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As Bead to Both Houses of the
General Assembly.
THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE MAKES
MANY RECOMMENDATIONS,
And Advises Reforms In Various
Hranches of State Government.
The fall message of Governor W. Y.
Atkinson, to the general assembly,
read to both houses Monday, was as
follows:
MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL. ASSEMBLY :
In obedience of official duty, it is my pleas¬
ure to communicate to you such information
aswill aid in the discharge of the important
trusts confided to you, and to make sffch sug¬
gestions and recommendations as, in my
judgment, will promote the interest, of the
stato. Fortunately for me, in tho perform¬
ance of this duty, the reisjrts from the depart¬
ments of state, made to mo in conformity to law,
aro so thorough and comprehensive that by
transmitting them to you, which I will do, I
place you iu possession of such information
that it is unnecessary for me to enter into an
extended statement covering the subjects so
ably discussed in these reports. I call your
special attention to each of those, and ask
that you give duo consideration to the recom¬
mendations of these'thouglitful, painstaking,
‘and faithful officers.
It is a source of groat gratification to my¬
self, and it must be to each of you, that you
convene at a period in tho history of our state
when wo ate enjoying the blessings of Provi
donco in fruitful harvests. I rejoice that tho
worst of tho torriblo financial panic which
has boon upon us is over, and am confident we
can look forward to an ora of prosperity.
While tho cotton crop of this year is not so
largo as wo had liopo for, tho unexpected good
price and tho largo yield of corn, poas, pota¬
toes, rico, and other food crops, places the
people of the stato^in bottro condition than
they have been for years.
COTTON STATES AND INTERNATIONAL
EXPOSITION.
Tho offort of somo of tho public-spirited
and enterprising citizens of this stato to hold
this year a groat International exposition,
which was/it first regarded as an audacious un¬
dertaking, has lieen brought to n happy termi¬
nation. In its arrangement, variety, and pro¬
portions it excels any exhibition of tho re¬
sources and achievement of tho American
people (with tho exception of the World’s
Fair at Chicago) which has over been made,
aud will bring to Georgia visitors from every
quarter of tho globe, whoso impressions of
our pooplo, our civilization, our rosorcos,
and out inviting fields for investment will id
tho near fiitmo greatly advance oor growth
in industries, population and wealth.
STATE EXHIBIT.
Realising tho importance of this great
event, at your last sossion you mads an ap¬
propriation which you di roc tod to bn used for
the purpose of making an exhibit of Georgia’s
resources at tho Cotton States and Intornn
ional Exposition. Tho duty of expending
this money and making the proposed exhibit
was imposed by you upon Hon. R. U. Harde¬
man, state treasurer; Hon. J. M. Terrell,
attorney-general; Hon. G. K. Glenn, state
school commissioner; Hon. W. A. Wright,
Comptroller-general; Hon. R. T. Nesbitt,
conuniseionei of agriculture, and upon my¬
self. The board solectod Hon. W. S. Yeates,
state geologist; Hon. Goorgo F. Pnyno, state
chemist, and Hon. Robert J. Quinn, assis¬
tant school commissioner, ns honorary mem¬
bers, each of whom has rondorod us valuable
aid without compensation. Mr. George W.
Kelly was eJoctod as assistant to the commis¬
sioner of agrilcnlture, who was tho executive
officer of tho board, and Mr. E, M. Durant was
elected ns socret.nry. With this forcowe under¬
took to do the work entrusted to us, and feel
a just pride in the magnificent exhibit, made
by tho stato. At an early period in our work
we became convinced that tho sum appropriat¬
ed by tho state would not enable us to make
so comploto an exhibit of all the resources of
the stato as wo felt it was tho duty of the
state to make on such an occasion. Fortunately
some of the public-spirited and patriotic cit
izeua of the state, who aro interested in manu¬
facturing, same to our aid. AVith their ap¬
proval amd co-operation a convention of the
maunfacturors of Georgia was called to meot
in the hail of the house of representatives.
