The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-14
GOVERNOR R-ELECT BROWN
 HAS PUBLIC SCHOOL IDEA
BY LAUREN FOREMAN.

Elberton, Ga, June 13.-(Special.) .)-GoV- ernor-elect Joseph M. Brown in an ad- dress delivered here today presented an interesting plan for the relief of the state school fund which has been close to million dollars behind, the teachers be- ing paid in December and January for work done six months previous.
 The governor-elect proposes a bond is sue of s60O,OOO to be known as a perma- nent loan fund and to be preserved for the sole purpose of meeting school pay ments in the spring and summer. Then when the taxes come in in December the loan fund is to be reimbursed and held for similar use the following year.
 Governor Brown was given hearty and cordial reception here. many hundreds of people turning out to hear him.
 In the course of his remarks Governor elect Brown stated that this proposition fund will be embodied in his first mes sage to the legislature. and he will strong ly urge its enactment.
 Upon this subject the governor-elect said;
 "One of the matters of greatest con- cern to the future welfare and pros- perity of our state is the proper support and maintenance of our common school system. While 1t is by no means a per feet system, we should not lose interest in it, but should carefully adopt such means and plans as may be necessary for it's betterment. One of the greatest drawbacks is our manner of paying the teachers. The state Is one year behind in making these payments, that Is to say, in the main, the money for paying teachers salaries for this year will not be collected until the latter part of De- cember, when the taxes are paid into the treasury.
 "Our teachers are faithful servants of the people and should be paid with the same regularity as the state pays all of her other officers. All agree as to this proposition. It has been before the pub lie for many years, with the result that our teachers have received fair promises, but not prompt payments. They alone have been denied the benefits of that governmental keyword, equality.
 ''It does seem to me that the applica- tion of few business ideas might re- lieve the situation and accomplish the desired end The teacher alone of all the officers of the state is required to dis count his or her salary account against the state and lose from to 20 per cent This is a great wrong upon these officials and one we would allow no business man to perpetrate upon his employees.
 "I suggest that we take at once the necessary steps to catch up with our school fund and pay every public teacher In Georgia his or her salary monthly It is impracticable for us to collect in one year the necessary sum from tax ation and accomplish this result and 1t would be almost criminal for us to stop the schools of Georgia to enable us to catch up with our funds. What then, must we do? What will first sug gest itself to very business man who calmly considers this condition should he be confronted with like conditions in his own business affairs? He would at sonce take the necessary steps to raise the money by the use of his credit. I propose that we handle in like manner for the state and for the teachers the situation that now confronts us, and utilize the credit of the state to relieve the condition. The legislature at its com ing session should propose and submit to the people of this state an amend ment to the constitution authorizing the issuance of about $600000 of bonds, the proceeds of which to be used to create a permanent loan fund to be loaned every spring to the school fund for the pay ment of the teachers salaries, and re- turned to this loan fund in December when the taxes are collected. This fund should be sacredly guarded and not used for any other purpose.
 "The state could raise this money upon per cent basis. When not In use the Repositories would pay sufficient rate to reduce the interest to the state to per cent. The bonds so issued might be retired In a few years at the rate of $100,000 per annum without the necessity of any increase in our tax rate.
 q feel quite sure that the people of this state would heartily indorse such an amendment, and gladly ratify 1t at the next general election, for every good citizen feels and believes that we should be fair and just to our teachers"