idy understanding by the principal of
|tlie actions of the agents is indefensible.
I have seen a constitutional amend-
Iment submitted to the people involving
an extra annual appropriation of a half
Imillion dollars, without provision being
jinude for raising the money, nnd so ar-
iTungcd as to conceal the necessity for nn
extra revenue. However worthy the
yfiu.se, such legislation is indefensible.
The comptroller-genera) in Ids report
of 1913 said: “In other words, the entire
[appropriations for the year 1918, exelu-
pivr of common schools and pensions,
■hould be met by a tax levy of about
pne-third of one mil!.’* ’In his report for
• 914 he declares that, exclusive of com
mon schools and pensions, all of the
appropriations could be met by a tax
fivy of about one-hnlf of one mill.
" ho would wish to cut those two items
P Public expenditure, and if anyone did
Fish to lessen them, who will sav the
leople would permit It? With a deficit
If over one million dollars and with ap
propriations exceeding the revenue, how
you cut from items other than
nmon schools and pensions enough to
q«>l ttie deficit?
•'or 1918 the total raised from the tax
*.V on property was $4,300,000, ard
ailing Items of expenditure were ns fol-
The people
were unwilling f„ r you to cut the great
items of expenditure. What were you
to do?
•t thr time Ihr bonds «rr in hr sold
.< utamo'iiir I actt.
flir date treasure! :.,t, rrpnrlrd h
me tliHt there is in the I reason $T9,00i
arising from the automobile lax, whirl■! legislation correct this incxcusiililr wlisle,
you provided by set of 19)3 should In | Military Dibit.
distributed to ttie counties m proportion lo I he Augusta sirike trouble the ml-
COUmtended in his message the ten law. to the mileage of the mails In these conn- ! incurred in ilulclitcdnrsN tilth mrr-
you have passed. ties, .is showtt h)' the ccuxtl* nf Hie I'nlted ' hauls of that city which should have
liconomii, | States. Federal itulhorilies have mailt m hern Maid mrr a year ago Where hi-
One slrcmnnis iihiretion |o Ihe passage record of this mileage, and therefore llo dol'tcdnrsx of this character lm« been
of (lie law has been the fcclimr that lit.- distribution tinder the plan ciiiitcmplatcd | ''"'tirrcil the obligation should lie satls-
letrlxM iic mid , Ill I" Hie act was lm|mssil,lc „„<| the 'attor- "«> '» I suggest the exact
legist ituir would spend tut aimiunt m .j.. (p .„ er) ,| held that the umnev should <""otmt tic ascertained by your appro
ourul in tho treasury. Mv rxpcrh'im* of \ )c ' j fl () H « treasury aualliW vou# I’onimHtfT am) provision he mailt
seventeen years in Ihe legislature and my direction. for imtiH’riUtr payment
With an ability
knowledge of the law lead me to proph-1 Oflirinl litiHils,
y :,tu * ^“rlessness that eay that this net wilt not only he pro- I hrg tw ask vour especial ennsidern
entitled you to the everlasting udrniru-1 duetivc of great economy, hut m arousing l *on of the (MiniptroUer-geiieriil's report
tion of the state, you took the task up in the civic virtue nnd patriotism of the I re K ,m,1, T J hr , , J , ' 1 , ' isio n "f Hie
full knowledge of the misconstruction'
and crlticis
peoplc will so emphasise the nccc-sity of
and criticism to w hich you would lie sub-j their watching expenses Unit henceforth
jecteil and succeeded in a statesmanlike no appropriations will be made which
manner in rendering In the people as the people with full understanding will
splendid a sert ice as ever they received not approve.
from public ofllcrs. Ttie ronslitut'um prut ides that no ap-
> ou recognized that though corpora-1 propriations call he made excepting upon
tions are necessary to development and » call of the roll, and this requirement
enterprise and should not tic oppressed Wrts adopted in order to check legislative
by harsh measures, they received special extravagance and to give the people an
governmental privileges for which they I opportunity to sec how their representn-
shuuhl pay V Ihe amounts they tint! been | five voted in matters of appropriation.
contributing avert small in comparison to
what other states were receiving, nnd
von doubted their occupation tax. 1
Imve heard no complaint from that
source.
