The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-10-24
THE GOVERNORS MESSAGE.

creased, and there are more opportunl-
ties for earning a livelihood within her
borders than ever before. Mills are
springing up, railroads are being ex-
tended and there is "a general and
healthful expansion all along the line
The taxable values in Georgia have in
creased $43 500 900 in three years, and
the credit of no state is better than
hers. Only recently the Governor made
a considerable loan at the low rate of
. per cent; and most gratifying fea-
ture of that loan is that every dollar
of it was taken within the state. For
merly it was found expedent to go
to Northern financial centers to borrow
money; now Georgia has within her
own borders sufficient cash to meet all
her requirements, and her fnancers
are ready and willing to let her have
whatever funds she may need.
The three features of the message
that will receive most attention are
those relating TO taxation, the public
schools and pensions. In connection
with these, of course. is the matter of
the public property fund, which was
such a bone of contention during the
last session of the Legislature and is
likely to be no less fought over dur
ing the current session. The Governor
makes it plain that there is a treasury
deficiency of $157,O00 for the present
year, If pensions are to be paid to the
INDECENT widows of Confederate SOL
diers. For the next fiscal year the de-
ficiency between appropriations and
revenues will be larger, unless steps be
taken by the Legislature to provide
against it. The Governor is opposed to
continuation of the practice of Dor
rowing to tide over the deficiencies.
There are three ways, he says, of meet
ing the situation, viz: RAISE your rate
Of taxation, reduce some of the appro-
priations made at your last session, or
apply the public property fund now in
the treasury to the payment of the in
terest on the public debt"
The first plan, as the Governor says,
should not be considered. The tax rate
in 1883 was 81. so per 81, 900, and in 1900
$500 per $1,000. Notwithstanding the
large increase in taxable values. There
should be an effort to reduce rather
than increase the taxes. AS for cutting
down appropriations made last year.
that would be strenuously resisted in
the Legislature. The Govepaor favors
the adoption of the third PLAN that is.
applying the public property fund to
the payment of the interest on the pub
lie debt. This he thinks would relieve
the situation. He gives the history of
the recent mandamus proceedings
against the State Treasurer, touching
the public property fund, and tells how
and why he thinks the fund could be
made available.
The public schools receive more ex-
tended attention than any other sub
Ject. The Governor is much interested
in the schools, and points out how they
can be brought to a higher state of eff
ficiency Divide the cost between the
state and the county, he says; require
the county to bear a part of the bur-
den. For the present year" says the
message, iii counties out of the 1877
draw out from the treasury for schools
and pensions alone more than they pay
in for all purposes in taxes: six are
about self-supporting, while the other
twenty not only support their own
schools, and pay their own pension
ers, but pay all the expenses of the
state government" including salaries
and the support of the state institu-
items. 1t needs no argument to show
that this is wrong in theory and a gross
injustice in practice. THE result of this
vicious system" says the Governor, lis
that taxpayers in the heavily burdened
counties, smarting under the Injustice.
dodge the tax-gatherer and attempt by
subterfuge to equalize between them
selves and other taxpayers the burden
which the law fails to equalize." The
remedy is to require each county to
provide something for its own schools
before it can draw anything from the
state school fund. We have many times
touched upon this matter. and agree
with the Governor on the views he sets
forth in his message.
The pension burden has increased
steadily ever since the payment of PEN
sions by the state was begun. There
has been a demand for the creation of
new classes of pensioners, and the lib :
eral Interpretation of the law, until
Georgia is now paying more than $677, =
COO per year to her old soldiers-more
than any other Southern state. Nobody
grudges the old soldier pension, If he
needs 1t. Every Georgian is not only
willing but anxious to see the old he
roes taken care Of, If they are not in a
position to take care of themselves. But
1t has been strongly minated that a
number of persons are drawing PEN
sions who not only do not need the
states aid, but are much better Off
financially than thousands of those who
are called upon to pay the taxes from
which the pension fund is drawn. Man
ifestly that is unfair and wrong. The
Governor recommends that pensions be
placed upon an INDECENT basis. That
would have the effect of enabling the
state to render assistance to a greater
number of the really needy soldiers
and soldiers widows, and at the same
time prevent impositions on the state s
generosity. The only objection the Gov
ernor has heard to this proposition is
that II might force applicants to take