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

disturbance. l did not accede to his de-
mand. I believed the course being pur-
sued was the wise and proper course, and
could not sympathize with the reckless
willingness Of Mr.. Scott to precipitate the
possible loss of life and the destruction Of
property.
At my request the attorney general
went over the road to more thoroughly
inform himself with reference to the con-
ditions which prevailed. When the result
of the strike began to affect the interests
of the people along the line of the roA
by entirely suspending the operations OF
the road, after consultation with the at
torney general I determined to bring the
matter to the attention of the courts, and
bill was prepared by the attorney gen.
eral to place the road in the hands or I
receiver. on account of the failure OF the
railroad authorities to operate the road:
We DELAYED for several days filing this
bill. because we were continually assured
that the strike would be adjusted. Thls
| finally took place, and 1t should De a
source of congratulation that in spite or
the intense excitement which the race Is
sue caused among the patrons or the
! railroad company, and the people along
| the line of the road generally, there was
| no serious injury to person or TO property
! The settlement OF the strike was MADE
IN part by agreement settling portion OF
the differences and in part by reference
to arbitration under federal statute. In
this connection 1 desire to suggest the
J passage of a law providing for arbitration
| of labor differences, the award to be re-
turnable to the superior court OF the coun-
ty where made.
I desire in this connection to express
my approximation of the assistance
which Attorney General Hart gave to me
in this matter, and, also of his able ana
courteous cooperation in all the matters
with reference to which have called up
on him during the past two years.
OTHER INSTITUTIONS.
The last legislature passed an act pro-
viding for the establishment of a tuber-
! culosis sanitarium, to be controlled by
trustees named. by the governor 1 APP
pointed the trustees and they are now at
work with a view to carrying out the
provisions of the act.
The last legislature enlarged the appro-
prfation to the state board of health, ana
/ wish to commend the work which has
been done by that board in the line or
enlarged usefulness to the people OF the
state Vaccine points, antitoxin for dlph-
liberia and meningitis have been distrib-
uted free to the people. Patients suffer-
ing from bites by animals with hydro
phobia have been treated with great sue
cess. Much has been done to extend free
medical treatment upon these and other
lines to the people of the state. l believe
the money given to this board has been
productive of much good and was wisely
made.
Your state sanitarium at Milledgeville
had on January 1. 1909 3,112 patients,
handled at the small expense of 34.7
cents per day. A part of their economical
management results from the intelligent
manner with which the farm lands of this
! institution are used for the purpose of
producing food supplies for the patients.
There has been some criticism of the
treatment of patients at the hospital 1t
has come largely from discharged pa
tients. who at the time of their supposed
mistreatment, were laboring under mental
decisions.
I requested Judge Lawson, chairman or
the board of trustees of the institution, to
name a special committee TO investigate
the charges but he and the officers or the
I sanitnrium urged that appoint commit
| tee OF outsiders. In view of their request
| designated Judge w. F. Jenkins, DIR.
Willis Westmoreland and Hon. Seaton
! GranSand, who are now engaged in an
| investigation of the institution and the
: charges made against 1t.
! The Academy for the Deaf and Dumb,
! and the Academy for the Blind are both
being handled, so far as I can judge, ef-
fciently by the officers charged with the
duty of their management. The afflicted
who fall within the care of these institu-
lions merit assistance from the state, and
l am gratified to make a favorable re-
port upon the way in which they are
operated. SIS
The reports of the secretary of state
| and of the other state house officers will
be before YOU Also the reports from the
various trustees and boards of visitors.
1 commend them to your consideration.
DEATH OF TREASURER PARK.
Since the last session of the general
assembly the state has lost the services
OF Hon. Robert Emory Park, who filled
the office of treasurer from October "a,
1900, until the day of his death, May 4,
1909. In cooperation with the comptroller
general, 1 designated auditors to examine
and report upon the condition of the
treasury. 1t gives me pleasure to inform
you that the audit of the books of the
= treasury showed the money and other
assets of the state properly accounted
| for.
On May IL, 1909, appointed Hon. j.
Pope Brown to hold the Office of treasurer
until his successor is elected and qualified,
and he is now performing the duties of
| state treasurer.
The annual salary of the state school
! commissioner is only 100000 1 urged
| that the state board of education be au-
! thorized to pay him as its secretary an
| nually 100000. 1 know that he holds the
| office at a financial sacrifice. His val
liable services should be recognized.
ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL
| NEEDED.
The work of the attorney generals office
! has greatly increased in the past few
years. He Is constantly called upon by
| state house officers, and county officers
| throughout the state, for opinions upon
matters pertaining to the administration
OF the affairs of the state. His time is
taxed to such an extent that he has not
the opportunity which / know he desires
Tor the quiet investigation of the larger
problems and more important cases that
he is required to handle.
An assistant attorney general could re-
lieve the attorney general of many de-
tails, and l suggest that he be allowed to
employ an assistant at the salary of 81
| OO0.00 annually
FREE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS
FROM TAXATION.
urge the passage of a constitu-
tional amendment which will free the
agricultural products of Georgia from
taxation for twelve months from the
time that they are gathered The
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