Public schools
Pensioni
[bt»te sanitarium
[ Public debt ”
I l egislative ■
■ expenses ...
.*£,080,000
. 1.180,000
5.90,000
378,000
Of!,000
hi
Sum lota) .$4,724,000
'i* did not include the blind asylum,
•cliool for the deaf, the notaries of
't»tfhouse officers, judges of the su-
une court and other institutions.
^ it easy to obtain applause by gen-
■ 'ieclimatlon against expenditure, but
11 much caller to obtain execration by
Peking
any one of the items of expen-
nrr named above.
* rr * re those who would increase
ular appropriations and vote to rr-
1 rev *nue-tax acts, hut such a course
1,01 commend itself to any honrst-
1 citizen Ttie taws of our state
"de that ttie widow's property may
Mil under foreclosure to pay her
,v Sliould not ttie state pay its own?
,r ‘*> not he popular for Hie time, hut
people who cannot he long misled
’■cognize its justice ami wisdom,
■cgislator or officer likes to tax, and
pcopU may well understand tliai
B ** '*“CI it n simply under a solemn
A legitimate source of revenue to all
states is an inheritance tax. The rigl
to one's properly during life has nlvvay
been recognized ns Inherent and fuml’n
mental, but to dispose of it after dealt
is a privilege granted by ttie state. Gcor
gia had never utilized tills source of rev
enuc. You passed a conservative law
providing for an inheritance tax, wide
■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 flint ninny wer
mot hearing their share of the common
burden while many were contributing too
'much, you passed the tux equalization
bill.
T believe no better or more necessary
law was ever passed. Its only dunge
■consists in being misunderstood. It may
lie improved. Time and experience will
disclose its imperfections. But who can
•criticise a law which in simple terms pro
vides for the honest levying of taxes and
that burdens shat) he equally' tiorne.
It provides that personalty shall pay
alike with land, and means are afforded
for accomplishing this result. 1 am in
formed that this year's returns will he
nmst conspicuous in un immense increase
in personalty, due to this and the inher
itance tax law.
There are no new features of taxation
■engrafted in the equalization tax act.
Tlic act only emphasizes what bus alwny
been (lie law in Georgia, that all prop
erty should hear its part of the expenses
of government anti that the taxpayers
should equally hear their respective tin
dens. There can lie no valid objection
to these two propositions.
I-and cannot escape the notice of the
taxing officers, while property in the form
of invisible securities can lie readily con
cealed. The main purpose of the tax
law is to reach invisible property and
that it hear its part of the 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 tlic landowner, who could not if he
were disposed conceal his property from
taxation. Ttie landowner is especially
interetsed in the new tax law and ought
to warmly advocate it, if for no other
■reason ttian that of self-interest.
It is not intended that the law shall tie
inquisitorial, but that it shall provide
means for disclosure when the citizen
who mainly uses Hie courts for ttie col
lection of his debts flagrantly shirks his
duty at contributing to their inainte
nance. In passing this act you recog
nized that in multitudes of instances
much land was not given in at all, and
my information is Hint a large part, of
the increase this year comes from return
of lunrl which had not been upon the tax
books. What landowner can complain if
he and his neighbor owning projierty of
equal ‘value be required to pay the same
amount? If the one who lias been dere
lict pays his part his neighbor will have
■to pay that much less. In many instances
which have come under my observation
the returns of one citizen of n county
have been reduced and those of another
raised. The purpose is equality and jus
tice. What true Georgian will compldin
if he and his fellows, say in Dade county
and in Glynn, arc treated alike?
This tax act will inevitably lessen tlw
burden of ttie small property owner who
values his limited properly and returns
it accordingly.
It is the owner of large property who
will he ttie sufferer from confiscatory tax
taws, which will have birth when the defi
cit in the treasury has become larger,
and the absolute necessity will tie recog
nized for immediate hasty action by ttie
people and llir legislator. It is far bet
ter to make provision for Hie coming
flood by opening an easy avenue of relief
rather than to await its destruction of
tlw entire embankment with the devasta
tion that will follow.
