The Atlanta constitution., 1902-11-10

Governor J. ~ Terreu's first MESA ge
to the legislature was read in the house
and senate last Saturday morning, and
printed copies of it will be distributed FOR
t1c use of the members tomorrow morn
ing.
The message is brief but strong. and
calls attention to number of subjects
on which the people expressed them
selves In the last election principles for
which Governor Terrell stands and which
he emphasized during his campaign
throughout the state
Governor Terrell urges a constitutional
limitation of the tax rate. bills for watch
are now pending in both houses He sug-
geSts legislation looking To the taxation
uf franchises of public utility corpora
tions a matter with which thc legislature
will also deal at this session. Important
! suggestions are offered looking L. the
prompt payment of the school teachers of
the state. and these suggestions have
been embodied in bin by Mr. Howell.
Of Merwcthcr. which is now before tne
house
Important legislation looking to local
taxation for the purpose o. building
school houses, is recommended. ana the
exemption Of all college eudowmGnts is
strongly urged
An important feature of the message is
the recommendations looking 10 the es-
tabishment of agricultural colleges in
each congressional district aud ultimate
y connecting vita them Experimental
stations and farmers Institutes
The Text of the Message.
Governor Torrelrs message in fgu fol-
lows:
November g. oo2-ro the GeueraI Ass m
lily Of Georgia: Tht body of our laws fep-
ree-nts to an unusual degree the matu-ed wish
Of ~" people of Georgia. and In entering
n the discharge Of your Legislative du-i IS.
you are not c1nGfunted with dcmands for
many or radical changes Annual sessions e..
the legislature nave made II easy TO enact s.-w
statutes as well as To amend or repeal ia
ones So a. To supply omissions or cure ,fecte
disclosed by experience, and in conseuu au,c.
We have system just. simple. ana m every
way suited To the genius ana spirit 0t our
Ieople.
Hut there are a few special subjects %
which ! desire 90 call your attention Their
inherent importance will gain for them yJUc
careful d'iiberat;ou. aud tho ia"t that tAe
People In the last election. in distinct AMI
unmistaEahle terms expressed their wish IN
rvf"rcr"r thereto. viii tenl 20 remove uiaf.
qrestions as IT, what should be dome ana
leave your task largely chat of determining
how the desired end is 10 be accomplished.
Limitation of Tax Rate.
First in Importance IS that of limiting The
rate of taxation. The constitution Of 1877
was framed IA accordance with the e.e-
mental principles ~ q republican fo-m OF
government and aimed at am economical adj
mln:strat.on OF the affairs ot state Il ear-
templated the payment of the necessary eS-
penses of the legislature. executive aud judi
cld departments. the payment Of the public
debt. q proper pension Tor those entitled thee
TO. the support of the publc schols, ana thC
protection ot the state IN time Of war IL pro-
fibitrd appr Iuriatiurs OF taxation fpr och .
purposes. Il recognized that there would be
fn
many OF them might be for good and worthy
pttrr,o...a Ifi; I'M Wow az th,. financial ,l,.ti-
tons surrounding the state, it drew the linc,
and fixed definitely the purposes FOR which
the peoples money might be spent intending
10 secure them for all time against the bur
u"ns ot 'NprSS.N" tlNatl"'1 but' Hy l'l6 a.
there Is TO limit to the amount Which may lc
- ent on the Objects name, IN lhe cons, , ~
tion. there rs n" limit to tn amount wAic3
may br raised 10y taNoti0n. In order perterit' d.
20 secure tn end designed 10y. The cony N;
ton. ana demanded by the ueonle IN the 'N-
election. there must be limit on the an
nuai tax rate and | therefore suggest thr T;
this general assembly submit constitutional
amendmcnt limiting the tax rate tu Tt'l..
cxclusiyc Of the sinking fund and what may
lie needed fo~ the protection Of TIE state III
tlmc oc nsurrection or war
Taxation of Franchises.
Closely allied IN q limitation ON the rate
~ taxation is the duty of providing method
b, which all property shall be made to hear
,ts fair share OF tha public burden. WIN Il
few exceptions. the constitution provides ina
al proT -rtv shall be taxed. IN th' HNitii. ''''9
provision Is carried into enect-thongh II"
system hes ever been 1eVk ed Whl,h II 4",'-
feet I'm its application. and. in spite OF 'lv
most carefully drafted tax acts there are III
a,oIdab,,. omissions and want "i that err-
foot .nualitv and uniformity toward Whlch
Tho Iay-.naking POWER constantly aims b"t
,bara Is a class of franchises held by &C., IN
,,uasi-Dublic corporations when. uouEh NdtF
abla IN themselves and adams Ndlnr !" tH'
capital stock, have, in the past eSN'P'" -
alton because Of want OF provision ~ W
statutes requiring lht~' ''''''N' ,b.s.
returned or assessed. BeinE property, 'n,s -
franchfses are as subject To taxation as any
other property under the constitutions anu
in view of the fact that they generally repre-
sent privileges which are more or "es tNC1c
sfvn and which have been given 10 the cor
nora ations without money and without price,
there is a peculiar justice In suhJectlng them
To- th, tax laws 1t will b. for you To deter
mine how the taxable value OF these iran
chises is 70 be- estimated. though ] venture 10
suggest that there is no need for any great
change in the present machinery oi the 'aA
law II will probably he sufficient to amend
section 767, volume | OF the code 50 as u
include all franchises whether of resident OF
non resident corporations doing business IN
this state which add value to the capital stock
or to the tangible property of the corporation;
4 further amendment to section 7SO and sos
os the code may be necessary so ms To require
officers making returns for corporation Ia
state ..the value of the corporate fran
chise exclusive Of its other corporate prop
crty" The simplicity Of this method will
commend itself. II win probably avoid many
questions which would otherwise arise from
the enactment of new statutes containing un-
tried and INFESTED methods. Ii will provide
an easy and practical means of determining
what the franchise Is worth. for. IL there is
any disagreement as 10 such value, it can be