The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-10-26
The Governor,s Messaee.

bAAAo AAouts LldhNS a bIltl uub tbAAl iJlNlltll-
sive statement of the states affairs. and
suggests number Of reforms, the wisdom
of which will be very generally recog-
nized. At the outset he calls attention TO
the recent financial panic, and the present
depressed condition of business, and ar
rives at the conclusion that if such de-
preston can exist when harvests are
! bountiful there must exist conditions that
permit of the exercise of a power to bring
about hard times and prosperous
times at will These conditions, he
believes, should be discovered and
removed. He is of the opinion that
the republican doctrine of protection. so
strongly presented in the Mckinley tariff
has much to do with bringing about the
conditions from which the country is at
present suffering, and he is gratified that
the Democratic party now in power, is
so strongly committed against that
doctrine. He also finds satisfaction in
the fact that the Democratic party is
pledged to remove the 10 per cent. tax on
state bank issues
1t is with regret that the governor
calls attention to the fact that for the
first time since the civil war the assessed
value Of the property of the state shows
a falling off. Last year the property re-
! turned for taxation amounted TO S463,
! 1853 594. This year it amounts to only
about 1852 200, 900 "a decrease of nearly
| 81, 100000 The hard times have
had much to do with bringing
about this decrease. The merchants in
all narts If tho etata bav, lot 81, oi- e4c,,Ive
run down, and farmers feel that their
! farms are less valuable on account of the
low prices Of farm products. Manufac-
! tories of one kind and another have closed
| because Of the lack Of demand for their
products, and the railroads are less valu-
| able because of the decline in their earn
ing power. However, present conditions
| are not likely to continue long. Better
times are certain to come and then the
amount of the tax returns will show an
increase.
The decrease in the total assessed valua-
ton of property, however, will make a
higher tax rate necessary, or else there
will have to be cutting down in the APP
preparation for schools and other pur.
poses. 1t is to be hoped that the schools
will uot be permitted to suffer.
The state is largely dependent
upon them for her prosperity. The pres
emit state administration has been ear
nestly endeavoring to build up the public
school system, and make it an induce
ment for home seekers to settle in the
state 1t has met with much encourage
ment from the people, who would rather
submit to additional taxation than see
the public schools decline in any respect.
The governor speaks strongly against
the practice that makes the school teach
ers wait for their money. As a rule the
teachers need their money as fast as they
earn it, and as they are not paid prompt
ly, they have to borrow at a high rate of
interest or sell their warrants at heavy
discount. The legislature has been asked
TO provide a remedy for this condition of
affairs many times, but as yet it has done
nothing in that direction 1t is notice
able, however, that the members of the
legislature get what is due themselves
promptly. Are they more deserving than
the poorly paid teachers who have charge
of the intellectual training of their chill
dren2
And in view of the fact that the state
will be rather short of funds the coming
year, would it not be advisable for the
legislature to pass the appropriation
bills as quickly as possible, and enact
such other legislation as is absolutely
necessary, and ADJOURN There is very
little legislation that is necessary. and BIZ
adjourning after very short session
very large sum could be saved to the
state3
The governor again calls attention to
the need for reformatory. He
points out that 80 per cent
of the convicts are under 20 years of age.
and think that such youthful criminals
must become worse instead of better bv
being associated with old and hardened
criminals. There is no doubt he is right
These youthful offenders, when released
will return to their evil ways, and will
cost the state to convict and punish them
for the crimes they commit a great deal
more than it would to maintain a reforma-
tory. The maintenance of a reformatory
would result in a great saving to the tax
payers of the state,
Other matters touched upon by the gov
ernor are worthy of careful consideration,
and there are some things he has not
noticed that must soon engage the atten-
ton of the people. One of them IS ballot
reform. There is great need of a system
of voting that will give better satisfaction
than the present one.
-.-. Profits at the Fair.