Atlanta Georgian and news. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1907-1912, June 26, 1907, Image 3

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THE ATLANTA GEORGIAN AND NEWS. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 26, HOT. 3 GOV. TERRELL’S MESSAGE IS STRONG APPEAL FOR EDUCATION IN GEORGIA Asks Prompt Pay ment of Teachers • Salaries. MESSAGE IS READ BEFORE ASSEMBLY Equalization of Taxes Is Urged by Retiring Chief Executive. Governor Joseph M. Terrell’* retiring message was read In both branches ot the general assembly Wednesday. It marks the close of his administration and outlines the work accomplished while he was chief executive. The message In full la as follows: To the General Assembly: It Is my happy privilege. In this, my last message, to be able to congratu late you, as I have your predecessors, on the prosperity of the state and the contentment of our people. Providence has blessed us. Our laws are Just. The knowledge that person and prop- erty are secure has helped to enhance values and stimulate new enterprises. Georgia has a low tax rate, and her credit Is high. Voluntary returns of the taxpayers continue to swell the digest and make easy the gathering of funds needed for the expenses of gov ernment; nor has this led to extrava. gance, for the state departments and public Institutions, though well sup ported, have been economically admin, lstered, and the people have not been burdened with heavy taxation. The last four yeara, as shown by the voluntary returns of the cltisens, have been the most prosperous years within the state's history. Credit for this condition la due to no one man, nor to any one body of men. Our entire country In the main has been pros perous, and what has made Georgia forge ahead of other states Is attrlbut. able more largely to her splendid citi zenship than to any other cause. The fact that no legislation was enacted during the last five sessions of the general assembly that had a tendency - to retard the advance of that prosper- Ity is a record ot which your predeces. sors may feel Justly proud. In 1902 the taxable values of the state as re. turned to the comptroller general and tax receivers were 9467,310,648. and In 1906 they were 6697,661,639, an In- crease of 3160,220,893 tor the four years, or an average of over 340.000.000 per annum. The remarkable Increase was not confined to any one class of prop- erty, but to all classes, as will appear from the following figures taken from GOVERNOR JOSEPH M. TERRELL. His message to the general assembly, upon the eve of his retirement, it an appeal for the cause of the schools of Georgia. that the governor has not made the usual loan, and the treasurer has not paid the teachers quite as much as was paid last year. To have paid the teach- ers ns much as was paid them In 1906, would have necessitated the govern- or's making a loan. I thought a short delay In their payment preferable to my borrowing mrney for my successor to pay. Taxation, One of the most Important ques tions that will demand consideration nt your hands Is that of taxation, and with It goes a question which I have several times presented to the general assembly In my annual message, viz.: The equalization of tax returns. The constitution requires that all taxation shall be uniform upon the same class of subjects and ad valorem on alt property subject to be taxed Our present laws upon the subject of tax returns are substantially what they ere over a century ago, and do not .. - - i ic — . afford as ample machinery for enfolr- *tna^jiomptj*oIler.^jgeiieraL ^ )n g the ad valorem requirement of the — - «» ~ " constitution as the honest and con showing the valuation of a number of the chief Items of property: Increase in Values. Years. 1902. Lands 9124.799,018 .Manufacturing. 23,494,373 Town and city property .... 122,872,195 Horses and cattle Banking capi tal Household fur niture, etc. . Merchandise .. Railroad, tele graph and t e 1 e p hone com panics, etc. 90,832.187 sclentlous taxpayer Is entitled to re ceive from the state. In this connee- 1906. lion I wish to reptat the following from 3169,465,040 my message of June 28, 1905: "The 29,817,251 state has advanced in every other par tlcular, but In the matter of valuing the mass of property for taxation and In the machinery for Its collection we 26,102,836 37,620,245 adhere to this old law, which Is un- suited to present condutons, and unjust 15,442,458 -4,397,965 to every honest taxpayer. The gen- ......... ........ eral assembly has from time to time wisely amended ihe law so as to cow 24,104,841 33,467,540 new subjects for taxation, but left the valuation of the property a matter al most entirely In the discretion of the taxpayer. He Is the Judge and the Jury upon this great question which Is of Interest to every citizen. The fairer he Is, the more onerous his Individual burden. This authority is not vested In the citizen upon any other ques tlon affecting his purse, whether It re gards his dealing with the public, or with his fellow man. In all other cases he Is disqualified, both as Judge nnd Juror.” Agricultural 8ehools. In accordance with the provisions of the act of August 18, 1906, establishing an agricultural and Industrial school In each congressional district. I ap pointed on the 22d day of September, 1906, a board of trustees thereof in each district, and during the fall and winter months, In connection with these boards In their respective districts, lo cated all the schools and received In every Instance donations which clearly demonstrate the enthusiasm and In terest of the people In these schools. The locations and donations being as follows: First District—Statesboro. Sixty thousand dollars In cash: 300 acres of land, electric lights, water and sewer age. Second District—Near Tlfton. Sixty thousand dollsrs cash; 300 acres of land, electric lights, water and sew erage. . _ Third District—Amerlcus. Forty thousand dollars cash: 300 acres of land, water and sewerage. Fourth District—Carrollton. Thir ty thousand dollars cash; 275 acres of land, lights nnd water. Fifth District—Near Monroe. Thir ty-one thousand dollars cash; 250 acres of land, lights snd water. Sixth District—Harnesvllle. Fifty- one thousand dollars cash; 300 acres of land, lights and water. Seventh District—McLand, near Powder Springs, Cobb county. Aca demic building and boys' dormitory, according to architect's plan, twenty- eight thousand dollars; 240 acres of land. Eighth District—Madison. Forty thousand and live hundred dollars In cash; 300 acres of land, lights and wa- ""Ninth District—Near Clarkesvllle. Twenty-live thousand dollars cash; 300 acres of land. _ Tenth District—Near Sparta. For ty-seven thousand dollars cash; 250 acres of land. _ _ Eleventh District—Douglas. Forty- five thousand dollars cash; 300 acres of land, lights, water and xewerage. Aggregate 3830,000. The aggregate of the donations la about 3830.000. placing upon the lands and other property the market value. In presenting to the general assem bly the Importance of these schools and urging their establishment In my flrat annual message. November 8, 1902, I said that "The dlseussion of this mat ter In various sections of the state has convinced me that the Severn! coun ties In which these schools may he lo cated would donate sufficient lands nnd suitable buildings for that purpose.” The actual donations far exceeded 56,893,466 The largest percentage of Increase appears In railroad and banking cap ital. Tha former la due largely to the franchise tax law of December 17. 1902, and the latter to the great number of new banka established In every section of the atate. With this growth In the property In terests of the people there came a cor responding enlargement of the demands upon our public Institutions. Kotw-lth. standing these demands were fully met by Increased appropriations for main tenance and new buildings, the tax rate has been reduced from 36.30 on 1 the thousand In 1902 lo 34.80 In 1906. The returns for 1907 will not be fully completed for more than a month, but after conference with the comptroller general, who la In receipt of advices from various sections of tbs state, en abling -him to make a comparison of the returns with thoae of 1906, I feel sure that the Increase for 1907 will be fully aa much aa 340,000,000, the aver age for the last four years. Finance. On account of the act directing the transfer on April 1 of the sum ot 9400,000 from the general fund to the school fund, it has been necessary for a number of yeara for the governor to borrow money to meet the required expenditures. But for the change In the time of meeting of the general assembly this might not have been necessary In 1903, or any subsequent year. In llxlng the tax rate for 1908, the governor and comptroller general considered this usual mld-aummer de ficit In the treasury, and were desirous of Axing a rate which would produce enough revenue, when added to the other receipts, to cover this deAcIt, and thereby end the necessity of making an annual loan. We advised with the attorney general as to the probability of collecting the taxes due by the Georgia Railroad and Banking Com pany, and the Central of Georgia Rail way Company, which the United Slates supreme court had adjudged they should pay, and as to probable collection* on other pending tax cases, and concluded that there was little doubt of these taxes being collected during the past winter, or certainly during the following spring. We there fore Axed the rate at 34.80 on tha thousand, which, together with the taxes referred to, would have raised sufficient revenue for all purposes and left a surplus of about 9200,000 In the treasury. We were, however, disap pointed In not collecting these taxes as the United 8tales supreme court, upon a motion to advance the cases, would not aselgn the same for a hear ing earlier than next October. But we feel sure that these taxes will be col lected during tha next year. A full statement aa to these cases Is given In the report of the attorney general, which la herewith transmitted. The revenue produced by the rate of 34.so for 1906 leave* the treasury al dufon d ~ 'in P 1906, IC wl5l 'tbe'exceptlon «hi''prophe"^ In every district mors land was donated than the minimum acreage prescribed by the law, and cash sufficient to erect the