Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-08-27
STATES FINANCES
SHOULDSHOWG GAIN
AND NOT DEFICIT
Murphey Gambler Riddles Ran
dolph Anderson's Prediction Of
a Deficit of s967, 800 in Treas
uary 1, 1910.
SMITH LEFT TREASURY
IN ExoELLENT, SHAPE
Former Chairman of Appropria-
tons Committee Shows That the
New Administration Has In
Herited No Embarrassment

der1teQ NO GT1D2r
A statement was recently given out %
]. Randolph Anderson. OF Savannah. one
of Chatham eounty's representatives IN
the legislature. to the effect that On JAN
uary 1. 1910, there win be a defieit in The
states treasury amounting to s961Soe. Ihs
statement purports to be based Upon
conference between Mr.. Andersen. Comp
troRer General Wright and Treasurer
Pope Brown. Evidently Il Is an atteulpi
to saddle upon the administration OF for
mer Gov Hoke Smith responsibility for
any fnancia, embarrassment that may
arise under the present administration.
Investigation has proved that Mr. An
derson's estimate is unwarranted BY the
facts and that 1t was unautnortzed BY the
state treasurer or comptroller. Instead Of
a deficit of nearly MILTON dollars
the states finances should really ne
$50, 600 better of on January |, 1870 than
they were on January /. 1905. lion.
Murphey Gambler. vino was tnairman q
the house committee on appropriations ~
the general assembly OF 1907-0S, Shows n
a clear and Interesting interview whicn
appears in fun below that Etr. Andersous
figures and estimates are absurd Inquiry
at the Offices of the state treasurer ana
the comptroller general showed that they
were In no sense responsible for Alr. Air
dersons forecast and had not given +
their Endorsement. Comptroller Wngrf
said in this connection that although the
Office records we're open to public ipspec-
ton. he had nothing to TO with the con-
struction which any man might pot Upon
them one way or the otner. TREASURE
Brown said that he had attended no coss<
ference, but had simply casually dropped
into the comptroller's Office one csy when
Mr.. Anderson was there. He disclaimed
any Endorsement OF Mr., Andersons ssll-
mates.
Mr., Gamblers interview follows:
Mr.. CAKDEERS STATEMENT.
Yes, i have read the statenaeht IN sst
Sundays issue Of the Atlanta Cousttu=
ton from Hon. j. Randoi sIfl anderson. OF
Savannah, In which he estimates thai
there will be q deficit In the state tfva sur
on December 81. next. of not less than
SS6T co., and which he asserts will bc
chargeabie to the legislature OF 1878 aitu
Smiths administration. IL these state
ments and estimates are true or likely 70
prove So the people ought to know u
Ccncealrnent never hetters a bad condi-
ton. II they are not true, Mr. Ano<rson
has not hurt Ex-Governor Smith, but az
he claims to have made these eStimatea
on data furnished him by financial oui-
GERS of the state. thus giving them SENT
Official Endorsement, he has cone his state
a grievous injury.
1 am not unmindful of the prOprieiies
OF the official position I am now holding
ard am reluctant to take issue on sHch
matter with e member or the legislative
branch OF the state government. and do
not do so IN any partisan spirit, but in
asmuch as l was chairman of the house
committee OF appropriations in the gener-
al assembly of 19C7-S, and as Mr.. Anderson
charges the alleged condition OF the treas
ury partly TO appropriations recoinnended
by that committee and voted by that les
islature, I deem II not improper to give
you a true statement OF the inarcial OBJ
lientions which my committee and the leg
islature had to meet, how they did 80
and in what condition they left the stats
treasury.
Before doing this, may be permitted to
express my grateful surprise at Mr.. An
dersons statement that THE present leg
islature. at its recent session. reduced the
total amount of the general appropriation
act for 1870 by s5o0.00o.'' In itself thiA
statement is not very clear to my Mid.
as there was no appropriation act FOR lalA
prior 10 tki~ one 10 reduce. but | presls1nu
W An IsFson means that the general ai1
propTIation act for 1910 carries $4,000 less
than did the general appropriation act
Tor 1860. passed by the last legislature
nave not read the act as finally passed.
buf ftom TIE daily press reports Of iegifr
lative proceedings. l had not uotcsd any
mater ia decreases e&cep. In the amount
appropriated to the prison Department. In
which a reduction was made possible as
tie result Of the act OF the las general
assembly ending the lease system on
April last The press reports indicated
considerable increases In the mSiftsaanee
funds Of several of the states public ~
stitutions and for the state coileases. and
I am quite sure that. excluding the prison
department reduction. II Mr.. Anderson
will compare the general appropr,ation
act for 1910 with that for 1909. he viii Be
surprised 10 find it carries larger t,taL
UNFAIR COMPARISON.
II In claiming this reduction OF ss00,51o.
Mr. Anderson means as compared WIN
the entire general and special apPro0ria,
tons passed at BOTH sessions Of the leg
islature of Is07-s. Il might be fairer mas
much as the present legislature has held
only one session. and iuasn1uch as Il Is
well known that SPECIAL appropriations
are always heaviest at the second session
Of every legislature. to await the next
session Of the present Legislature. before
its appropriation record for
one session with that Of the last general
assembly for its entire exis ence.
Immediately after my appointment as
chairman OF the appropriations commit
tee, at the assembling OF the general
assembly TIE last of June. 1901. and with
Governor Smiths Inauguration. was in
formed by he state treasurer that the
available cash balance in the treasury at
that time was bout 5000 The public
building and the contingent funds were
practically exhausted. with the year only
half gone. s42.9S5 was past due and un
paid on pensions. The court OF appeals
Sed been organized and at work for sew
eral months. and unpaid. The deficiency
bills were therefore prepared. reported
and passed. covering the following items
NOT CHARGEABLE TO GOvkRe1 -*
SMITHS ADBfINOs7 RATION. to-wit:
Court OF appeals. back salaries
and expenses. s. -...-s 2i,2oooo
Continued on Page Thres