In Hie hill which was passed nearly
twenty-five years ago there was no meth
od provided for equalization between the
counties, and in consequence there was a
fierce competition between them to see
which coni.I return the property si the
lowest figure.
It has been suggested to me in this
connection that if the date of return of
taxable property was changed from .Jan
uary ) to January 10 the debtor would
be enabled to satisfy his obligations and
such plan would meet witli the approval
of the people of the state. This suggea-
tioD comes from rural communities, and
So many appeals are made for money
and for so many laudable purposes it is
hard to resist them. It is easy for ttie
legislator to glow with personal pride as
he expends ttie taxpayers' money and re
ceives Hie plaudits of the beneficiaries
•nd the press.
Allow me 4o urge that yon make no
appropriations at this session other than
those absolutely necessary. Any amount
you appropriate will increase the deficit
already existing. Vearnestly submit th" f
duty viewed from any angle cannot re-
quier you to give that which you have
not. Such action is to he disapproved in
the citizen and condemned in the legisla
tor. It is hypocritical to favor economy
In general terms and at Hie Same time
increase the deficit already existing by
spending money not in the treasury. To
appropriate more than the revenue is in
defensible, and you can make this answe"
to the appeals of all institutions: “To
he just before being generous is a car
dinal maxim of force in legislation ns
well ns in law."
One of the principal arguments in
favor of the tax equalization law is its
tendency to force economy. So long as
the tax rate is five mills and limited to
that amount, ttie legislator Is tempted to
votr for every popular appropriation,
with the knowledge that his constituent
cannot know that lie is spending 'more
money than the revenue. The expendi
ture is not reflected in the tux rate. »hl
when Hie tax rate is cut below the live
mills, I lien no legislator dare raise it
without giving a strict accounting to tlic
taxpayer I believe Hint 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 ttie tax hooks which has never
been returned and with rigid economy
practiced by Hie legislature for a short
time, the rale should be reduced to three
mills, with, the certainty Hint the legisla
tor will he no longer tempted to appro
priate beyond ttie state's ability the
one hand and cut ttie revenue on the
other hand. Ttie representative who
'•lures to do his duty in opposing extrava
gance will receive the eommendation’TTml
support of his people,
I commend to your careful considera
tion the report of Comptroller-General
Wright and call your attention to the
compliment his figures pay you for keep
ing ttie expenditures below those of pre
ceding years.
Jlefundinii llir State lloiule.
Oil May 1, 1915, there will come due
$227,000 of bonds of the state, and on
July ], 1915, will come due $3,300,000 of
bonds. Provision must lie made at Hits
session for refunding these obligations.
We will have in tlic treasury from the
sale of ttie Northeastern:*railroad, puy-
alilr in November, 1914, $153,812.50,
which must he utilized in taking up these
bonds. I tliink all the bunded indebted
ness fulling due in 1915 should he
solidated. Appropriate arrangement may
tie made by ttie state for carrying the
bonds due in May until the 1st of July.
For these bonds falling due in 1915
there is no sinking fund. For the re
mainder of the bonded indebtedness, ag
gregating $3,000,000, a sinking fund of
$100,000 a year Is provided for the retire
ment of the public debt. Therci'cre in
1945 practically tlic only outstanding
bonded indebtedness of tlic state will be
that fulling due in 1915, for which V ou
must make provision.
I do not t’liuk it is fair or right at this
time to make our citizens pay more than
the $100,000 a year to the retirement of
the public debt The indebtedness was
incurred largely in ttie construction of
Ihe W. & A. railroad, which is an je
heritance our children will enjoy and it
will lessen their burdens. Our insfTlu-
tions in this growing state must be taken
care of, and they should not be cramped
nor ttie people burdened unnecessarily
by attempting to provide un additional
sinking fund.
In addition. I find that thirty-year-old
bonds will ,ell at a higher price than
serial bonds. Purchasers of bonds grn-
rally desire to mukc a permanent in-
estmrnt without the necessity of fre
quent change, and at) ttie financial au
thorities agree fhat a thirty-year bond
an he sold to lietter advantage.
In addition, when these bonds become
lie the sinking fund of $100,000 u tear
may tie continued, which makes the bur
den of ttie taxpayer easy.