Tho convention was largely attendod, and as
one of the results thereof money was raised,
and a special building erected at the expense
of the manufacturers themselves, in which
you will find the exhibit of tho Georgia man
nfact.urm*. The variety, character, and ex
tont of this oxhioit must inspire the pride of
evoiy Georgian, and when taken in connection
with the exhibit made by tho stato board,
places Georgia before tho world in a most en¬
viable light. Those who come from abroad to
visit this great exposition, and views Geor¬
gia’s resources bb exhibited in the state
building and In tho Georgia Mannfaturcrs’
building, will leave us with a higher esti¬
mate of the resources and capabilities of our
state and the character and achievements of
onr people. Tlie influence of the exposition
and of tbo state's exhibit will be of incal¬
culable value in directing to Georgia a vast
amount of capital which tho revival of busi¬
ness will causo to seek safe and profitable in¬
vestment.
COMPTROLLER-GENERAL'S (REPORT.
The toport of the comptroller-General pre¬
sents a number of interesting facts. I call
your special attention to two tabulated
statements auanged by him, the one showing
the value of tire different, classes of property
in 1879 and in 1895, and the other tho value of
the taxable property of our colored population
during each of the years within that period:
1879. 1895.
Otty and town real es¬
tate-.......— •—............ $49,007,286 $116,311,095
Agricultural lands ------- 90,493,822 120,872,615
Llvo stock............ 21,017,6S4 21,174,682
Farm implements 2,971,372 4,754,651
Household furniture..— 9,156,404 15,165,146
Merchandise------------- 12,012,755 31,056,175
Mtoney, etc ................ 25,513,005 17,419,116
Cotton factories——— 1,640,000 9,684,286
Iron works, etc. 295,640 968,333
Bank capital............. 4,667,567 18,098,686
Railroad property. 9,866,129 39,952,572
STATEMENT OF PROPERTY RETURNED
BY COLORED TAXPAYERS FROM
1879 TO 1895.
1819 $ 6,182,39?
1880 . 5,764,29?
1881 . 6,478,951
1882 . . 6,589,876
IRS3 . 7,582,396
1884 . 8,021,528
I88» » i:'l . 9,163,390
1886 ....... 8,655,29?
1887 ....... 8,936,479
1888 ...... ....... 9,631,271
1889 ....... ID, 415,3710
1890 ....... 12,322,003
1891 .. ....... 14,196,735
1892 .. ....... 14,869,575
1893 ....... 14,960,675
1894 ....... 14,387,730
1805 ....... 12,941,230
The tax returns for the present year show a
loss of nineteen million dollars of valuation
as compared with the returns for the previous
year. While this is to bn regretted it is scaice
ly to lie wondered at when we consider tho
depressing effect of tho panic upon business
and property values everywhere.
THE NEED OF A NEW ASSESSMENT LAW.
In reference to the value of property as
shown by the comptroller general’s report
gathered from tax returns, it is my duty to
say to you that it does not approximate the
real or market value of the property of the
citizens of the state subject to taxation. Un¬
der the present system of making tax returns,
outside of where the returns are affected by
local assessment, systems of towns and cities,
each man is his own tax assessor and places
u[X)n his property such value as he sees fit,
even himself in many instances confessing
that tho amount at which it has been returned
by him for taxes bears no approximate rela¬
tion to tlie real value of tho property. While
the legislature nominally fixes the tax rate
for tho state to be collected from her citizens,
each citizen lias the power to fix his own tax
rate, and many of them do fix it at an unjust¬
ly low rate by placing a value upon their
property far below its value and on a scale
much lower than that by which the property
of their neighbors are valued. The man who
pays taxes upon property unfairly valued at
$500 while on property of the same value his
neighbor pays on $1,000 islowering his owntax
rate one half, depriving the state of its just
revenue and placing an unjust burden upon
his nonest neighbor who values his property
correctly.
