The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-10-26

the danger Of lynch law and the fairness
and imDartiality of our courts and 1uries
While have felt II my duty 10 can into
requisiti0n portions OF the military OF the
state to aid the civil authorities in pro-
tecting life and property, and in enfore-
ing the law more frequently than has been
necessary in the past, I have resorted to
this extreme measure only when circum-
stances imperatively demanded 1t, and
have of en- refused when called upon by
sheriffs and other officers for military aid,
to comply with their urgent requests, be-
cause the sheriffs are the conservators OF
the peace in their respective counties
clothed with ample power by the law 10
summon every able-bodied man In their
counties to aid them in preserving the
peace and uphold.ng the law. 1t is graft
flying to be able to say the sherffs in most
OF the counties in which dis turbances have
occurred have performed their duties faith
fully, but there are few exceptions to
this rule, and a few instances in which
these officers have made no sufficient ef-
fort 10 do their duty through the posse
provided by law and there is one instance
in which the military when they reached
the scene of disturbance found the JAN
with the prisoners in it, in the actual pos
session of the negro mob, the sheriff hav-
ing surrendered it TO them.
OmciaI Reports.
The reports of the heads of the several
departments of the state government here
with submitted aJe so full, so clear and so
complete, that 1t is unnecessary for me to
do more than to call attention 10 them.
That of the Commissioner of Pensions is,
while brief, of special interest as well TO
the taxpayers as to the the pensioners. 1t
is the most complete report of this depart
ment ever published, giving correct and
clear insight into the operations of this
important and rapidly growing branch of
the executive Office The amount of the
public money disbursed through 1t has in
creased from year to year until from $780,
600 in 1890 it has grown to $67S,O00 in 1879
The number of pensioners has grown in
seven years from 1890 in 1898 to II, l25' in
1899 There is on the roll one pensloner to
every 100 inhabitants of the entire state.
In Fulton county there Is one pensioner to
every 1877 inhabitants, in Bibb one to every
1879, In Banks one to every 81 in Cobb one
to every 81, In Gwinnett one to every SO,
in Walton one TO every SO, in Forsyth one
to every 50, in Chatham one to every S96,
in Dillingham; one to every 700, In Rich
mond one to every 2S9. Banks has the
largest pension roll of any county in the
state, according to population, and McIn-
tosh the smallest. If divided equally be-
tween ell Of the taxpayers in the state,
each would pay SITS annually for pensions.
amounts in pensions are Fulton, Carroll,
Cobb, Gwinnett, Bibb and Walton; the six
receiving the smallest, Camden, Charlton,
Mcintosh, Efhngham and Echols.
The number of widows on the roll is
growing gradually smaller year by year,
but the number of invalids Soldiers
wounded in battle) is slightly on the in
crease, while that of the INDECENT in
creases annually a the rate of 25 per
cent. II this rate of increase continues
for the next five years as is entirely prob
able, more than a half million dollars per
annum win be required to pay this class
of pensioners alone. This is q burden,
however, which the state cannot and the
people do not desire to evade. The gal
liant men of 81 TO IS. who by reason Of
poverty and decrepitude are unable &c
support themselves, are entitled to the
states bounty and will continue to re-
ceive 1t.
Prison Commission.
The Prison Commission being required
/ by law to report, not to the Governor, but
| directly to the Legislature, l have not
/ seen a copy of their annual report. II
! viii doubtless be laid on your desks at an
early date, and should receive your care
| full considerati ton, because II will be the
first annual report published since the in
| auguration of the new prison system
/ That Il is an Improvement on any former
system l have no doubt, but il may be
that its actual workings have developed
defects in the law, which will call fol
! amendment-indeed It would be remark
able If this were not the case, for II
! rarely ever occurs that a new law Is q
perfect law. Almost all laws have TO be
perfected by amendment.
OF one provision of this law, however
l am prepared TO speak, that one which
| makes the Prison Commission a Board OF
/ > full m
of the friends of the measure, and 1t has
afforded great relief to the executive Of
! fee. Without advisory power lodged some
| where, il would be no longer possible for
| the Governor, with our large number Of
convicts and the constantly increasing
number of applications for executive elem
ency to give that careful and prompt
consideration to them that justice to the
applicants and the Importance of the sub
| ject demands; but after the Board of Par
/ dons has gone carefully over a case and
made a brief of what is i'm it, and sent
Ii with their recommendation TO the Gov
ernor. his labor is greatly lightened and he
| can quickly reach a conclusion and take
such action as the facts warrant.
Railroad Commission.
| The report of the Railroad Commission
is of special interest. Georgia was pion-
| Ger In enacting a Railroad Commission
law, and her law Is one of the best in the
| Union, and has served as a model to other
| states which have created Railroad Com
missions. Its powers are broad enough "a
| protect the people against eXtortion and
| unjust discrimination and yet sufficiently
restricted to prevent injustice to the rail-
| roads in the state. The relations between
the commission and the railroads are am
! icable and harmonious the roads con-
forming cheerfully to the rules prescribed
! by the commission and the commission
showing proper regard to the rights and
interests of those who have Invested their
money in the roads.
The commission have in their report rec
commended some amendments 10 the law to
which I desire 10 call your special otten-
ton. Their suggestions seem to me to be