Tlic governor should be given the p„w-
r to otitain in Ins discretion a short-time
loan for the purpose of earing for these
bonds, for the reason that in eases of
financial depression or panic it may tie
law allowing that officer to issue execu
tions for amounts due the state bv tax
collectors. While justice should tie dum
Hie official, a hearing in accordance with
Hie decision of tlic supreme court can b«
allowed him and at the same time relievt
the state from entering int
litigation with consequent dr
tier revenue. I suggest that your appro
priatc cumimttec.s lake this matter up at
once.
Mililar/I li< /mrlmi nt.
Since the last session of tour liunora-
ble body 1 have Imd brought before mi
in acute form the relation existing be
tween the national guard of Georgia and
the war department at Washington.
By statutes embodied in sections 1,'KII.
13ti2 and 1333, second volume of the I’mlr
of Georgia, the office of adjutant-general
and quartermaster general are establish
rd, each with rank of brigadier-general.
Code sections 1307 and 1309 give geiicr.il
authority to the governor as commander
in-ehief regarding Ha numbers and
grades of the officers.
The war department at Washington
issued an order requiring in effect that
the quartermaster-general in Georgia
should have the rank of major The
failure to comply .with the order was vis
ited with the penalty that Hie quarter
uiuater-grHerat would not lie recognized
for the purpose of receiving arms, equip
ment, etc,, nor would lie receive pay
during maneuvers.
t asked if this order could he suspend
ed os to Georgia until the legislature
could meet and deal with the subject, ns
I maintained that obedience to the laws
of Georgia was u superior duty and more
binding on me than ttie orders of the wnr
department.
This suspension was declined unless I
promised to use mv influence as chic!
executive with the legislature to repeal
legislation conflicting with the orders of
the war department. This I declined to
do, and hence I designated the adjutant-
genera) to receipt for equipment until
the subject could lie brought to vour
attention.
Perhaps it may lie the part of practical
wisdom to adapt the office of quarter
master-general to the grade required li
the regular army, ill order that our na
tional guard may receive the support of
ttie federal government ns provided by
its laws. But I believe it should he witl
the strict heed that the national guard nt
Georgia shall always owe first allegianer
to the state and .subject to the order of
tier governor as paramount authority
The national guard is ready in time ot
national peril to perform the duties of a
soldier against a foreign enemy, and Hu
government should lie generous witli il
and liberally support it on these terms.
Ms members spend time and money and
make a tremendous sacrifice in its serv
ice. But I view witli disapproval thr
growing tendency to militarism, with n
large standing army, under direct control
of one man in Washington. It Is not dif
ficult to suppose an occasion when suet
a force under the control of someone
possessed of audacity, ambition nnd cour
age, might make it. a menace to our got
eminent and Its institutions.
I shall gladly submit tlic correspond
cnee to such committed as you may np
point to consider the matter, and will
render Hieni such aid as may lie in my
power.
School Hook*.
The state hoard of education had un
tier consideration the adoption of school
hooks as provided by law, and performed
its duty in accordance with the directing
statutes.
I hey could not find a hook on civil
government meeting their approval
Therefore they tentatively adopted a
book for Hie period of twelve months um
der the net of 1913, with the purpose if
requesting the legislature to authorize it
<,<in " to have n hook written and published fi r
use in Georgia, under the supervision of
tlic department of education. I commend
for consideration this request of Ihe
state board of education.
Indeterminate Sentencet.
Umler existing laws there is immrnfct
latitude given to judges in the Imposition
of sentences. The punishment may hr
from one to twenty years in Hie peniten
tiary in many eases. It is difficult to de
clare why a man Is sent four years in
stead of five, or seven years instead of
six, and yet one year is a long period to
serve. I lie slightest incident might make
1‘rltan Hefinrtmrnt.