I most earnestly recommend that some plan
he devised by which tlie state can arrive at
somotliing I iko a just valuation of the proper¬
ty of its citizens subject to taxation and pro¬
tect the man who honestly returns his taxes
against impositions from those who return
their property at an improper valuation, It
is well to bear in mind that any plan which
you may adopt, will when put in practical
operation prove imperfect, but as the defects
appeur it will be the duty of your successors
to correct them and continue to perfect the
law. Certain it is that no system which can
bo adopted can be open to greater abuses or
more flagrant injustices than tho law under
which our property is now returned for taxes.
A proper plan for assessment of property for
taxation will not only equalize values but
placo upon the tax books a vast amount of
personal effects which now escape taxation.
In connection with this recommendation I de¬
sire to suggost that you authorize the comp¬
troller-general to prescribe and furnish to the
tax collectors and tax receivers of this state
such books as in his judgment should be kept
by them and to prescribe rules directing how
those books shall be kept. This will enable
him to require tho business of the state con¬
ducted by each of those officers to be conduct¬
ed in a systematic and businoss-liko manner
and will result in a large saving to the state.
TREASURER’S REPORT.
Tho report of tho ttato treasurer will give
you ample information as to the conditions of
our finances. By reference to this report it
will bo seen that under tho law enacted by
your honorable body at its session in 1894 pro¬
viding for tho quarterly payment of teachers
that the treasury will have a severe strain to
bear. The payment soon to bo made will re¬
quire tho treasurer to 8dvanco to tho school
fund about four hundred thousand dollars. I
respectfully suggest that your finance com¬
mittee make close inquiry into the effect of
this groat draft upon the treasury and that
such legislation as may ho needed for its re¬
lief if any bo enacted.
STATE DEPOSITIONS.
Soon after coming into offico I undertook
in conformity with the acts of 1878 to make
an arrangement with the various depositories
providing for the payment of interest upon the
public funds entrusted to them. As a result of
this effort I consummated contracts with all
of tho banks but two, which two resigned
rather than pay interest, which contracts pro¬
vided for the payment,of interest at. tho rate
of two per cent on daily balances from March
1, 1895, to March 1, 1896, to ho paid semi-an¬
nually. I am informed by the state treasurer
that the amount of interest due the state for
the six months, ending September 1, will ap¬
proximate eight thousand dollars. It must
be borne in mind in this connection that the
provisions for quarterly payment of teachers,
which is a wise and proper one, has largely re¬
duced the state’s deposits in its various de¬
positories, aud for that reason tho income
from this source can bo nothing like so large
as it would otherwise have been. It is grati¬
fying, ho wove r, to know, notwithstanding this
large decrease of deposit, that within the first
six months I have been ablo to make for the
state tho sum of oight thousand dollars from
this unexpected source. I respectfully suggest
that the law providing for state depositories
be so amended as to remove all doubt that
may exist in tho mind of any one as to the
power of the governor to appoint a successor
when he is unable to agree with them upon
the rate of interest to bo paid upon the state’s
deposits.
SALE OF 3 1-2 PER CENT BONDS AT A
PREMIUM.
Under the provisions of the act approved De¬
cember 18, 1894, 499 five hundred dollar bonds
on the Northeastern railroad indorsed by the
state were deposited with the treasurer to be
exchanged at par for the new three and one
half per (tent bonds to bo issued under said
act. Fortunately, however, for the state, these
new three and one half per cent bonds were,
when offered for sale, sold to the Columbus
Savings bank at a premium of 11-100 per cent
for each five hundred dollar bond. To have
sold a bond bearing three and one half per
cent interest at a premium during such a
financial stringency, is an event in our his¬
tory of which all Georgians may wel l be proud,
and speaks volumes for the high standing of
our state in the commercial WOT Id. The sale
aif these bonds enabled me to discharge our
obligation on tho Northeastern railroad bonds
which had one year to run and weTe bearing
interest, at 7 per cent. ;ht annum. The saving
to the state in tho difference between 7 and
;j j.v per cent, for tho period that those 7 per
cent bonds were to run wits tlie sum of $8,155.
PROCEEDS OF SALE OF BONDS.
From the following statement of the stato
treasurer you will see what disposition was
made of the proceeds of these bonds:
R, U.HARDEMAN, TR..IN ACCOUNT WITH
PROCEEDS ARISING FROM SALE 3 1-2
PER CENT BONDS.
