Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-12-04
PUBLIC PROPERTY
FUND IS STILL
INTACT
THE HOUSE Refuses TO TAKE
THIS MONEY TO PAY OFF
INTEREST ON THE
STATE DEBT.

llOLleT.
nee; Foster. Of Towns; Harden, Hend-
~. Holder. Hutchinson. Johnson. of Ba-
ker; Kendrick, Mann, Naples, Miller, Of
Muscogee; Mitcham Morton. Moses, Nc
Curry, O'Quinn, Phillips. Of Quitman;
Rice. Ridley, Shackelford. Walker, Of
Pierce; Wilson, Wise and Wooten.
The general appropriation bill, which
had not been completed Saturday when
the house adjourned. was again taken up.
Mr. Kelley, OF Glascocl. moved that the
appropriation of $4,000 to the Georgia
School OF Technology. in Atlanta, which
had been favorably reported by the COM
mittee, be reconsidered.
The next section called for an appro-
priation of $4,000 for the common schools
of the state, in addition to the school
fund derived from the sources referred
to in article s, section g. of the constitu-
ton of the state. Mr.. Rankin, Of Cor
don, moved to amend by adding the words,
I'm addition to the aforesaid sum the
amount received in taxes on the increased
property valuation of the state"
This amendment, which would take all
Of the increased amounts raised by prop
erty which had increased in value and
give IL to the school fund, was bitterly
fought by Murphey Gambler of DeKalb,
who said the common school fund would
already be over S1.500,O00. and that If the
amendment was passed the state would
face a deficit OF over $4,000. He said
that unless some measure was at once
taken 10 bring tax dodgers into line the
state would face bankruptcy.
Mr. Tigner, OF Muscogee, also bitterly
fought the amendment.
Mr.. Kelley, Of Glascock, said that the
amendment was one which should re-
ceive the hearty support Of every mem
Der in the house.
L you have appropriated over $4,000 to
the different colleges in this state, yet
when we ask for more for the great com
mon school system OF the state the very
men who have argued for more money
for the state colleges are the men who
are fighting the appropriation Of more
money for the common schools, and are
yelling about an increase in the taxation
OF the state" he said.
Mr.. r. B. Blackburn. of Fulton, fought
the amendment in an eloquent speech.
saying that the people Of Georgia gave
as much TO her public schools as any 9TH
er state with similar wealth.
Mr.. Hall, of Bibb, fought the bill in
one OF his usual oTations.
This is the most foolish appropriation
I ever heard Of" he Numbered. Are we
here TO appropriate money we have not
got, but which we expend, though we are
not certain TO get it. Let us have little
surplus in the treasury. We have not been
able to pay the teachers of the state be-
cause we have no surplus in the treas
ury.
The people Of Georgia will never have
a good public school system until you
resort to local taxation for your schools. -
This statement was greeted with much APP
plause.
Mr.. West, OF Lowndes, moved to amend
by making the sum $4,000 instead of
sS00, 900. while Mr.. Bush, of Miller, moved
to make the sum s1,0O0000. Both OF these
amendments were killed by the commit
tee. and the amendment of Mr.. Rankin.
of Gordon, met a crushing defeat, receiv-
ing but few votes.
The appropriation of SSO0.O00 was then
unanimously passed by the committee.
and favorably reported to the house
Section Of the general appropriation.
which was to appropriate money for the
payment Of the following recognized valid
debt of the state
lone hundred thousand dollars on bonds
maturing January. 1908. to be paid out of
the sinking fund.
ITO pay the interest maturing in the
year 1893, the sum OF 1921. $50 for the year
1903. and the state treasurer is hereby au-
thorized and required TO apply the fund in
the treasury which has arisen from the
sale Of the public property and known as
the public property fund, to pay the inter-
est on the public debt, when the same ma
lures. in accordance with the appropria-
ton set forth in this para graph"
Mr.. Hail. Of Bibb, who last year made
such fight on the appropriation of the
public property fund, moved to amend
by striking out that sec.ion which appro-
priated money from this fund He argued
that though the supreme court had last
year decided that the public property
fund could be used for the payment Of
the interest, he still believed the court
had made a grave mistake. and that it
was still unconstitutional.
Mr.. Davis, Of Meriwether, argued for
the use of the public property fund, say
ing that the supreme court had held it
valid.
Mr.. Mitchell. of Thomas, fought the
use OF this fund on the legality of such
use. saying that although the supreme
court had allowed the use Of this money
II had not allowed it's use through the
general appropriation bill.
The committee decided not to use the
public property fund and this SCI, $50 will
have to be paid out OF the general in
terest fund, which is raised by a special
levy. The public property fund amounted
20 only little over $40. 900. and the other
100000 would have come from the general
interest fund at any events. The ac-
ton OF the. committee in-refusing to use
the public property fund will leave a de-
felt OF $4,000. which must be raised by
a special tax levy or must remain an
open debt In the state treasury.
The next section provided for an appro-
priation Of $4,000 for the department of
agriculture. the money to be paid from
the fund arising from the fees for in
specting fertilizers. 1t was passed.
The next section provided for the pay
ment of salary OF the state chemist. of
$500. and the salaries OF the two assist
ant chemists. OF $1,000 each. These sala-
ries. according 10 the bill. were to be paid
from the fees arising from the inspection
Of fertilizers.
One thousand dollars was an
propriated for replenishing apparat-
us and chemicals for the chemist
and his assistants: $500 for the salary
of the state entomologist: and 50 500 for
defraying the expenses of the horticultural
and genealogical department the equip
ment Of a laboratory therein and for
travelling expenses Of the state entomolo-
gist. together with the issuance OF re-
ports OF the chronological department.
These appropriations were made without
debate
The appropriation bill called for a con-
tingent fund OF $500 70 pay the incidental
expenses OF the railroad commission. but
the appropriation committee cut this to
500. This brought on fight, Mr.. Grice,
OF Pulaski, urging that the railroad COM
missions incidental expenses could not
be met with an appropriation Of 5000
The APPROXIMATION OF 500 was however