Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-07-13
TEACHERS TO GET
THEIR BACK PAY
As Result of Splendid Condition
in Which Hoke Smith Left the
Treasury, Gov. Brown May
Wipe Out Indebtedness at Once.

With approximately $4,000 at his com.
mand, over and above money actually
needed for current expenses, including
the cost Of the legislature, it is believed !.
Governor Brown will, in a few days. be.
gin to pay the common school teachers OF
Georgia a part of what is due them in
the matter of compensation for services
rendered. The application of $4,000 60
the payment of teachers would, in large
part, wipe out the states indebtedness
in this respect, which has been STANDING
for years, and the part payment Of which i
Is now made possible only by the excellent
condition in which the state treasury waLs
left by Ex-Governor Smith,,
Governor Brown is in position to pay
s227,o0 to the teachers, Immediately the
legislature makes the accumulated nea,f-
beer, fund available, and he has author
ity, under the state constitution, to bor-
row $500, 900 from the banks, which could
also be applied to the payment of tina
teachers. 1e-,
The application of the ''near-beer", fund
TO the payment of teachers would not ~ {
any wise embarrass the the state treas. :
ury, and the governor might. 1t is pointed
out, borrow 100000 and apply II to pay
ment Of teachers, because the condition
of the treasury is such that the currelit
expenses for the quarter can be met by
the receipts and revenues from special
licenses and taxes. ea,
WOULD OBvIATE BOND ISSUE -
BY applying, the "near-beer'' fund Ia
the payment Of teachers and borrowine
900 for the same purpose the gov
ernor would obviate the necessity Of
bond issue to pay the teachers, as has
been suggested by himself. In Decenrq
Der, when state taxes begin to po'S
into the treasury, the governor could r
easily cancel the $4,000 Indebtedness
without any embarrassment whatever Be-.
Governor Brown has already asked the
legislature to make the "near-beer' furd
OF s2Z7 900 available for general puIposeSs
but his message on this subject was writ
ten when 1t was enormously believed thai
there existed a deficit in the treasury,
and the disbursements for the quartex
would exceed the receipts by many thoals !.
sand dollars. X
Representative HUE, since the true SIT.
uation with reference to the states imam
cial condition has become known. has
introduced a bill to make the ''near-beer"
money available for the purpose OF pay
ing school teachers. His measure il now
pending, but 1t is believed the governpK
could apply the "near-oeer" money direct
ly to the payment of teachers, IL the leiE-s
islature would pass a simple resolution.
ernbodying this idea &
The approximations Of the treasury
.alaruists relative to q deficit IN the
treasury have been thoroughly dissipateeL
and. it appears today, that instead Of nc9
having money enough on hand to pay Tor s
the session of the legislature there is.ainl
fact, twice enough cash to the states
credit to defray the expenses of the as.
sembly.
cat the close OF business last night
there was In the treasury $12S,57s.6e," said
State Treasurer ]. Pope Brown toda.h
and expect that this sum will be swelled
by. s2S, 900 In a few days when the taxes 2
of the Atlanta. Birmingham and Atlanta !.
railroad are paid by the receiVers."z ~
1t costs about $4,000 TO defray the ez- s
penses of the legislature, and there -
now in sight over $4,000, which Is corr 3
siderably more than twice the amount rsl-s
quired for the solons.
The fact that the treasury Is IN such
good shape, exclusive OF the ''near-beera &
fund, enables Governor Brown. In his
discretion, to borrow from the banks ana
add the money thus acquired TO the
''near-beer" fund IN paying the teachers.
Previous to this year, nearly all the gov
errors of the state for a decade past
have been required 10 borrow from the =
banks to meet current expenses. Cover
nor Brown win not be required to do tnig.
and he is in position to borrow 10 help
pay the teachers.
HASN'T DECIDED.
The governor states that he has net
definitely decided what steps he will take
relative to the suggestion that the neat
beer fund be applied to the payment Of
teachers He Is, however, considering the
matter, and may, It is believed, abandon
his idea of a bond issue and pay the
teachers with the "near-beer" fund and
money he borrows from the banks
81 am not dogmatic about the plan I
suggested for paying the teachers" said
Governor Brown this morning. How
ever, haven't studied the details OF the
matter sufficiently to yet form a decision
as to what course I VIII pursue"