DR.
To amount received from sale 3 1-2
per cent bonds $287,063 80
To amount received 3 1-2 per cent
bonds not issued in my hands ...... 3,000 66
To amount received from R. K.
Reaves, reciever Northeastern rail¬
road................................... 2.SOOOO
$292,863 46
CR.
By amount paid holders ol bonds and
ooupons $281,374 SO
By amount paid proclamations tor
t sale railroad snd bond transaction 2,346*29
By amount paid engraving, printing
and express charges................. 827 46
Bonds in my hands not issued and
premium............................. 3,000 63
Balance on hand...................... 5,315 55
$292,884 48
This balance is now on deposit with
the Merchants bank of this city,
a state depository, to meet the out¬
standing bonds of the Northeastern
railroad, all of said bonds having
been paid by me, with the excep¬
tion of eleven (11) five hundred
dollar ($500) bonds and coupons
which will make outstanding bonds
and coupons.........................$ hand 6,077 5,315 50 55
And as abovo stated, I have on
Leaving a balance of...............$* 181 55
Which amount we can get from the receiver
of the road, or by the issuance of one of the
bonds now in my hands, as your excellency
may determine.
It, is proper for me to call your attention to
the condition of some of the past due coupons
on the bonds of the Northeastern railroad
which I have not seen proper to advtse the
treasurer to pay, and suggest that you decide
the course to be pursued in reference thereto.
Coupons attached to these bonds, amounting
to the sum of eleven hundred dollars, which
wore past due at the time the state was noti
fled of the default of the road on payment of
interest have not been paid.
These bonds indorsed by the state contained
the provision that whenever there should be a
default on the part of the road and notice of
such default given the state, that the gover
nor should seize the road and operate it so as
to protect tho state as surety on these bonds.
Had the stato been notified of this road at the
time these coupons matured it could have at
once seized the road and operated it from that
period. Its failure to seize and optrate it
from that time, securo an income therefrom
and protect itself from further loss on matur¬
ing coupons was duo to no fault of its own,
hut the fault of the holder of tho bonds, de¬
clining to give the state notice of the default
of tho road. Under these condition I have
thought proper to refer tho matter to yon,
that it might bo disposed of as you thought
j ust . NORTHEASTERN RAIL¬
CONDITION OF
ROAD.
Since coming into office I have found if
necossary to go to considerable expense In
putting tho Northeastern railroad in good
condition. Among other extraordinary ex¬
penditures incurred was in the purchase of an
engine, for whch we paid four thousand
dollars. Wo were paying fifteen hundred dol¬
lars per year as rental for an engine, and
under the contract were required to keep the
same in repair at our own expense. This
policy I did not deem wise to continue and
therefore made the purchase as above stated.
SALE OF THE NORTHEASTERN KAIL
, ROAD.
As provided by law, and adivsed by act of
1894, after advertising same according to law,
that part of tho Northeastern Railroad lying
between Athens and its junction with the
Southern Railroad was exposed to sale in the
city of Athens on tlic 16tli of April, 1895, and
bought in by me for tho state of Georgia for
the sum of one hundred thousand dollars,
this being tho only bid made. Tho deed to
the property has been made to tho state aud
properly recorded. I submit herewith a state¬
ment showing the running expenses and ex¬
penditures of tho road from date of seizure by
the state to date of sale, and from date of
sale to September 1st:
Statement of earnings and expenses of the
Northeastern Railroad of Georgia from Novem¬
ber 20, 1893, to April 10,1895, inclusive:
liiisii m- So A £ 7* ^ *
ce co od oo cr m
CO ,_i CO CO <*; -* ^ — CO 00 CO C® »-* 'O CO CO CO
r-iiii-iii n mm
s $ -
oc L 2,354 so
l S3
s Cn *4 OKD O! O C<i M ^ O U A 1- £88 &
co OS CO CO H* -I to M M 00 H* © tx> Oi 13 Ol OS VL 11 CD
•^•dOOCCOtH w to h3 Os e- 00 -I h- CS
0- 4.169 3,728 s 3.597
—* CO CO « 03 4* H* 4S* OC O 86 nr CO CO
CO Ox tO O *» 8 Id ■
£ MClOOJCi 62 02 6 r.r, OO 59 04 Ol T.
