The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1909-06-25

Der oI acts passed by the last lesis'
lature
or the disfranchisement law the
governor says. mo legislation since
the days Of reconstruction will be-
more beneficial IN its far-reaching eff
fects, not alone at the ballot box, but
also in the solution Of the race prob
lem. This law will 90 far toward
protecting the ballot box from the
presence Of those who permit their
taxes to be paid by others, and will
help purify elections and make them
more fully the honest expression of
the convictions of the voters
Registration Law.
The governor does not apprehend
any trouble from the new registration
bill to the citizen who pays his taxes
and wishes to vote from a sense of
patriotic duty II requires registra-
ton six months In advance of pri.
naries and election, at the time when
taxes are paid. This bin makes the
padding OF registration lists and the
purchase of votes almost impossible.
The legislature passed an act re-
curing each candidate to nle state
ment under oath Of the money spent
by him In his race, and an act forbid
ding corporations from contributing
money to elections The legislature
also passed an act regulating primary
elections. The primary election law
requires that all nominations for
state house and membership in the
legislature be held the same day and
that no primary be held more than
sixty days before the election. These
laws, the governor states I'M his mes
sage, viii further guarantee that cleo
tons shall be fair, honest and free
from the control of machine politics.
Railroad Commission.
The governor considers the expendi-
ture of $4,000 a year for railroad
commission small In comparison
when the fact is kept in mind that
the commission Is to protect the
rights of the public in an expenditure
Of sixty millions of dollars annually.
The governor advises the legislature
not to hamper the railroad commits
sion In performing its duties, but to
stimulate the commission to wisely
and justly guard the rights of the
public. The three most important
acts Of the railroad commission dur
a ltlk MS NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. AIUNcTAUT
Smith points out, were: First the re-
duction Of passenger fares, which has
saved the people of Georgia nearly
million dollars a year; second the
adjustment of the use OF free passess;
and third, the order forbiddhg any
general reduction of employees wages
until the facts upon which the reduc-
ton is based are first submitted TO
a doe tfNtN NkN net, 80
railroad commission in declining any
reduction in rates OF freight transport
tation to interior points from the
ports, and from all interior points
In Georgia to the ports was a great
disappointment to the governor. He
states his confidence in the Justice of
lower port rates is not shaken by the
decision.
Convict Lease.
The governor takes pleasure in Of
ficially notifying the legislature that
under the act passed last fall all the
conyicts, except the women the In
Arm men and Juveniles, are now at
work upon the public roads of the
state.
Good Roads.
AS a result of placing the convicts
has been aroused throughout the en-
tire state for good roads. Governor
Smith states that he cannot too
strongly express his conviction of the
blessings that may come to the peo-
pie of the state from good roads. Geor-
gia depends in great part upon agri-
culture for the prosperity Of her peo-
Pile. Good roads will remove the iso-
lation OF rural life. They win help
social life and place schools, church
els and connty sites in close touch
with farmers. They will lessen ex-
pense Of private transportation. They
win help build up the state materially
and add immensely to the happiness
of the people.
The4governor advises the legislature
to abolish the present prison COM
mission and create in its stead,
board consisting of the governor, the
attorney general and the commission.
er of agriculture to be known as the
Board of Supervision Of the convict
system of the state, and give them au-
thority to elect supervisor of con-
victs and of roads.
state Farm.
Governor Smith has visited the
state farm at Milledgeville and
found that whites and the negroes are
substantially in the same quarters.
AS q plan for management he sug-
gests that a general superintendent
for the entire farm at salary of
$500 year be appointed, with an
assistant superintendent in charge of
each of the separate quarters. The
governor regrets that the management
OF the farm has been bad From the
prison commission on down too the
superintendent, it has lacked method
and system He points out that con-
ditions on the farm must be improved
and expenses decreased. An improve.
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