The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-10-25
Coy. Northen,s nessaRs.

! We publish this morning-the last mes
sage on state matters, probably, which
the legislature will ever receive from him
lis plain and clear statement OF matters
/ pertaining to state affairs, together with
such recommendation as the governor
thinks would be beneficial to the people
/ if embodied in the laws It is but fair
/ to say that Gov. Northen's administration
| has been a very satisfactory one, and
/ that he will leave the high Office which he
| has held for two terms having the
I good will and respect of the people
/ His efforts have been in the direction of
/ better schools. purer politics and the hui
name treatment of convicts. He has
endeavored to draw immigrants and cap
ital to the state, and he has discharged
his duties with absolute impartiality and
without favor TO class or race. II the
recommendations in his various mes
sages had received more consideration
the state would now be occupying a
better position in respect to several very
important matters.
The message we publish to-day con-
tains important and gratifying state
ments relative to the affairs of the two
railroads in which the state is directly
interested. The rental of the Western
and Atlantic road. which the state owns,
has been promptly paid, and the roads
physical condition is reported to be ex-
celient The Northeastern road, for
whose bonds the state is liable as an in
dorser, and of which the state has had
to take control. is earning the interest
on the bonds. 1t is likely, therefore,
that the road can be sold for the amount
of the Endorsed bonds, thus saving the
state from loss.
The message deals at considerable
length with county chain gangs. The
governor is satisfied, from reports he
has received. that in a great many coun-
ties the chain gang convicts are treated
inhumanly. They are leased to contract
ors whose chief purpose is to get all the
work possible out of them without re-
gard to their physical condition. In
speaking of this subject the governor
says: THE state cannot longer endure
or tolerate the shameful abuse of its
prisoners and maintain its high standard
of civilization"
Naturally the governor refers to the ne
cessity for a reformatory for youthful
criminals in the penitentiary, and to the
advisability of complete separation of the
male and female convicts. on these mat
ters he has spoken often, and it would
seem as If the time had come for the leg
islature to give them the attention they
deserve. They are certainly of more i'm
portance than many of the matters upon
which time is wasted at every session.
Much progress has been made in recent
years in respect to more liberal appropri-
ations for educational purposes. The
governor thinks that more should be
done for the public schools and for the
higher educational institutions. We
agree with him that too much cannot be
done for the public schools, and we would
like to see the institutions for higher ed
ucation more generally provided for, but
we object to any dwarfng of the pub
lie school system in order to build up col
leges and special schools. The states
first duty is to the public schools. When
they have been raised to a higher stand
ard it will be time enough to appropr-
ate public money for higher education.
A matter of very great Importance to
which the governor directs attention is
that of election frauds. The purity of the
ballot must be preserved. Laws should be
enacted that would insure absolutely
fair elections. There is much confusion
now throughout the state in respect to
the registration laws and at every election
in various parts of the state, charges OF
fraud are made. There is great need for
additional safeguards to the ballot box.
The laws relating to registration and cleo
lions should be the same in every county,
and should be so just that every voter
would be satisfied that his ballot would
be counted for the ticket for which it was
cast
The governor thinks that appropriat ions
should be made to enable the state to
make a creditable display of her products
at the exposition to be held at Atlanta
next year, and he is right. Georgia cam
not afford to have other states surpass
her in their exhibits at an exposition
held within her borders. She could make
a display that would do her vast amount
of good and the legislature will make a
mistake If it does not provide the means
to enable her to do it.
Gov Northen's message will be read
with great deal of interest, not only be-
cause it is his last one, but also because
it contains much that the people of the
/ state ought to think about.
! Advices from Atlanta are TO the effect
| that Harry Hill will "cut" Atlanta society
| when he gets back from his outing under
the states auspices. He says society"
! has done him great deal of harm, and
/ he means to get even with 1t as far as pos
| sible. Lord" Beresford and Hill are said
! to have grown quite chummy since they
have been thrown so much into each
/ others company. Each wears collars and
| cuffs made out OF the striped cloth and
starched as stiff as a dudes linen, and Hill
sports an umbrella at the camp. Atlanta