CO OO CO CS CP 5 4a O OO p
I -da
Oi 2.436 2,024 r
: 2 749 670 380 2S9 392 180 237 oo
I 04
cs
to 29 89 12 OS 39 80 10 29 86 74 of
CO *
: : : j j • j | j j j j i j i i V Deficit.
Ol § 665 !!l!!!!ll!!m!li
12
Statement of earnings and expenses of the
Northeastern Railroad of Georgia, from April
17,1895, to September 30,1895, inclusive.
Earn- Ex- Net De
Inga. > peases. Earnings fleit.
April, 1859 $1,304 91 $1,549 61 $ $244 60 64
May, 1895 3,269 74 3,281 38 21
June, 1895 3,147 74 3,079 22 68 52
July, 1895 3,420 98 2,974 31 446 67
Aug., 1895 3,860 93 3,263 98 602 95
$15,010 30 $14,158 4oi$1,118 14l$266 24
After purchase of the road I placed in
charge Hon. R. K. Reaves, who has been
operating tho road since the purchase as agent
of the state. There is no doubt that the road
will earn a very large dividend on the pur¬
chase price paid therefor by me, and will
yield a sufficient income to pay the interest
on tho. entire series of bonds which the state
issued to take up the old bounds of the North¬
eastern Railroad endorsed by it.
FUTURE DISPOSITION OF THE NORTH¬
EASTERN RAILROAD.
I desire to call your attention to this prop¬
erty. and submit to your consideration the
question of its future operation or disposi¬
tion. If iu your judgment, it is wise to soil
or lease this property, it will be necessaiy for
you to enact the provisions under which you
desire the sale or lease contract to be made.
BLUE RIDGE AND ATLANTIC RAILROAD.
This road reaches from Cornelia, on the
Southern Railroad, to Tallulah Falls, and
was originally a part of the Northeastern
Railway property. Glowing out of this fact
is the claim of the stato thereon to secure the
payment of the bonds indorsed by the state
on tlie Northeastern railroad property. This
claim, it is understood, will bo contested
by those who at present claim tho Blue Ridge
and Atlantic railroad. The road is now in
the hands of a receiver appointed by the
United States court. It has been reported to
me that one half of it has been abandoned and
is not now being operated. It has been, and
is now,a mooted question as to whether ornot
an effort to enforce the claim of the state will
result in expense or benefit to the state. I re¬
spectfully suggest that a committee of the
best business men in your body make an ex¬
amination of this propoity, consider its con¬
nections and surroundings, and give directions
whether or not the state shall proceed to en¬
force its claim thereon.
THE WESTERN AND ATLANTiC COMMIS¬
SION.
In pursuance of an act passed by the general
assembly in 1894, providing for a method of
settling controversies between the state and
other parties over property connected with the
Western and Atlantic railroad, I appointed at
commissioners to pasd upon and determine
such questions ns might be submitted to them
under the terms of tho act. Eon. John L.
Hopkins, of Fulton county; Hon. T. H. Jones,
of Whitfield, and Hon. H. W. Hill, of Meri¬
wether. There was submitted to them foj
adjustment a controversy over somo railwa.i
property lying between Whitehall and For¬
syth streets, in the city of Atlanta. The
value of this property was very great, and the
case was a long and tedious onp, and hotly
contested on both sides. After hearing evi¬
dence and argument the court decided the is¬
sues involved in favor of the state. The evi¬
dence is so voluminous that 1 have not deemed
it advisable to go to the expense of printing
it. The finding of the commission I have or¬
dered printed,and it will in a short time be
placed before you. I have agreed, as author¬
ized by law, to pay each of these
commissioners the sum of six hundred
(600$ dollars, subject to your approval. I re¬
spectfully ask that your body make provision
for th9 payment of this sum, and for other
expenses incurred by the commission to the
amount of three hundred and fifty dollars and
fifty cents.