Time lias tleimmslrated the wisdom of
placing Hie convicts upon the roads,
upremel '"mm Ihe standpoint of humanity av well
oat llir ns P’nfiHve effect. I think no lu-tter (Its
position could lie made of tlio.se who
have violated the law- nf the land and
placed upon the people the burden of
courthouses, jails and ficnsluns,
Practically 80 per cent of Hie convicts
are negroes, Before the war there was
iglit
the individual judge, however good, vary
tlic punishment at different times in the
identical ease
1 submit to you whether it would nM
he more consistent with justice to pro
vide that the judge may Impose a sr"
fence between certain limited periods and
allow the good behavior of the convict tc
determine the length of the imprison
ment after the minimum sentence has
been served. Ibis relieves the governor
of much, work under the parole net nnd
places Hie imposition of punishment
where il belongs, with the courts.
I’riton Farm.
The prison commission finds it difficult
to meet its obligation in view of its lim
ited appropriations, and this difficultv is
increased by nn abuse to which I desire
to call your attention.
In many eases courts will sentence n
man to the prison farm for a few months'
service, and under the law Hie prison
commission must send a guard tor him,
pay Hie transportation to thr prison
farm, and when ttie term is completed
pay till II I urn transportation nf Hie
convict. For transportation alone the
prison commission spends annually $10,-
000.
ii protracted n ‘ n ‘ , . v " "f tulierndosis among this
cprit pi,,,, „j population because they slept ip tug eull-
vottr appro- bin which adlullted the fresh air.
Now consumption Is most prevalent
among them, and working upon the roads
in the open air is lieneficial from the
standpoint of health and returns to so
ciety in general some compensation fur
Hie expenses of their conviction.
Of course, the highest luimnnity should
be observed in the treatment nf convicTs
Cruelty, neglect, improper food, imren
soon tile serv'ee, insufficient clothing, liiel
of sanitary provision should not lie conn
tennneed. \nv cruelty to oven the must
debased should be met with the severest
punishment,
Yet 1 inn not in sympathy with Hint
idea which would provide comforts and
luxuries to Hie murderer, the burglar and
Hie other violators of the law denied t
the honest citizen.
There are thousands of lamest parent
ill Georgia who find it difficult to provid
their children with sufficient apparel t
keep them warm in winter. They learn
their lessons h\ ttie dim light of a pine
knot fire nnd as soon ns opportunity
arises go forth into life to struggle fo'r
heard. They are not provided With an
education In trades, hut must meet Hie
problems facing them with ■ the. small
equipment that poverty can furnish.
It hardly seems consistent with justli
that the privileges of trade education
stint) lie granted only to the criminal
while the lainrst arc deprived of it. |
do not believe the struggling head nf a
family should work longer hours nnd
make more sacrifices to give facilities to
the convict which are not granted to tils
own children. Especially is this the .ease
when the average age' of the convict
would tie between 25 and 30 and 8(1 pc
cent, being negroes, have been in the
habit of making their lit lug by manual
tailor.
In addition, il is not fair to create
competition between convict labor and
free tabor. The honest merchant and
artisan should he given every eneonragi
merit to maintain and support those lit
pendent upon him, and there is no hette
citizen than he.
The making of good roads is a trndr
in itselt and Is far healthier than cm
ployinent in mines with their accompany
ing hardships,
II irllilrin/ ('oinuiieeian.
In lids connection I beg In call vou
attention to my preceding rccnnuncmln
• ions In regard to a highway commission
The prison mission has provided ai
engineer to visit roads and solve leelini
eai problems. It is hard to exaggeralt
the amount of waste resulting from tin
improper supervision and maintenance of
highways.
Bills are pending in congress for tlic
purpose of aiding tlic various stales in
the const met ion of good roads, and these
hills generally provide for expenditures
of these contributions through highway
commissions.
The commission might lie created with
out the necessity for extra expense by
utilizing the engineer already supplied
by the prison commission anil Hie pro
fessor of civil engineering nt Hie l’Diver
sity of Geoigia and tlic professor of n
similar department at the Georgia .School
of (Tcclinologv. Their suggestions and
advice would he invaluable and the serv
ice would he economical. Any plan ac
complishing the same result ‘ would lie
equally .satisfactory.
While tlic building of highways from
county site to county site is beneficial to
them, tlic great majority of the people
on other roads should not lie forgotten.
