Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-06-25
GOV. SMITHS REVIEW
OF HIS ADMINISTRATION
Continued from Page Five

Continued from Page Five
siderable portion of them.
| AS I suggested in my former message.
/ the county boards of education should
control the character of schools furnished
| in their counties. Education should At for
life with a view to the character and
possibilities of the children. The differ
lence between the two races should be
recognized by the county school commits
sioners, and they should not hesitate to
do so on account Of the maudlin criti-
cisms that may come upon them from
certain classes of would-be philanthropists
Of other sections who do not understand
the true relations of the races.
! I have no hesitation in avowing my
deepest concern in our educational work
/ for the common schools of the state, but
the real friends of these Institutions must
recognize that you cannot have good COM
mon schools without good teachers, and
you cannot have good teachers made sim
! ply by the educational work done in the
common schools. 1t is absolutely neces-
sary that the state sustain a system.
broad at the bottom, furnishing ample
opportunity in the common schools, but
high at the top, furnishing through high
schools, normal schools. colleges and uni
versity work, preparation which will Mt
men and women in Georgia for the work
of conducting the common schools, and
all the educational institutions of the
state.
| 1t would be a mistaken policy to take
from your other institutions the money
they require, and give your educational
money exclusively to common schools. AT
the present time you have not sufficient
number of we'll trained teachers for your
4 common schools, and unless you encour-
IL. gr,ef
well trained teachers may be developed.
you cannot make progress with your COM
mon schools.
PROMPT PAYMENT OF TEACHERS
SALARIES.
The improved condition Of the schools
during the past year was in part due TO
the fact that the teachers were so much
| more nearly paid as their salaries were
earned than had been the case In prior
wears. The difficulty in handling the
finances of the state grows out of the fact
that taxes on property are all due In the
fall. and are paid in November, December
Il and January. During the other nine
months of the year portions OF the reVe-
nue. OF the state are collected, but not
sufficient to meet the expenses OF the
state during those nine months.
| 1t is, therefore, necessary to save part
| of the taxes collected in November, De-
lcember and January of each year to meet
I the liabilities of the state during the
succeeding nine months. There has been
an accumulation in the treasury of money
I for this purpose, but not sufficient TO pay
| in advance the pensions, and also TO meet
| the appropriations to the common schools
as the work is performed by the teach-
ers.
Last year, under the quarterly system
| of having pensions, the amounts due the
teachers were met practically as the SER
vice was rendered by them
| INCREASE TEMPORARY LOAN.
| The constitution of the state permits
the governor to make temporary loan
not TO exceed 100000 TO meet casuai
deficiency in the treasury. This provision
was placed in the constitution III Io,''
when the amount of revenue and appro-
nriations was small compared to the pres
emf time. Temporary loans are made our
linz the portions of the year when COL
Elections by the state are small ana are
always paid as soon as property taxes aie
collected. 49, |.o+
that If quarterly payment Oh pehsn 'Ja he
| abolished the constitution shoulu
| amended SO as to increase the amount OF
| ternnorarv loan which the governor coulo
make to $780, 900.
/ Teachers salaries are current expense
! of the state, just as pensions are cur
| rent expense of the state, and there Is no
reason for paying the pensions IN az
vance. and deferring the payment OF the
| teachers salaries. II the pensions were
natd seni-annually. half in the early
/ snrIng and half in the late fall 1t would
no longer be difficult to meet appropria-
/ tions 70 pensions and to teachers as each
| fell due.
| believe II advisable to give the COVER
nor the authority to make temporary
loan of 10000 instead of 100000. A $780,
200 loan now. in view of the increased bus
| mess of the state, would not be greater
/ than a 5000. 900 loan in 1877, when the con-
| stitution was adopted.
II has never been the policy Of the state
] to create a bonded Indebtedness TO meet
current expenses. On the contrary, 1t
| has been the steadfast policy of the state
| to reduce it's bonded Indebtedness through
current revenue. II the state were max
ing large investment an issue of bonds
| could be legitimately made for that pur-
! pose. but an issue of bonds to meet cur
! rent expenses is dangerous and unwise.
SELL GOVERNORS MANSION.
| The governors mansion is now located
] in a business section of the city. 1t Is
! becoming constantly more and more noisy
| and less adapted for home use. Before
the end of the next two years 1t could be
! sold at probably over SZOO,OUO. twenty
| five thousand dollars would be sufficient
with which to buy a mansion really more
! suited for a home than the present gov
! ernor's mansion. BY using the balance OF
this money to pay the interest on the pub
lie debt, the surplus in the treasury could
be increased.
NEAR-BEER TAX.
The near-beer tax, amounting to $225,0OO,
is now in the treasury, available upon an
act of the legislature to be Immediately
! paid upon amounts due teachers, and L
have recommended that it be so appro-
priated.
The collection of what is due to the
state, coupled with care about appropria-
tions, and sound business judgment APP
piled to the management of the states
| affairs. should make it not difficult to
I successfully handle the finances of the
| state in the future.
! TAXES DUE BY WESTERN AND AT
LANTIC RAILROAD LESSEES.
I have given, together with the attor-
ney general, and employed counsel, con-
| siderable time to the investigation of the
A.. Of 1,a a