PENSIONS.
I herewith submit to you a statement show¬
ing the amount of pensi ons paid to Confederate
soldiers for each of the last three years. It
will be seen, notwithstanding a number ol:
deaths, that there has been an increase in this
sum due to the fact that as they grow older
their wounds and afflictions increase their
disabilities and make it necessary for them
to call upon the state for assistance:
Maimed Soldiers. Number. Amount.
Year ending 26th Oct., 1893—3,222 $185,000 00
Year ending 28th Oct., 1894—..3,235 185,000 00
Year ending 26th Oct., 1S95....3,369 190,000 00
The following table will show tho amounts
received by widows for each of tho three
years, during which they have received .sixty
dollars per annum:
Widows. Number. Amount.
Year ending 1.5th Feb., 1893..... 4,008 $ 244,080 00
Year ending 15th Feb., 1894—3,997 239,820 00
Year ending 15th Feb., 1895....3,929 235,740 00
The decrease in the amount paid as pensions
to the widows of Confederate soldiers has
been about five thousand dollars per year.
PENSIONS UNDER ACT <3f 1894.''
Under the act of the general assembly pro¬
viding for the payment of pensions to indi¬
gent soldiers, the number of applicants ap¬
proved to date aro 1,768, and new appli¬
cations continue to arrive. To pay tho claims
already approved would require $106,080. The
appropriation made for the payment of this
class of soldiers was only thirty thousand
dollars. Following the precedent established
heretofore in cases where the appropriations
fell far short of the demands for pensions, it
was deemed wise not to pay out this thirty
thousand dollars, and for that reason nothing
has beau paid under this act. I submit to you
these figures and leave to your wisdom to de¬
termine what shall bo done. It is probable
that it will take $125,000 to meet tho require¬
ments of this act. I cannot forbear saying
that, tho motives which prompted the passage
of this act was generous, noble and worthy
the great state of which you are accredited
representatives. There is no class of our
fellow citizens, no class of our pensioners,
who are more deserving of the state’s bounty
than those who are entitled to pensions under
the provisions of this act, and I most earn¬
estly recommend that you make provisions for
the payment of this class of pensioners.
TRANSFER OF PENSIONS TO OFFICE OF
ADJUTANT-GENERAL.
The work of the pension department has
grown to such an extent that it has become a
great burden upon the limited clerical force
In tho executive department. It has been
mentioned by my predecessors, and by one ol
them the recommendation was made that the
executive department be released of this bur¬
den. As the constitution limits the clerical
expenses there we cannot for the purpose of
doing this work increase the appropriation
for the executive office. I therefore recom¬
mend that you authorize tho transfer of the
entire work of the pension department to the
office of the adjutant-general, and that you
provide a clerk for that department. At the
time the constitution limited tho amount of
expenditures in the executive department
tho state granted no pensions. The num¬
ber of pensioners under all existing laws
will be neat to ten thousand and will re¬
quire an enormous amount of labor. To
consider carefully every application, guard
against imposition, and to do justice to
every worthy petitioner is a delicate and ar¬
duous task which should not bo done hastily
or carelessly.
PENITENTIARY.
Tho report of the principal keeper of tiro
penitentiary will give you all necessary in¬
formation in reference to that important and
growing department.- It is gratifying to
know, however, that during the last twelve
months tho increase in the number of con¬
victs has been smaller than the year previ¬
ous, and, with few exceptions, smaller than
any year sinco the lease act went into effect.
Tho greatest trouble with tho lessees during
tho year just past has grown out of what is
known as “trusties” in the convict service.
From my knowledge of these camps aud the
way the are conducted, I am satisfied that it
is wise to permit this to somo extent under
strict iules and limitations, but as to wheth¬
er or not this practice of making trusties of
some convicts is being abused is now a grave
question. I have instructed the piincipal
keeper and his assistant to make diligent in
quiiy into this custom, its use and abuse,
and ieport to me with such recommendations
as may in their judgrqent be wise.
