Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-11-10
GOVERNOR TERRELL
SENDS FIRST MESSAGE

OF the children. Georgia was the HTst IN
the union, and probably the first In the
world, TO incorporate in It's organic law
g provision for public schools, for in ltH,
in its first constitution. II declared that
schools shall be erected in each county
and supported at the general expense OF
the state" Stree that date, we have been
dealing with this supreme problem. The
public wish has always been ahead OF tho
public ability The evils OF illiteracy are
recognized, but the expense Of the cure
is beyond our purse. In proportion TO our
taxable values. we may well challenge
comparison with others. who, apparently
DO more. still. with an adequate sum- IL
behooves Jus 10 make the most OF our
resources and to increase them Wherever
the people OF a particular locality are
willing TO add 70 the school fund. IT Of
ten happens that while a county is IN
able 10 supplement the school fund by
taxation. those living in a particular mi
Iitia district are willing to add 70 the
state fund so as to lengthen the school
term, and they should be permitted to
do so.
IL takes four things to make a school
teachers, pupils, books and schoolhouses.
We have teachers and books, and pupils
we have in abundance, but Of school,
houses ia the country districts there is
woeful want. Proper and comfortable
houses will add greatly TO the efficiency
Of our common schools. While IL is inn
nossible at the present time to build them
from general taxation, yet there are many
communities in which they could Oe pro-
vided without expense to the state at
large. The present law authorizes the
school trustees to purchase necessary
buildings. but the amount OF the school
fu~d has been inadequate TO enable those
IN 1ae country districts to take advan-
tage Of the act And where the local
Community IS willing TO raise the neces-
sary funds, there is no provision Of law
by which a militia district or school dis
trict Is authorized TO tax itself for such
purposes. Ordinarily. the unit in our
state government is the county, and the
general law now Of force only contem-
plates city or county taxation, but au-
thority ought TO be given to militia dis
trict to collect a local tax for school
and schoolhouse purposes, wherever the
taxpayers so desire. and / therefore, re-
commend Notwithstanding a consti-
tutional amendment, II that be necessary
providing that upon the request Of two
thirds OF the taxpayers in any militia
district or school district, a reasonable
tax may be imposed upon In property
therein, the proceeds Of which shall be
applied by the school trustees to edu-
cational purposes, or to the purchase Of
land and the erection OF school buildings
in that particular district. tf-
The success OF any. educational sys-
TEN largely depends upon the teachers.
Unless they are capable and efficient il
Is impossible 10 train the children OF the
coming generation. Many OF the young
men and young women OF the state. are
patriotically and faithfully endeavoring
To At themselves for that high calling.
and the normal school at Athens and the
Girls Normal school at Milledgevllle have
been of great assistance in this important
work-a work which inures Immediately
and directly to the benefit Of the public.
Both of these institutions deserve the
most generous support of the state for
their valuable services.
Exemption CT College Endowments.
Not only the common schools but every
other fundamentally which aids in the
education and training Of the youth merits
your careful and serious attention. Our
colleges are brought into active compe-
tition with foreign institutions splendidly
equipped and endowed with millions, and
all our higher institutions of learning
are unselfshly engaged in performing a
public service to the state with no pur-
pose of trade or gain. It is but a slight
recognition OF what they are now doing,
that their endowment should be exampt
from taxation. where the fund Is not so
invested as to come into actual compe-
tition with the business and commercial!
interests OF other citizens. Such a course
VIII not only be a return to the practice
prior TO 1SU, but owing to the material
reduction In tuition fees and the much
smaller rate of interest received from
their investments IL is now almost es-
sentiRI TO their continued existence I'm
der the constitution. we cannot aid these
institutions out Of the public treasury, no
matter how great their service, but we
should surely relieve them from burdens
and 1 therefore recommend the submits
sion OF a constitutional amendment au-
thOrizing the general assembly to exempt
from taxation the endowment funds ano
investments of all educational institu-
tons.
Agricultural Schools.
Georgia Is pre-eminently an agricultural
state; and while we are fostering other
interests, we should be specially active
TO encourage that business in which the
whole state is most vitality concerned. II
here we lag behind, the whole state suf-
fers, and II in this we can forge to the
front, all the people will be directly bene-
nted. SO vital is our concern in agri-
culture that we should not only comply
with all reasonable requests Of the farm
ing interests, but even go farther and be
diligent TO search out means by which
the agricultural interest may be improv-
ed. AS legislators you may not be able
10 do this directly, but you can set forces
at work that will accomplish the desired
end. Nothing would be more helpful
10 this great interest than the establish
ment and maintenance Of an agricultural
school In each congressional district of
the state and connect Herewith and ex-
perimental station and farmers institute.
Such schools would furnish an opportun-
ity for the intelligent teaching and train
ing annually of several thousand Of our
young men and women engaged in agri-
culture and kindred pursuits. Fully
equipped for their life work such pur-
suits would be more attractive to them,
as well as more remunerative. Agricul-
ture would take on new life and the de-
sire on the part of many of our noble
young men and women 10 leave the
farm for towns and cities would be check
ed. The state, very wisely and Justly,
provides suitable facilities for the educa.
ton OF the youths who contemplate max.
ing Of themselves teachers, lawyers, doc
tors. machinists. electricians and the like
With equal wisdom and justice, IL not
more, she should provide suitable facil-
ties COR the young men and women who
will engage In agriculture or similar pur-
suits.
The experiment has been tried else
where with great success. and inasmuch