necessary school buildings, also on© dormitory, and in several districts two dormi tories and other buildings. Each board of trustees has contracted for the necessary buildings to begin the school operations. and In every district the school will open next January nnd In one or two Instances before that time. Every school building and dor mitory contracted for will be construct ed of brick and will be of the latest and most Improved design. While the location of these schools entailed far more work upon the governor than was first contemplated, yet It was a labor of real pleasure and Joy to me, as I was made to realize to the fullest extent that the people of Georgia were aroused to the Importance of agricul tural and industrial education. The act providing for these schools Is virtually a contract between them and the state to the effect that the net fees arising from he Inspection of oils and fertilizers nnd other similar In spection fees, shall bo applied to these schools equally. Under the Appropria tion act for 1906 and 1907 about $29,- 000 of these fees are appropriated to special purposes. These provisions should be eliminated from future ap propriation acts. In addition to the foregoing. I recommend that the net fees arising from the pure food in spection law be likewise applied to these schools. Should this be done, the fund for each school will be from $7,- ooo to $8,000 per annum, which will meet the Immediate necessities as to equipment and salaries. However, should the schools open with students sufficient to fill the capacity of the academic building, other sources of In come will be necessary. High 8chools. The constitution prescribes that the general assembly may only appropriate money for educational purposes to the common schools and the University. The common schools are restricted to the elementary branches of nn English education only. The gap between these schools and the University can not be supplied except by private schools or local systems. The same reasons which support the policy of the state In main talnlng common schools and the Uni verslty exist In favor of aiding schools necessary for supplying this gap. Our present system Is, therefore, fncom plete, nnd can never be perfected until the constitution Is amended so as to authorise appropriations for high hools. uur present constitution Is not ns liberal townrd education as was the first constitution of the state, that of 777. That Instrument declared that schools shall be erected In each coun ty and supported at the general ex pense of the state.” The legislature was, therefore, free to enact such laws nnd make such appropriations looking the education of the children of the state as were deemed wise and neces sary. The constitution of 1877, fram ed Just 100 years after our first con 8titution, prohibits appropriations ex cept to a “system ot common schools the education of children In the elementary branches of an English education only.” The debates In the convention of 1877 between the advo cates of the two views upon this ques tion, discloses the fact that the argu ments advanced by those favoring the view which prevailed was not appff cable to the present conditions li Georgia. At that time the state was Just recovering from the ravages of the Civil war, and the evils of recon struction. The state was poor, and her credit somewhat Impaired on account of persistent misrepresentations of those unfriendly to her progress and prosperity. AH taxation was, there fore, grinding and burdensome, was, no doubt, the wiser plan to show to her creditors and to the taxpayers that It was the policy of Georgia, as fixed by her constitution, to be Just to them before being generous even to h*»r children. Conditions have changed. Georgia Is no longer poor; she Is not only prosperous, but her credit 1$ sec ond to none. The amendment placing a limitation upon the tax rate guaran tees to the citizen that no oppressive rate can be levied. Hence the views which dominated the convention and which were referred to In those debates by one of the ablest and most distin guished members thereof aa “contract ed notions,” should no longer fix the policy of the state upon this Import ant question. This amendment would Is urgent. Prior to 1861, rural commu nltles were considered the natural home of high sc bools, and they existed li nearly every county, and In many In stances there were several. In a county, bat now In rural communities they are very scarce. In many of them the fact that such schools once exbited Is an clent history. Private enterprise is search of an Investment promising speedier return than private schools rural communities. Public Interest local taxation Is so feeble that the most optimistic friends or education enter tain only a slight hope that the smaller or less wealthy of our rural counties will ever adopt the provisions of the form of .additional aid Is' furnished by the state. The result Is that In those counties nnd In thoafe communities local jax law, unless an Incentive In the where high schools ure most needed, none now exist, and none will likely exist until there Is a change In our system. If the general assembly