The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-10-25

TOO. that counties which d. not help them
selves Ga the matter OF schools should not
receive any help from The state. Hc thcrs-
fore recommends that the school law b.
20 amended that the amount contributed
by the STATE shall not exceed N.ooo.oo) an
nuaiiy. and that no county which does rot
raise by local taxation az last 80 pr
cent OF the amount &c IS entitled 20 from
the state shall receive any part Of IT,
n this recommendation were adopsed tho
amount Of the school fund during the com
ing year would be just about what IL y
now. IN al probability and would Increase
year by year as the counties saw the ad-
vantsges of TIE change. and the state
would be relieved OF very considerable
burden.
As a matter Of fact. a great many 81
ne counties depend wholly upon the state
for their public schools A. result, IN
those counties education IS at low ehb
Tie people 10 not appreciate the schools
ar they ought. nor as they would u they
had 10 make sacrifices for them.
Every year Thousands Of dollars Of the
money Of the taxpayers OF this county and
Fulton county aud some other counties are
used Cor the support Of schools In counties
which make no effort whatever 20 main
tain their own schools. and which viii
make no EFFORT as long as tho present sys-
TEN IS IN force. II seems 20 us that
the accommodation OF the Governor Is
la good one But will il have the
support Of tho Lcglslature7 II is douat-
fuL The members from the couniies
which depend upon other sections Of tho
state 10 support their schools are IN the
majority.
Tho Governors statement in respect 10
pensions IS rather startling. II makes Il
clear why & Is "a dincult matter TO re-
duco taxation more than 81 on the SioO0
this year. Notwithstanding the very con-
siderable Increase tn the taxable values.
Considerably more than 500 on was paid cut
u pensions aod there will soon be alm'sta
thousand more pensioners on tho pension
lisf. their applications having been ap-
provol. Il g. estimated that about 90 pen
sioners have died within the last year. 30
that the actual increase will be some,
thing less than SO But &, must not be-
forgotten that INDECENT widows Of Confcd-
crate veterans are now entitled 20 pen
si0ns. and the Governor thinks that within
the next year or two the pension charge
viii reach pretty near N00o.O0A with
such charge charge that seems 20 In
crease Instead Of decreased e. difiicuit
20 sec on what ground the Governor hopes
for a stu further decrease IN the rate %
I -.
considerable Increase in taxable values. lie
talks about making the pension roll a roll
Of honor-that IS. striking from It every
one who has a comfortable income or 10
capable OF earning such an income-buS
pension history. whether national or state.
shows that while Il Is pretty easy 20 get
on pension list It IS practically impos-
sihle TO get OF Of # any considerable per-
cen,age OF those who have no right 20
be there The talk about making the PEN
sion roll a roll OF honor Is interesting. but
not practical
Tho Governor has some views respect
ing misdcmeanor convicts which nre the
outgrowth Of the abuses 70 which oonvicts
OF this class are subjected in some Of the
counties He wants all OF the misde-
meanor convicts placed under the control
OF the Prison Commission. II Is probable
that the abuses to which tie Governor
calls attention could be cured In this way.
: but the counues-thls county. for instance
which use their couvicts on publ, works
and treat them humanely might object to
the plan proposed by the Governor II
, may be that tho legislature will ma a
way to correct tho abuses pointed out by
: the Governor without inviting the oppo-
5 sltlon Of the counties which are not aimed
az IN tho Governors recommendation.
No doubt the whole state will concur
IN the Governors recommendation rosrect-
ing papers and records relating 20 the
early history OF the state. There has uu-
doubleday been great neglect in this mat
ter. tits not too late to face about ana
, pursue different policy. The papers and
records 20 which the Governor refers
should be collected. carefully fiftcd ard
arranged. and. II not published At once.
put In a place Of safety
The Governor favors a constitutional
/ amendment limiting the elective franchise
, 10 those possessing a certain amount OF
. property. The last Legislature refused 20
] touch this question OF limiting the fran
, chise. ana nothing has occurred 70 indi-
cate that this Legislature Is anxious 20
take hold OF a. II Il should. IL is hardly
likely ,h1t "a would deal with Il on the
, line indicated hy the Governor Sun. q
, nust be- admitted that the Governor pre-
sents his views with considerable force.
An nhterate man who accumuiates
, some propcrty-a little home for instance
, is likely 20 be more valuable citizen
, than one who never attempts 20 accumu-
, late anything. even though the latter may
! DO able 20 read and write
The foregoing seem to be the most inn
! portaut things touched upon IN thc mes
sage which y a very credltsbic paper ana
viii no doubt receive mucA attSntion
from the Legislature.