The principal physician of the penitentiary
reports that, in his opinion, two of the
camps now being operated in South Georgia
may piove disastrous to the health of con¬
victs which are required to labor therein. As
both these are comparatively new camps, we
have not as yet sufficient opportunity to thor¬
oughly determine this question to my satis¬
faction. I will have these camps closely
cared for and take prompt action if the con¬
ditions should at any time demand it.
ENFORCEMENT OF LAWS.
The enforcement of the criminal lavs of
this state has been carried on fox the last
twelve months with gratifying results. On
several occasions it has been found necessary
to call out the militia. It affords me pleas¬
ure to say that in each instance the troops
have borne themselves in a commendable and
soldierly manner, and for their prompt and
efficient services rendered on these occasions
they are entitled to the thanks of tho com¬
monwealth.
LYNCHING.
Since the day of my inauguration there
have been five persons lynched in this state.
In each instanco the party lynched was
charged with the same offense. No one has been
lynched during my administration except for
the crime of rape. I have vainly endeavored,
by an appeal to the civil authorities and by
offering rewards for the lynchers, to bring to
trial some of these violators of the law; but
neither an appeal to the courts nor the offer¬
ing of rewards have had the desired effect.
The courts have been unable to secure proof,
and without this they axe powerless to en¬
force the law. Our people are peculiarly
situated. No civilized people on earth other
than Southern states are surrounded as we are.
Our country in m any sections is thinly set¬
tled, and fully one-third of our population
is composed of those who up to a few years
ago were slaves, a large percentage of whom
lack moral training and have not the proper
respect for law or the rights of others. Jtu
- si
that sometimes, when these cnuZ."’*®
women do occur, people—who Ceel ti Upoa
safety ishment, of our find women their thdi depend upon prom mV*' vm <•
hie and inflict gnat in DEtr "3 , '
penalties authoritVaC^f which a
imposed by lawful
a court of justice. This is wrong g ?
flees the good name of our state in the'
toe civilized world, the ;.'.- p .ves of
good '
which should be desired Tht ou *
by violating by all
the law, create a
lessness and directly increase th*. „. : ? !r ‘
which they seek to ^ rv .'I 1 * 9
stances tho parties lynched suppress, in f
been in this S j a . (1 irave
taken from the hands of officer
most brutally, cruelly, and itthinatmlv and
c-d. Such conduct cannot be top b-.-at
deemed. In opinion it. s;-ve r ,.] !' euu.
my will be wi for
the general assembly to enact a l :;v .
ing that wherever a person is falcon JiFOYlfi.
bands of officers and maltreated from ri
that the governor be authorized or murdevY
from office the from whoso to rpm' '
man cwodv h
was iljy of t aken t.li8 deceased that the shall admin liavo istrator tlio or'the
cover from the county '.he full right tv re¬
Hfe. The state has value pen&ftj , .
officers take no right to
to charge of a man, render hi
powerless to protect himself, and while (
this helpless condition in tho custody of ti
state to be taken by an armed mob and 8
treated murdered. In all instant m i
or such
their legal representatives should ha W
dress in the courts, with right ve re
adjoining to sue in
county the one whore the
was empowered, committed, in his and discretion, tho governor removal should^
to ove tho
officer.
Such provisions would make more active
our law-abiding citizens in suppressing l aw
lessness and encouraging all of our peonin t"
resort to the courts for the punishment of
crime, even where the offense charged is th
most brutal, the most dastardly and the most
heinous. In each of tho instances mentioned
the party lynched has been a negro. Wh ** t
excuse can be given for this conduct when
race has control o the legislature our
the courts, furnishing both and .J of I
the jurors? No the j nd
and white man should
insist upon the infliction of punishment in
where he is unwilling to a
case entrust to the
most intelligent and upright of his
If a fair trial cannot be had before these ia
a court of justice, how can one be justly an 4
fairly had by a raving mob?