should ad here to the present policy of local sys terns as the proper means to supply these high schools, then the authority to appropriate funds to aid the same would he helpful toward securing the establishment of the system In every county in the state. If the general as sembly should, as I think more advls able, provide for a general high school $ystem and place the same under. the educational department along with the common schools, or under a supervisory commission, then this proposed amend ment would be necessary. This general system should not Include the local sys tems now' of force, but give to every county, city or town the option of en terlng the same. I therefore recom mend that the general assembly submit to the people an amendment under which appropriations may be made to high schools. Educational Institutions. The Educational Conference of Busl ness Men, which convened In the senate chamber May 24, 1907, and which was composed of fifty prominent business selected by Hon. Samuel M. In man, chairman of the Georgia ‘Educa tional Business Men's Conference, from the various congressional districts of the state, marked the commencement of new era In the interest which the business men of the state will take In general educational affairs. The reso lutlons unanimously adopted by the conference after thorough discussion cover the fundamental needs of our ed ucatlonal system and make the follow ing recommendations, which I think are not only deserving the approval of business men, but of all the people, progressive states of the union, and would make her fundamental law more completely harmonize with the true sentiments nnd best Interests of the people. I will not say that no other state In the Union has a similar con stitutional embrago upon education, but after diligent search I have been un able to find one with a like provision. Need of Amendment. The necessity tor such an amendment viz.: 1. Larger funds. 2. The securing of trained and efll dent teachers, and the payment to them, regularly, of living salaries, at least. 3. Better local and state supervision. 4. Vital connection between our ele mentary schools and our higher instl tutlons. 5. Proper support of the district agrl cultural schools. The last two propositions have been heretofore discussed approvingly in this message, and the first three I wish to commend most heartily to your favor able consideration. Teachers' Safaris*. The very foundation of our system Is the common schools, hence these are deserving of, and should receive, your first consideration. Larger funds nnd living salaries to teachers are absolute essentials. Many counties acting wise ly have taken advantage of the local tax law enacted by the last general as sembly and are now giving their chll dren longer terms and the teachers better salaries, and their schools are having a much larger attendance than previously. These counties, as well as hose which have not adopted the local tax law, should receive sufficient funds from the state to operate the schools five months each year, and to enable them to pay the teachers fair salaries with the same regularity with which other officers are paid. In order to meet the Increase In school population tho first necessary step will be, com mencing with 1908, to Increase the ap propriation to the common school fund at least $100,000 annually for two or three years. This can be done without raising the tax rate, provided the tax returns of 1908 show approximately the same increase as for the last several years. The loss of the fertilizer and oil fees to the common school fund Is an additional reason for this Increased ap proprlatlon. One of the great evlli of our present svstem is the falluro of the law to pro vide for the prompt payment of the teachers’ salaries when the same have been earned and are due. Several solutions have been suggested, but as yet none has been enacted Into law. One of two things Is necessary to rem edy this evil. A surplus must be ac cumulated In the treasury for the pur pose of meeting the spring and sum mer payments, and that surplus se cured to such use by constitutional emendment forbidding its application c-.herwlse, or. the scholastic year must be changed from the calendar year so that It shall hereafter extend from September 1 to August 31. The latter plan has always appeared to me as more practicable, and more In harmony with what I consider the proper man agement of governmental affairs. Tho former, or any other plan that does not change the scholastic year, Is ob jectionable. If for no other reason, on the ground that it Is contrary to sound policy to create a surplus fund to be held perpetually. In presenting this question to your predecessors in my message ot June 27, 1908, I stated: “Such a change, after two years, would practically settle the question of pay ing the teacher.* their salaries when due. The first eight months of next 5car might be made a special scholas tic year, and have apportioned to It an equitable share of the fund set apart for 1907. f n addition to accomplish ing the desired result of enabling school officials to arrange for the prompt pay ment of salaries when due, the plan isuggested will harmonize the common school system with that of the local systems, and long-term schools and •lieges throughout the state.” 