Along these roads is the path of the
rural free delivery, and in proportion as
they run tie ‘raveled rapidly the facility
for distribution of mull to those who live
In the country Is increased. It is im
possible to overrate Hie benefits result
ing in Hie shape of cducotion and in
creased joy of living Hint arise from this
great privilege. As far as practicable
the roads o-er which mail Is delivered
should he public roads.
The wisdom of tlie law providing for
the working of convicts on the highways
is further demonstrated In the flexible
provision made for the small and le a
wealthy con tics of the state. It is im
possible for many of them to utilize their
uwn convicts except at prohibitive cos',
and lienee the feature of exchange was
wisely included.
Iniluetrial Trainimj School for Wayward
Clirle.
1 beg to report to you that in accord
ance with law I declared on June 20,
19)4, (lie industrial school for wayward
girls, whit'll was created tiy you at. It;
last session, open for Hie reception o
those entitled to its privileges.
Fulton county made the donation of
Inadvisable to sell tlic bonds when they *1 M ' < '' 11R ,u >‘*e that in cases where
come due. Sister states found it neers- Hie sentence is for a short period cither
xarv to follow this procedure last vear, “ ‘ ,Jr
and they preferred to pay practically i
per cent rattier than put the bonds upon
the market at tremendous sacrifice.
I recommend that the governor be au-
the county should pay Hie expenses of
transportation of the Sentence should not
hr to ttie prison farm.
Printing.
The stale librarian calls my attention
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 slutr, and
there is no hoard of higher personnel
than this.
While the segregation of the wayward
liirl from other criminals is demanded by
the loftiest humanity, ul the same time
■ management of the institution um,
always tie accompanied by sanity as well
sympathy
There could lie no greater crown upon
llir state than the reformation and recla
mation of wayward girts. Ttie problem
lias always liren, in id is. a most diffieiit,
one. When Hie inmate is not subject to
reformation and proves unresponsive to
the efforts in her liclialf, she should nd
lie permitted to utilize tills school ns i
place for recuperation until she elects o
leave and li"C a vicious and profllga'e
life Keaiionalilf work is Hie most who.
•fliije of all corrections, and Ihe purpost
of the creation of tills school will he
largely effectuated If these Inmates are
made content with the. rewards of in
dustry.
Tills iinliliilinn is an experiment in
Georgia and it entitled to Hie earnest
sympathy of the good pennlr of Hie state,
hut Hie expenditures should he measured
by Hie progress achieved At mi time
would tt hr justifiable to make a contrast
between the honest, hard-working girl
and the victims one tiling in luxury and
idleness amt supported tiy the stale
While mill $20,000 wax appropriated
In this institution, il in tot t> r remembered
Hint nuire than four million dollars of
taxable tallies are required to produce
Ibis amount. The eniislltuliomil limit is
five mills and collection costs 0 per cent.
1 desire to cull your attcntiuM to a dis
crepancy between the honks of Hie treas
urer amt tlic cmiqilrotlcr-gcneriil arising
from I lie law authorizing the department
of agriculture to draw money directly
from the treasury. This-prevents a bnt-
Iim-r between the hooks of Ihe treasurer
uml complrullrr-gfm ini in the fiscal svs
tern of Hie stale. I think this should'hr
remedied by legislation and request that
tlic matter be Investigated tiy appropri
ate eommittees of your body .
Auditor.
I again hrg to call your attention to
the necessity for ttie creation of stair
auditor, So fur as I am aware, Georgia
is llir only stale which has no official
whose duty it is to examine tlic various
hooks of the state with reference to thr
expenditure of money appropriated lit
tlic legislature:
II is impoksilile for the governor to
keep check on the several institutions or
determine their requirements. No money
should lie drawn from the treasury ex
cepting when absolutely necessary. So
long as tlic money lies in the treasury thr
slate draws 2 per cent interest, Imt'if it
lies in hank In Hie credit of any wlepart
moot the stale receives no interest, and
its ability to borrow in time of need is
lessened.
There can lie no wiser provision than
constant and efficient cheeking of all pub
lic expedltnres. The recommendations of
such an officer to ttie appropriation com
mittees of the legislature would lie inval
uable and Hie money spent would tie far
more Ilian compensated by increased
economy.
