The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1905-07-05
THE GOVERNORS MESSAGE.

| recommends a revision OF the tax laws,
a tax on inheritances, the adoption OF
the Australian ballot system, and the
encouragement of immigration.
In the governors opinion, there
ought to be boards of county asses
sors and a state board of equaliza-
ton. but, as he doesn't think it proba-
BILE that the legislature will favor such
radical changes, he recommends that
county boards be created TO supervise
and euualize the tax returns of the
counties, and that there be state
board to assist the controller general
in adjusting valuations of the fran
chises of corporations so that there
shall be an approach to equality in
these returns.
The present trend of state taxation
is toward the abolition Of the direct
tax for state purposes (the necessary
state revenues being collected in in
creasingly greater proportion by spe-
cial taxes J, and the most notable feat
ure of Governor Terrell's message is
his recommendation of a tax on cor
porations. He says:
"Such a special or privilege tax up
! on all corporations would be Just and
right. We tax the lawyer, doctor,
! dentist and several other professions
and occupations for the privilege of
doing business. The state creates the
CORPORATION and allows the individu-
ais comprising it to carry on all
! kinds of business without involving
! their private fortunes, except to the
extent invested in the corporations.
| Were these same individuals to en-
gage in a similar business as partners
! their entire private fortunes would be
involved. This limitation of personal
| liability is a special and valuable
| privilege, and offers sufficient reason
in law and justice for the levy OF a
tax. The general assembly may, un-
der our constitution, recognize this as
subject matter for taxation, and
equitably classify or grade the same
according to capital stock or some
other practical basis. "
Governor Terrell recommends an
appropriation for an agricultural col
lege at Athens, and an agricultural
school in each congressional district
as feeder for this college, to be
erected and maintained from the sale
of fertilizer tags, which now goes
to the common school fund. 1t !
seems to The News that it would be
better to concentrate all of the availa-
BILE financial strength on one great ag- !
ricultural college, removed from and
disconnected with any other institu-
ton, so as to make it worthy of the
state and so prominent that it would /
compel the attention Of the farmers.
The governor wants the same safe
guards thrown around the primary |
elections that regular elections have, !
and he is right about that. The pri-
mary has largely taken the place of
the regular election, and the voters
want to be sure there is no way for
their will to be defeated.
About everybody who feels an inter-
est in the state fayOrs immigration,
but there is feeling that an immigra-
ton commissioner would not do much
beyond drawing his salary. Some
thing might be accomplished if an APP
priation were made for the support of
an agent at Ellis island, where the at
tentiOn of immigrants might be turned
to Georgia Money spent in that way
and in distributing in the west litera-
ture descriptive of the state would be
productive of good results.
The governors suggestion respect
ing confederate flags seems to be a
good one. Provision should be made
for their safe keeping and care. 9th
erwise they will practically disappear
within few years.
! The state board of health wants
more authority. That also means
probably a bigger appropriation. J
Whether it will get either will depend
perhaps upon the showing it is able to
make.
THE Savannah News thinks it quite
a coincidence that just at the time Mr..
Rockefeller was giving away millions
of dollars President Roosevelt should
say, as he did in his speech at Cam
bridge, referring to the very rich men
of the country: SIT is far more i'm
portant that they should conduct their
business affairs decently than that
thew should spend the surplus of their
fortunes in philanthropy. This was
said to the Harvard graduates and
others about the time Rockefeller
Gift to Yale was made.
THE 0,OOO 900 donated by Jno. ID.
/ n-a1-Asollo,. fn,. hinhnr edncatinn in