The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1899-01-26

creased twice as much among the ne
groes as among the whites. That per-
centage among the whites is now 6 per
cent, and among the colored 10, the ra-
ito decrease in the last five years being
favorable to former, the total decrease
OF illiteracy being very marked Meth
er is it true that the reduction by $500
goo CT the public school fund makes
difference of % cents per year. This
estimate was made upon the SUPPOSE
ton that all the children in the state
OF school age availed themselves of the
fund, circumstance which is far from
being true. Only enough children at
tend the schools as to cause the loss of
the 100000 to produce loss of six
weeks in the school term, an injury
which is very appreciably felt. If the
legislature had done as they should,
and cut off the ''rich mems" pensions,
we could have he'd the large public
school fund and long term with as low
tax rate as we have at present.
2. Five months in the year is as
much as poor people can attend
school," How does he know that?
Are there not thousands upon thou
sands of children in Georgia who at
tend nine months, and perhaps could
not the great majority of them attend
SIX or eight months? / understand
that the M. L. has had good education
al advantages, being graduate of the
University of Georgia. When he was
preparing for his collegiate course did
he think five months in the year
enough for him? Anything is good
enough for "poor people" it seems.
3. The people of Georgia rightfully
demanded that their taxes be decreased
and the free school appropriations was
one OF the funds we had to cut in order
to do it," Ibelieve that retrench-
ment in pensions and some other items
would have avoided this necessity.
But at the same time admit, from
most authentic information which I
have lately received, that it was de-
sirable, owing to the states straight
ened financial condition, ito reduce the
fund for this year; but the pension
fund also should have been reduced:
and if either was to remain untouched,
it should have been the former.
The M. l.. is very much annoyed, it
seems, because 1 live life of idleness.
So long as 1 am not an expense to the
county, and am law-abiding citizen,
the public has no right to enquire into
my mode of living. But in order to re-
lieve the M. LIS mind on this point,
would state that am at least compe-
tently and independently situated, and
when the public becomes acquainted
with the results of my occupation, it
will be found that my time has been
well and profitably employed.
In regard to my becoming an adviser
to the law-making power, 1 would say
that the reference to Gov. Gambler is
particularly infelicitous. l have long
known His Excellency, and when he
was member of Congress, and I
clerk in the Second Auditors office at
Washington. oft have / beguiled the
hours in his rooms at the house, where
we both stayed. in conversation with
him on matters social, political and
moral. Did good taste permit, could
easily show some of the very recent ex-
pressions of the estimation in which
am held by him. 1t is pleasant to
know that one has the esteem of the
wise and the good.
| have noticed that the "Concentrat-
ed Extract of the Legislature has been
running over" quite considerably of
late in the public prints. For his own
good, l would advise some of his Judi
cious friends to ''bottle" and "shelve"
MN. Richard H. EARLE.