8peclsl School Year. I recommend that, the first eight months of next year be constituted a special school year, and that at least two and one-half months' schools be provided for by appropriating to the support thereof the special taxes, con vict hire and Ute Western and Atlantic rental collected prior to September 1. nnd in addition thereto such part of the property tax appropriation as may bo necessary. Any diminution in the school fund for the year commencing September 1, 1908, caused by appro priation of propeity tax for the specla! school year, should then be compen sated by appropriating thereto an equal amount of the money collected on the railroad tax cases now pending in the United States supreme court The only objection to this plan is the possibility of these collections not being made by September, 1908. This ob jection should not be deemed con trolling, In view of the fact that your body will again convene before that oute, and should the collections not be made by 'he time of your meeting suitable legislation can be enacted to meet the conditions. The plan for state and county super. Ulon of *>ur schools as proposed by the resolutions adopted by U* State Educational Association, at lta meet' ing In April, 1907, aeema to be a well- considered plan, and one that will place Georgia In line with the most pro gressive states of the Union. The principal features of this plan are: First, a professional state board of education in lieu ot the present ex- officio one, composed of state house officers; second, efficient county super, vision, and, third, a more complete and better correlated school system These are both practicable and desir able. The resolutions of the Business Men's Conference and of the Georgia Teachers* Association are attached to the report ot the state school commls Moner, which Is herewith transmitted, end I commend them and the valuable suggestions and recommendations of the coinml z* 4 ) ne\ to your earnest con sideration. The University and Branches. The university and all lta branches have enjoyed a year of remarkable growth. No better Investment has ever been made by the atate than the establishment of these institutions and no wiser policy can be pursued than ne of proper maintenance to enable them to keep pace with the advance ment and progress of tho state. After u thorough Investigation, In my mes sage of June 27, 1906, J recommended the appropriation of $100,000 to tho university to be used In buildings and equipment necessary for the State College ot Agriculture, also an appro priatton to Install a heating plant In the two dormitories then nearing com. pletlon ut the State Normal School; also an appropriation to construct a new dormitory to relieve the crowded condition ot the Girls' Normal and In dustrial College; also an appropria tion to the School of Technology to bo used in equipping the new layman Hall laboratory and in the purchase of about seven acres of land to enlarge thc campus; and also an appropriation to the North Georgia Agricultural College. The judgment of the general assembly accorded with mine, and these appropriations were made. All these buildings are now' In process of construction and most of them will be dy for use at the opening of the next term. Need Equipment. This additional equipment will not only relieve the crowded condition, but enlarge the sphere of usefulness of these great Institutions. Their growth And general expansion demands &n In creased maintenance fund. The estab lishment of the State College of Agri culture, along the lines provided for In the act ot 1908 appropriating the $ 100,- 000, will require at least $50,000 for Its maintenance. A large share of this should be met by a transfer of the Morrill fund by the trustees of the university to the School of Agriculture, thereby requiring only $15,000 from the state. This loss to the funds of the university should be supplied and the growth of this great educational Insti tution be fully met by Increasing the present maintenance fund at least $86,- ooo. The State Normal School stands in need of Improved heating plans for, and repairs to, the old buildings, nnd additional equipment for all the build ings to the extent of $15,000 and an Increased maintenance fund of $10,000 to meet the growth of the school. For the same reason $10,000 should be added to the maintenance fund of the Girls' Normal and Industrial School and $15,000 for the equipment of the new buildings. The estimated budget of expenditures of the School of Tech nology for the next year amounts to $92,300, and the Income of the school for the last year, including the $56,000 appropriation by the state, was only $76,000. This Income for the next year can only be met by an Increased main tenance fund. The deficit can be pre vented In two ways. One by reduc ing the raculty below the actual ne cessities of the school, or by an addi tion of $15,000 to the annual appro priation. Tho latter course Is the only one In keeping with the best Interests of the state. Our mountain