REFORMATION IN CRIMINAL LAWS
I commend your action in promptly taking I
up at your previous session the matter of ret- !
ormation rectly informed of our criminal bill laws. If I am cor . j
a covering this subject _1
has already passed the lower house. I rec
ommend that action be taken upon this meas- I
ure at the earliest practicable moment in or- I
der that such changes in the criminal laws I
as may be made be emobdied in the codifica*
tion of our laws which is soon to be pub¬
lished.
DIRECT TAXES.
Herewith I furnish you statement of direct!
tax refunded by the federal govomment to the I
state of Georgia, to be disbursed to such of
her citizens as were entitled to it under the I
provisions of the act of congress:
Total amout received by state........$83,031 03
Balance in treasury October 18,1895.. 19,031 0$
Amount paid out during my admin¬
istration, 694 27 j
GEORGIA EXPERIMENT STATION.
The expenses of the meeting of the board of
directors of the Georgia Experiment Station
are now paid by the state. As this institu¬
tion receives from the federal govrenment fif¬
teen thousand dollars annually, and the erected! state!
has already furnished the farm and
its buildings, it is entirely proper that the
expenses of the meetings of this board be
paid out of the funds at their
command. If the fund received from tho fed- 1
eral government cannot be used for this pur¬
pose—and I see no reason why it should not be
—it should be paid from the products of the
farm. The sum paid annually to this board of
directors, covering their expenses, amounts to
about eight hundred dollars—a sum worth,
saving to the state.
VIOLATION OF TREATY WITH SWEDEN
AND NORWAY.
I transmit herewith letters with accompany¬
ing documents from the secretary of state of
the United States requesting that Georgia
make indemnity for the violation at Bruns¬
wick of the treaty of tho United States with
Sweden and Norway. I called upon the honor¬
able secretary of state to furnish me with
some precedent where states had been called
upon and paid the indemnity in such cases.
He has, however, failed to furnish me with
this information. The relation of our people
with foreign governments is regulated hj in¬
ternational law and treaties entered into by
the United States. For a violation of these
laws and obligations the United States is ie»
sponsible to the foreign governments, and un¬
less the secretary can furnish some authority
to justify the demand that the state of Geor¬
gia pay in this case, this amount, I «annot
advise its payment. I, however, furnish jotfl
with the documents giving ali the informa¬
tion at my command, knowing that after mak-l
ing thorough investigation that you will iisd
pose of it as is just and wise. If, is • ,CI, J
judgment, gia this, it is proper requested that the state to make of ^'J 1<1
pay you aro
needed appropriation.
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS. I
Tho educational institutions of Georgia
though not perfeet, show such progress as to
furnish cause for just pride. The convention
of the county school commissioners held i*
the hall of the house of representatives bu
few days since furnishes high evidence o
thB improvement of our schools and the pwl
gress being made by the various counties n$
securing It efficient intelligent county school body of conunissionj earnest p ieB '|
ers. was an tbtfij
who impressed all who looked upon
not only Georgians but strangers, that tj
common schools are in the control of CCID ”J
tent men. The progress in this rospect * j
cheering and means much. ThecommoDse *1
fund for this year is as follows: I
SCHOOL FUND FOR THE YEAR Amount. |
LiqnTrtox Sources
................I 1,500
Show tax... 2,046
Dividends, Georgia railroad stock 15,000
Hire of convicts............... 17,5®
Fees oil inspectors..................
One half rental "Western and At¬ 210,006
»
lantic railroad............. 600,000 «
Direct appropriation........ 208,000*
Foil tax......................
Aggregate. .............$ 1,156,052
Add to this $500,000, the total amount
by local taxation in various coun .
cities, and we have as the total amoun
by taxation in the state for education
poses $1,656,052.00. This great inters ,
its your careful attention an
stantial aid. While heartily favoring ^
tinned increase in the aid of the sta
common schools, I recommend that . ^
such steps as will encourage c° n jj
localities tc co-operate with toe
seeking to uphold the common sch° 0 -• s!
.is no better work in which you ® an &
legislators. If we can secure the * ^
operation of the citizens of j®'
duce them by local taxation r°‘ cr ‘
.pose npon themselves by the P e ° p
[locality to oo-operate with the fta
(
US in COTunletto- »nd narlee ir