The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-19

most optimistic basis, is s4,s35OOO, of which 4,7S9, 2JO has already been ap- propriated' This leaves the present ses- sion of the general assembly with only S4oioV supJecf to its appropriations There are now pending before the appropria- tions committee of the house bills ask ing in the aggregate, S57e. .779.5S and the problem is how to divide out S45, ,75O so as to satisfy everybody The committee would like suggestions as to how this may best be done. It has approved so far but one appropriation, that of S500O for essential repairs and heating plant at the Confederate Soldiers home.
 Some of the other appropriations now urgently sought. but which are extremely doubtful of realization, are S10O00 for the Confederate cemetery at Marietta, $12,G00 for the Georgia Normal and Industrial college at Milledgeville $SO,OOO for opera tions and maintenance of the State Col lege of Agriculture at Athens, S26000 for additional salaries and expenses for the railroad commission for 1908 and 1909, s45,- 000 for the State Insane asylum, $30,0O0 for a new dormitory at the Tech, sl0,000 for a cotton school and 5000 for de- partment of agriculture at the Tech s20,- GOO for a new building at the State Nor nal school at Athens, S7000 for increase in maintenance fund.- State Normal school; S25.0e0 for a state sanitarium for tuber- culosis, $15,000 for cottages at the state sanltariun, S100,000 for the establish ment of a sanitarium for the feeble minded, s75,000 for the Valdosta Agricul- tural college, S10,000 to be paid to Dr. R. J. Massey for his efforts in saving the state library from destruction during the war, $10O00 for the state experiment sta- tion at Griffin and a number of other smaller appropriations of from S100 to $5OOO
 It is apparent that $45,75O will not go far and all want to be the lucky ones.
 In a Bad. Fix.
 But according to the appropriations committee the condition of the treasury is in even a worse fix than the foregoing facts would indicate. The committee says:
 Appropriations for 1909 already made, including increase in common school fund and diversion of fertilizer inspection fees, under act of 1906 to district agricultural schools, aggregate s4, ,941, ,5O0, a sum $16o,OO0 in excess of the regular net estimated revenues for 1908. It will be seen that the appropriations already made for 1905 have anticipated a material increase In the property tax returns. Without such increase or new sources of revenue, or unestimated revenue from litigated sources, a deficit of $165,0 900 would be cre- ated The state cannot borrow in excess of $2O0, ,0o0 for casual deficiencies. It fol- lows, therefore, that the limit of ap- propriations for this session of the gen. eral assembly has been reached, both for 1908 and 1909."
 Notwithstanding these facts there is insstence on the part of many that the fund for the maintenance of the Il dis trict agricultural schools shall come di- rect from the state treasury If this view carries there is little question that these schools will have to close their doors for the next year at least, and probably longer.
 Measure of Relief.
 The senate will have up for consider atlon Tuesday the only possible measure that can afford any relief to these institu- tions. It is the Martin bill which passed the house last year, and provides for an increase from 10 to 25 cents a ton in the tax provided for the inspection of fertilizer. It is proposed to devote the additional revenue thus derived to the district agri- cultural schools.
 The bill has come back from the senate committee on agriculture with an unfavor- able report, which puts 1t at disadvan- tage. At the same time there is strong sentiment in the senate in favor of its enactment There IS Scarcely a ooupt that the senate will disagree to the com mittee report, which can be done by a simple majority of those voting, but get ting constitutional majority for the pas sage of bill in another matter However, the advocates of the bill seem to have every hope of its ultimate success, due chiefly to the appeal in behalf of the agricultural schools.
 Opponents of the bill declare it unjust to impose the burden of this additionaI tax on the farmers of the state, assert ing there is no doubt the manufacturers will add it to the price of fertilizers sold them.
 In reply to this it is urged that the farmers of Georgia are payingsa tax of 25 cents now, since that is the average in spection tax throughout the states of the south, and the manufacturers prorate It among all the states. Any increase made in Georgia would, they say, simply go into the general average which, at the outside, would not affect the price of ferti lzers more than 1 cent a ton, if anything at all.