school, the North Georgia Agricultural College, Is as a city set upon a hill. Its contin ued growth In attendance and strength attests Its usefulness, and demands for Its urgent needs an Increase of $5,000 to Its maintenance fund. The Indus trial 8chool for Negroes, established and maintained by the state at fiavon- nah, is doing an Important work and deserves liberal support at your hands for maintenance and development. After a full Investigation Into the conditions of these Institutions, and a careful consideration of their growth, and the enlargement of the faculties to meet the same. I feel that I wrfuld fall short of my duty to the state were I to fall to commend to you most ear nestly these addtlonal appropriation" They can be made without Increasing the tax rate, should the Increase in the tax returns of 1908 be one-half the av erage of the last four years, and should there be no Irtcrease. then by a levy within the constitutional limitation, College Endowments. I have frequently urged upon the general assembly the submission of a constitutional amendment to the peo pie, under which the legislature would be authorised to relieve college endow ments from taxation. Such a measure would be Just and equitable. The In stitutlons that w'ould be benefited by this amendment are doing splendid work In the upbuilding of the state, and at least deserve this modicum of recognition at your hands. Monumsnts. I beg to call your attention to the fact that In pursuance of the act of the last general assembly the monu ment erected to the memory of Geor gia's great patriot, soldier and states man. General John B. Gordon, has been completed And now stands within the shadow of the capitol. A Just and de serving tribute to him, apd an honor to the state, It was Joyously welcomed by the great heart of her people. A similar provision having been made to perpetuate the memory of Georgia’s founder, proper steps are being taken to erect a monument to James Ogle thorpe upon the scenes of his labors. Thus has been Inaugurated a policy that surely should live. Tho memory of those who devoted their lives to their country should not perish from the earth, but should live forever |n the hearts of the people for whom they labored and lived. Many are the names of her sons that are entitled to a place In Georgia’s “Hall of Fame.” They were the peers of any of those her sister states have given to our country. Their Images should live In imperishable bronze and marble, elo quently speaking the gratitude of those who come after them. Weights and Measures. The general assembly at the last ses sion appropriated $2,000 to be used in purchasing standards of weights and measures to be supplied to the new' counties and such other counties as had never received them. I purchased fifteen sets at $100 each and furnished one set to each of the new counties and to Rockdale and Coffee. The re maining four sets I have deposited with the secretary of state for distribution to such other counties a* may hereafter make proper showing to obtain them. r convention of rnp- renentfttlves from nil the state* to lie luunetl by the governor for the purpose of consider* fug the mutter of weight* am! measures. !teeming this mutter of sufflelent Impor* tnnee. I appoint*! Hon. Philip Cook. so4Te. tar)r ot state, s delegate to the couventtou, Estate The Dear Old Summertime is made tenfold more pleasant by the use of our* Climax Gas Range. It lessens the labor by one-half/ —not to speak of the superior workmanship in theses stoves which doubly insures their durability. They, Climax also has a reputation of reducing gas bills^ nearly one-half. Come and let us demonstrate a lit-* tie to you. «/-1? * y>- - ^j£ Blue Flame Many people have not the gas conveniences,, and -to i these we can offer the best blue flame oil stove in ihe J country, and we guarantee every one we selL Price j from v, $4.50 to $9.00 according to size. King Hardware Co. 53 Peachtree St 87 Whitehall St. ■ vuiuimo. .,, reromraMda tlon. to jrour lavnrslile eoMldtratlou. Trained Nur»e«. There will !>« presented to 3011 « measure providing for s .Into board for tbo examina tion of trained ntiraea. It It th# policy of our atate to have auch lioarde for aver/ pro- foaaton. Kfflrlent care of tlia sick by thoae specially trained for nurelng baa erown1 Into n profeaalon. The public, us wen aa thnee engaged In this uarful mirk who bave beou properly trained, should ho protected 11 gainst Inefficient and Incompetent persona uho offer their sorrlcrs aa trained nurses. I therefore commend Ibis measure aa wor thy of careful consideration and favorable action it your bands. Pen.lona, By reference to tho report of the penilon ciunmlMloner It will be seen th.t the .urn of I4L6M I. neces.ary to complete tba pay ment for 1907 of th. approved pension claims of file In hi. office. By far thagreater part of this amount Is due upon tha claima or Indigent soldiers who. by reason Of PO»«ty and old age. ar. entirely dependent upon Ihe generosity of a grateful ••*t''. and ln behalf of these old boroee I »«k that their claims, which I believe to be a Mbred obli gation of the atate. receive yoor Immediate