The Savannah morning news., 1901-10-24

racity. oorard tha. +,oso
49, he so amended as to require fire.
,rine and inland insurance compa-
- m deposit with the state treasurer
I.f,ra doing business in this state. $685.
o face value of the bonds of the
7-rt+ad States, or of the recognized
IA bonds of this state, and surety
omnanies by whatever name called, to
5onosit with the treasurer $4,000 of
The same, bonds required of nre COM
ries and that all surety companies
l-birh make the required deposit and
,ar1nIv with all other requirements of
NJ law be received on all attachment
toD5s bonds of all city, county and
9taro officers, and bonds of executors,
afn7inistrators, guardians, trustees and
au other bonds required to be made by
order of any court in this state.
The increased deposit will work no
hardship on any good company, since
+be bonds deposited will be as safe in
he vaults of the treasury as in the
bonds of any safe deposit or trust
ron7nany, and it will increase their bus
NESS and be much safer for the state
and for other persons to whom they
are bound as surety, because it will
keep within their reach at all times, as
sets of the company to meet any liabil-
itv they may incur by reason of their
suretyship on bonds without having to
On into the courts of other states to
enforce their claims.
constitutional Amendments.
That some important changes in our
organic law are desirable, most intelli-
cent persons are agreed. and with this
sentiment l ann in full accord.
The ballot should be restricted.
Provision should be made for bien-
NAL sessions of the General Assembly.
A maximum rate of state taxation
should be fixed in the constitution.
A rule should be prescribed requiring
that all appropriation bills be passed
and submitted to the Governor not less
tban ten days before the expiration by
limitation of the session, as a safe
Guard against hasty and extravagant
approuriation of the public money.
The Governor and the judges of the
SUPERIOR Courts should be given power
TO order a change of venue in certain
criminal cases.
collection of local taxes for the support
of common schools should be simpli
fed.
other changes not so important have
been suggested
But while all are agreed as to the
necessity for these changes, there is
not so much unanimity on the question
TO effect them. Many of our wisest
men in view of the fact that consti-
tutional conventions usually have
disturbing effect and breed political
discord, are very expensive, and often
90 much further in their work and
make more radical changes in the or
ganic law than the people ever contem-
plated or demanded. and in the light
Of the experiences of neighboring
states, which have recently held con-
Ventions are of the opinion that no
convention should be held. There is
force in their reasons. There is al
ways more or less peril in a constitu-
tional convention, and owing to con-
ditions peculiar to Georgia.. it might
be unusually perilous to hold con-
Yention at this time.
I therefore recommend that, in order
TO effect the desired changes, a joint
special committee Of the two houses
Of the General Assembly be appointed
to which shall be referred all PROPOSE
tons to amend the constitution. and
that this committee be instructed, after
CarefuIly considering all proposed
amendments submitted to 1t, to report
bill embodyng all such as they may
deem necessary, at least twenty days
before the expiration of the present
session. so that their report may be
acted upon before final adjournment
and the amendments deemed by the
General Assembly, advisable may be
submitted TO the people for ratification
or election at the general election in
October 1902.
Taxation of Colleges.
The attention of the General Assem-
bly, is respectfully called to a departure
from long established policy of the
state with respect to higher education
departure for which no adequate rea-
son has ever been given and against
which many just considerations may be
urged.
BY an act approved on Feb. 81, 1850,
he colleges of the state were exempted
from taxation This statute was never
formally repealed, but an unsupported
paragraph of the constitution of 1877,
which was perhaps not carefully scru
unlzed before its adoption, has been
Construed to repeal ii. There was no
demand from the people for it's repeal,
and there is good reason for believing
mat majority of the people did not
ana do not desire the property of the
colleges Of the state taxed. The taxa
non of these institutions of learning
hinders and cripples them, but it does
lot appreciably increase the income of
me state nor sensibly tighten the taxes
OF the individual citizen. The incorpor-
d'ed colleges, the title to whose prop
cry is vested in a board of trustees,
are not conducted for purposes of pri-
Ndte or corporate gain. but they render
public service of great benefit to the
commonwealth. Their value to all the
people Of the state in the promotion of
earning, in the contribution made by
lnem to the teaching force of the COM
mon schools, and in the general uplift-
ing OF the material and intellectual
prosperity of the state, entitle them to
me consideration accorded them by the
ACT OF 1850. Their taxation acts as an
ennargo upon enlightenment. and as a
Encouragement to that generosity to-
Nsfd colleges and universities which is
an TOO uncommon in the South. The
lardshlp which results from such taxa
ION rails especially upon colleges for
our white people. The colleges for the
Colored are maintained for the most
part from sources of income located in
"Isdnlzations and endowments beyond
me limits of the state. and thus they
cSgape much of thei taxation which
IaIIs on the colleges for the whites.
IN View of all these and other con-
4erations which might be mentioned
would seem that it behooves us to
lsIurn to the enlightened policy of the
,.dle adopted before the war between
~, e states. and from which we. without
.'e knowledge of the people. unwit-
"usIy departed in 1877. At any rate
' Hdrm can be done by submitting to
'e people an amendment of the consti-
'Nol permitting the Legislat ure TO ex-