The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-06-23
THE GOVERNORS MESSAGE.

THE GONEHNOH'S MEsSAGE.
The most important feature of the
Governors message is the recommen-
dation relative to immigration. The
Governor thinks the state ought to
have a commission to look after her
interests in this respect. He points out
that much of the prosperity of the
Western states is cue to the immi-
grants they have received. and he calls
attention to the efforts that are being
made to get Georgians to leave their
state and make their homes elsewhere.
Georgians, to the number of $4,000,
are residents of other states, $4,000
of them being citizens of Texas. While
Georgia has contributed this large
number to other states she has re-
ceived from them only about 100000
The stand which the Governor takes
in the ma liter of immigration will be
very generally approved. The state
has large areas of unoccupied lands
and it is greatly to her interest that
they shall be brought under cutiva-
ton.
The Governor has the right idea as
to the kind Of immigrants desired.
They should be industrious and thrifty
and should be of the class that aims
to become owners and occupants of
farms rather than learners in
the towns. There is no doubt that if
the advantages of Georgia for the
growing of grain and fruits and the
raising of stock were more widely
known she would get great many
more immigrants of the desired kind
than she does. No doubt the attrac-
tive and instructive exhibit of the
state at the st. Louis Fair, to which
the Governor calls attention, will have
the effect of turning the attention of
many home seekers to Georgia.
The Governors statement that there
will be no need to increase appropria-
tions for the support of the state gov
eminent and for the various state in
stitutions beyond those of last year,
will be received with satisfaction.
But in order to keep the total of the
appropriations down to what il was
last year, the Legislature will have to
resist strong pressure in behalf Of
many propositions which call for
money from the treasury What the
people would like is a reduction in the
rate Of taxation and there ought to
be a reduction. in view of the great
increase in the volume and value of
taxable property. The Governor
thinks one of the surest ways to bring
down the tax rate is to establish coun-
ty boards of assessors and a state
board of equalization, and he again
recommends. such boards. There is no
doubt great inequality in assessments.
The Governor recognizes that there
are great Irregularities in primary
elections. and that if the primary sys-
tenn is to survive these irregularities
must be prevented. The people agree
with him in this matter. He thinks
all the laws for insuring an honest
ballot at regular elections should be
made applicable to the primary. We
see no reason why the Governors
views in this matter shouldn't have the
approval of the Legislature.
The demand for new counties re-
ceives the Governors attention. He
gives satisfactory reasons why the
constitution should be so amended as
to relieve people of burdens which
counties of great size impose upon
them. Georgia already has many
counties. but 1t looks as If Justice and
fair play require that there shall be a
few more.
A paragraph of the message that
will cause much favorable comment is
that in which the Confederate Me-
mortal Board is commended for spend
ing only SIS of the $3.50 for its ex-
penses in collecting information con-
corning Confederate cemeteries of the
state. AS a rule committees and
boards appointed for certain duties do
not leave unexpended appropriations
made for their use.
The message is not an ambitious
state paper. 1t states plainly and con-
cisely what the Governor has to COM
municate to the Legislature and there
fore accomplishes the purpose for
which it was intended.
A-a-e