atteutlou. Publlo Institutions. The public institutions of tho stats, vis: The Stats Sanitarium, the School for the l>e«f, the Academy for the Blind, th# Sob dters' Home, and tba Stats BeformstMT. are Institutions in which every cltlsen of i ieorgl* feel* a pardonable pride. New building* and substantial Improvement* have been mad# St all of them daring the the demands of a growing and prosperous state. Official Reports. You will have before yoo the following official report*: Secretary of state, comptroller-general, state treasurer, attorney-general, atate school commissioner, adjutant-general, com missioner of agriculture, atate board of h«*nlth, railroad comuilMlon, prison coramls- alon, iMMiston commissioner, geologist, libra rian, compiler of records, keeper of public buildings and ground*, roster commission, nnd such other departments aa are required by law to, submit Hiutuni reports; also the reports of the public and educational Insti tution* of the state, the report of the lnrnrd of lady visitors to the Girls' Normal and In dustrial College, the reports of the hoard of visitors to the Htate 1 nlveralty, tho Acad emy for the Illlnd, and the Hcliool for the I have carefully examined moat of these reports and And them to contain valuable In formation and recommendations W'hlch merit your attontlon. Theae reports attest the fact that the public servant* In charge of these department* and Institutions are ef ficient and faithful, nnd I trust that the recommendations contained therein will re ceive your favorable consideration. Laws Enacted. I deem It not Inappropriate In this, my laat mesaage, to express my nppreelotlon of fact that your predeecssora. In response ... recommendstlooa made in my previous messages, have enacted, among others, laws to tax the franchise of rallrond*. to limit the rate of taxation on property by consti tutional amendment, to levy a specific busi ness tax on corporation*, to provide a better system of local taxation for common schools, extending the same by constitutional amend ment to militia district*; for the relief of the supreme court In the crentlou ot the * *—*— new cc— coll V* tlon ’of $ld6.0tk) for kuhTlnga'and cqtApniei.i. and to establish nn agricultural and Indus trial high school |n each congressional dis trict of the state. In addition to the ordinary subject* of legislation which have heretofore received the attention of the general assembly, your Immediate predecessors passed a numtwr of Importnnt statutes Intended to benefit nnd safeguard the public. These acts seem to have given general satisfaction to the |»eo- pie, nnd the report* so far received Indicate that they are accomplishing the good re sults Intended without detriment to any legitimate right of persou or property. rlaa; thoae which guard the poverty of th« borrower from the extortion of the lender; those which are Intended to prevent adulter ation of food snd medicine. The law to prevent speculation lo futures promises the happiest results, both to the Individual and to tha public at large, fur this state protects the speculator against himself ant) at tho same time retains within the state thousands that once flowed Into the coffers of foreign brokers without re turning anything of value. For the confidence reposed in me by the neopio of Georgia in twice electing me to this high offlco, and for the cordial support which they have given me during the many yeara in which I hare served my native state, I am profoundly grateful. J, M. TERRELL, Governor. Your car far* will pay for a bicycle and In ssreral months you will have somethin* to show for your money. .We sen the bast grade bicycles on easy monthly payments. A2 Department, Alexander-Elyas Co, The Uncle Sam Label on a loaf of bread means full weight and full quality, BIG AUCTION GALE * OF LOTS T W. A. Footer, agent, will holikcne of th, largeat auction oolet of thufaeason Thursday, Tun, 27, at S p. DL This announcement will bo espcalally at tractive to Investment or homo-seek- er* on account of tho dostrabls loca tion of thesa Iota, which ora a subdi vision of tho C. G. Hanna property on East Fair street, Whltetord avenue and the Blue Line to Decatur and Eos-. Lake car line, being 2 1-4 miles from Atlanta'* bualness center and 15 min utes' ride on the can. One of th, attractive features of property bought at auction la that di ve reified ownership enhance* the valua of real eatate. It Is also announced that the** lots, which will be cold to the highest bid der, will be aold on eaey terms. After the sala 360 :n gold will bo distributed. Those Interested may taka th* care at the corner of South Pryor and East Alabama streets, marked Decatur or East Lake, for the Bate. J. W. Ferguson, the well-know* auctioneer, will be In charge. EXPECT BOIFFEUILLET ~ TO BE RE-ELECTED. Special to The Georgian. hfaron. Go., June 34.—Hon. John T. Botreulllet, of Macon, will no doubt be re-elected clerk ot the house ot rep resentatives when that body meets In Atlantn today. It Is understood that Mr. Bolfeulllet will have no opposition. He ha* held the place for nearly ter years. CASTOR IA For Infant* and Children The Kind You Have Always Bought Bears tho Signature of