Parole Laic.
In a large proportion of eases in which
1 have granted clemency it has been upon
tlic recommendatioo qi 1 , the judge and so-
licitor-getirrnl, who .have been convinced
that justice woulil.be'served by the excr
fit's iif executive’ clemency .
.The parole law is os,binding upon the
gd,verilnr us imy otlic'r law.
It is imt tltr monhej' of cases in which
exft'idlVr clemency Is exercised, hut the
character of llien'i Which' merits approval
or criticism. 'We' liuyr conservation nf
lands and forests and material resources,
tint flic conservation of liuuign livings is
the most essential Vif lilt.
fill long as the efiVct of punishment is
preserved. Hie rflthise Ond reclamation of
tlic criminal are in neforduner with the
demands of a Immune civilization. Many
arc In the convict Camp who would make
I citizens if released, and it requires
ttie exercise uf painstaking caret amt dis
cretion to wisely exercise the power of
the governor as vested in him by thr con
stitution.
I submit herewith, in accordance witli
law, tlmsr cases in which I have exercised
clemency,
Official Reports.
t hrg to call to your attention the re
ports of the various departments and
Institutions of state. • The heads of these
departments are familiar through experi
ence will: needed corrections and I com
mend t lu-iu to your careful investigation
t'untingent Fund.
There are many expenses which l>v
custom have been paid from Ihe rontiri-
gcnl fund. 1 think each department
.would pay its iiwii expenses of operation
and Hie roniinjj'elit fund hi- utilized only
in cases of , iicccBsily where provision
could not lie mitdf. In this way economy
would lie encouraged nnd the needa of
Ihe departments Ije known to Hie legis
lature. '
IF. A A. Iluil road Lea re.
Ttie committee appointed in accord
ance with a resolution adopted by you*
at ttie session of 1913, with power to In-
vesllgate and repcirf regarding the leiu-
ing of tlic Western'K Atlantic rallroafl,
will make Its recommendation. Com
posed, as il is, of'men of tin* highest
patriotism anil experience, T commend
their recommendation to your serious
consideration. It Is needless to comment
on the permanent importance of tills
question and Hie Jxtciil to which its cor
rect disposition will affect the entire
state.
Land Villen.
The national .government is interested
in the matter of rural 'credits, and legis
lation witl likely be passed providing for
loans to farmers at rules that will permit
investments In lands, with consequent ad
vantage to Hie -agricultural interests of
our state. An essential pre-requisite to
such a plan is security in land titles.
Tlic law should provide an easy and
Inexpensive method of affording rvidenet
Hint the lltels of agricultural lands are
good and uidiieuinhrred. In many cases
It is impossible to give this assurance In
Georgia toil .v. While the Torrens sys
tem may not tie iiructicalile in Georgia, I
commend tlic subject to your considera
tion, in order lluit this.state may lie pre
pared to lake advantage of such litiga
tion as may lie passed. Congress has
recently pus-t;d a law allowing loans on
land as seen i(y, and a large part of tha
expense may lie,eliminated by providing
a better sysl n| of land titles with a con
sequent reduction of. expensr to the bor
rower.
.. t'onflueioii.
I aliaII frt n lime, to time present such
ottier eoiminmieatJoris as conditions mav
require. JOl/N.M. Sl.ATON,
Governor.
Over $25,000'Given Away.
The Daily Constitution has just an
nounced a big subscription campaign in
which over $25,000 Will l-e given away.
The prizes consist of thirteen automo
biles, nine $750 self-player pianos, and
many cash awards. The contest is open
to any women'in 'Georgia or contiguous
territory. If interested, write The
Constitution, Contest 'Department, At-
anta, Ga., to-day for full particulars.
A man who is good ohiefly on the sur
face is no good.
Whenever Yop Need a General Tonic
Take Grove’s
The Old Standard Grove's Tasteless
chill Tonic js equally valuable as a
General Tonic bccause.it contains the'
well known tonic properties of QOINtNE
and IRON. It sets on the Liver, Drives
put Malaria, Ruzivhes the Blood and
Builds up the Whole System. 50 cents.