Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-06-25


| On interest and princi-
! pal of the public debt
| OF the state.... 4O1 10000
-S1. 764. 90
1850, 10000
The remaining revenue of the state
was used, at least in part, for expenses
disconnected with the civil establish
ment and matters of government, such
as the state board of health, the geo.
! logical survey, the agricultural depart
ment, and in various lines intended TO
serve the public.
| While it is the duty of the governor
to aid in directing the finances Of the
state, I desire especially to express my
appreciation of the valuable services
rendered the state by the able and
faithful comptroller general, the Hon.
] William A. Wright. If the legislature
would create the Office of tax investi-
gator, to be appointed by and placed
under the direction Of the comptroller
general, such an officer. giving his en-
tire time to delinquent taxes. would
earn for the state many times his
salary.
/ There is due the state by the At
lanta, Birmingham and Atlantic Rail-
road company $2S,39420 for taxes, pay
ment of which has been delayed on ac-
count of the fact that this road is in
the hands of a receiver. 1t will be
paid in a few days. There is also due
the state S11,S71.0S paid to the Neal
Bank by the tax collector of DeKaIb
county, which should be paid during
/ this or next month.
During the last two years disput Ell
tax claims against the Georgia railroad
and the Central of Georgia Railroad
company, for taxes due by them upon
stock which they hold in the Western
Railway of Alabama, nave been settled,
and from these settlements the state
has collected over 100000.
| There is pending before the supreme
court Of the United States a case to
which the state is a party, which m
wolves the liability Of the Georgia
Railroad and Banking company for
taxation. have great confidence in
the merits of the case. This railroad
company has been practically exempt
from taxation.
If the state sustains its contention
in this litigation, all. or a large part
of the railroad property, will be sub
Ject to taxation. just as the property
of other railroad companies in the
state sum amounting to several
hundred thousand dollars would be
collected for back taxes, and a perma-
nent increase sh ould be made in the in
come of the state amounting to about
$4,000.
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS.
! The educational work of the state
has made splendid progress during the
past two years. The university, the
state College of Agriculture, and most
of the district agricultural schools.
have done excellent work. The State
Normal school, the North Georgia Ag-
l. h. afac
for the blind and the deaf, have fully
merited the appropriations made TO
them.
wish especially to commene the
splendid work of the Normal and IN
dustrial school at Milledgeville. 1t
cannot be too highly praised.
In the division of revenue for the
last two years. special appropriations
have been given to most of these in
| situations.
The archaeological institute did not
receive the same increase that was
given to other institutions. and / feel
ljustified in stating that IL was con-
| templated by those prominent upon
! the finance committee of the house
during the last session OF the legis-
lature, that a special recognition by
an increased appropriation would be
made during the present summer to
advance the progress of the Techno-
logical institute. This institution is
| doing q great work to fit the young
men Of Georgia to develop the re-
sources of the state, and their work
will not only be helpful to them
selves, but to all citizens.
COMMON SCHOOLS.
| I come now to the common schools.
the great backbone and foundation of
our educational system. These schools
have not only received more money,
| but they have done better work dur
ing the last two years than at any
| previous time. The average common
| school term for 1908 increased from
| 115 days to 1872 days. 1t was accom-
plished, not alone by the increased ap-
preparations from the state, but also
| by the cooperation and financial as
lsistance of the people themselves, show
| ing that the people are becoming eager
/ and solicitous that all the children
shall have the best possible opportuni-
ties for self-improvement.
| The theory that the negro children
are rushing to school and that the
white children are neglecting to use
! the advantages given them is also
without foundation. The increased at
| tendance of white children last year
was one per cent. The increase OF
negro children was three-f1fths of one
per cent.
| Seventy-nine per cent of the white
| children are in schools Only So per
| cent of the negro children are in
| schools While the figures show only
| 70 per cent of the white children in
| school, when we take into consideration
the fact that a considerable proportion
of the white children of school age
| complete their public school work be-
fore they are IS years old. and are
engaged in study in higher institutions
| of learning. the state school commits
sioner estimates that SO per cent of the
white children of Georgia today are re-
ceiving an education. I agree, how
ever, with the state school commits
sioner that we must reach out for the
other Z per cent, and that the future OF
our state requires that no illiteracy
should be among the white children.
do not mean any unktndness
towards the negro child by this discrim-
ination, but / do not believe that in
struction from books, except of sim
pie character, is of benefit to con-
Continued On Page Eight
-