Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1909-10-09


as the disssnslons between the Peary-
ties and Cookites.
In his speech the state treasurer des
Tended the condition of the finances of
Georgia, saying that every claim pre-
scented against the state had been paid
except 1886, 900 due teachers for SER
vices rendered the first part of the
school term. A pension fund of ST.
100000 has been paid which was sup
posed to come out of the 1909 taxes.
The state has anticipated its obliga-
ton. He said in this connection:
IF the pensioners could be paid
one-half their money in February and
one-half in December every obligation
of the state could have been met as it
fell due with no serious embarrass-
ment to anyone. And if the taxes of
1909 were all collected and in the
treasury on the first day of January,
1910, the state could meet every dol
lar of its current obligations with two
millions dollars in the treasury In
other words, If we treat the state OF
| Georgia as any other corporation and
should decide to liquidate and go out
/ of business on the first day of Jaun-
| airy, 1910, with ali taxes collected and
all current obligations paid, we would
have two million dollars left. There
would still remain bonded debt OF
the state amounting to six million
nine hundred and thirty-seven thou
sand (6,937 .000) dollars. The state
road alone could be sold for enough to
more than pay this bonded debt.
/ THE taxable values of the state in
| 1880 amounted to two hundred and
fifty million ($250, 900 ,000 dollars To-
day they amount to seven hundred and
thirty millions ($730 900, 000) dollars
THE offlce-seeker usually has one
| plank in his platform and that is in.
creased appropriations and reduced
taxation. If he becomes a law-makel
he finds it little hard to do both
| Therefore, he sticks to one end of the
| proposition, and votes to increase al
appropriations. Fortunately for the
state, the rate of taxation has beer
limited by constitutional amendment
Otherwise, it seems that in the enc
taxation and confiscation would have
meant the same thing. Fortunately
| when the legislature made an appro
priation the Governor was allowed t.
fix the tax rate to raise enough money
to meet the appropriation, but since
| the tax rate has been limited, if thu
| legislature continues to make appro
priattons, regardless of the fact tina
the tax rate is limited, there will b.
nothing left for the Governor to do
but to use his veto power. Let the ap
preparations stand as they are; let ths
tax rate remain as it is. The taxable
values will increase from year to yea,
and in a short time everything will b,
easy. II bond issue for any purpose
was in accordance with the public
policy it would be contrary to the con
stitution of the state"
Cutting political considerations GU
of the question entirely, it is certainl,
to be hoped that Pope Browns view Il
correct and that the states financia
outlook is as good as he believes it Il
be. But We anticipated that the leg
islature has not yet been born tina
will consent to avoid an increase O
appropriations for all sorts of pur
poses. 1t is asking too much of tn
common sense and patriotism of tn
lawmakers who gather at Atlanta t
expect them to content themselve
with the old basis and avoid hamper
ing the treasury by increasing appro
priations without increasing the In
come proportionately. When we ge
the sort of legislators who reall,
keep such a thing as income and outg,
on a parity we will be so near tn
millennium that an order for wings will
be the next thing in order.