The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-12-26
SCHOOL TEACHERS
 WILL BE PAID OFF Over Two Millions Paid Out for
 Education nAAkaaEAI nE nrAnInAn
PAYMENT OF PENSIONS
Demand Was Made for Change in Quarterly Payment Law and This Is Changed by the
 Legislature.

Atlanta, December 25.-(special.) .)-with i the payment next week to the school teachers of Georgia of more than $500, ,0O0, or about 15 per cent of the total appropri- ation for the year, Governor Brown will have paid them within the year 66 per cent of the largest appropriation which they have yet enjoyed-s2. .250.OO0. This Is not only the largest amount in cash but the largest percentage the teach CTS have ever received within the calendar year for which the appropriation was paid.
 Three sessions ago the legislature en- acted a law for the quarterly payment of pensions, upon the theory that this would enable a larger distribution to the teach CTS during the year to which 1t belonged. As the result of that law Governor Smith i paid a fraction over 6S per cent of a S2,O0O,000 appropriation to the teachers in 1908.
 In justice to the veterans a demand for change in the quarterly payment law was headed by the legislature, and 1t was ordered that they should be paid their 1 pensions in a lump sum at the beginning of the year.
 Notwithstanding the enactment of this law, Governor Brown has been able to do still more for the teachers than was done in 1908, paying them s1,500,0O0 within the year as against s1,274OoO in 1908. Governor Brown, however, did not at- tempt this until after he learned from the treasury officials that there would be plenty of cash on hand to pay the pen sions in full at the usual time, about Feb ruary 1.
 It is well known that balance due the teachers has been carried over every year on account of the fact that the state is behind with it's obligations to them, but the outlook is that they will get that bal ance in 191O earlier than ever before.
 If there are any counties In which the money is not received promptly 1t will be due to the failure of the county school commissioner to send in his accounts and requisition promptly. In all cases where these accounts are sent in the payment will be forthcoming as stated.
 There have been several municipal cleo tons of late In Georgia, wherein senti- ment as exemplified in state politics has cut a decided figure, and attention IS be- ing called to the fact by politicians who look for straws, that the victory has gone to the candidate or set of candidates holding the views of the present state ad- ministration and its friends. In the cases of failure 1t has been by narrow mar gin, and is attributable to other causes.
 A well-known politician who has been lafs Qf fAr aaf
 First, there was the Macon election, whe.a the issue was pretty clearly drawn between the Brown and anti-Brown fac- tions, wherein Moore, Brown man. won for mayor over Miller, long Identified with the opposition.
 'The same thing was witnessed later in Athens, where Hugh Rowe won by de- cided majority over Frank Rhodes. Brown and anti-Brown sentiment was strongly mixed up in this fight, and the former was successful.
 Next, down in Douglas, Coffee county, Dr. W. c. Bryan announced for mayor, whereupon the friends of the administra- ton got busy and put out F. L. Sweat Result: Sweat 369, Bryan 42.
 Tn the Waycross municipal election the anti-administration forces won out. electing Cox. but by plurality of only about 15 votes over Bowden, and, I am informed, there were other controlling causes that figured in the result.
 Lee county has always been close, and although Ed Martin is one of the best known and most popular men in the county, he was elected to succeed c. H. Beasley, who resigned his seat in the legislature over his opponent, a young lawyer, who recently moved to the coun- ty. by a majority of only four votes. Martin has generally been known as one of the anti-administration party.
 Tn Valdosta, on the other hand. in a recent election for council, the admins tration candidates won out by more than two to one.
 While of course the two factions in state politics have taken no hand in these local affairs, it has been abundantly ap- parent that the sentiment as manifested on one side and the other has cut some figure in every one of them.
 Whether or not these incidents may be taken as an indication of general senti- ment throughout the state, I cannot say. but feeling as I do. would rather have 1t this way than otherwise"
 Georoia's New LAWS.
 Among the laws which so into effect with the beginning of the new year is the famous near-beer section of the new general tax act.
 Now near-beer can be sold almost anywhere within the limits of the state except where prohibited by special en- actment.
 Beginning with January l, it's sale will be restricted to those cities and towns which, under the census of 1sou can show q population of more than 2600.
 This will narrow down the sale to 26 Georgia cities and towns. The number would have been 27 but for t1i e fact that one city having the requisite population, Waycross. is in a county fin which the sale is wholly prohibited by special enactment
 The act will materially limit the pop ulation which will be permitted to con- tinue in the enjoyment of this luxury.
 The only other change made in the law regarding the sale of near-beer is an increase in the state license tax which becomes $500 upon retailers in- stead of S200 as heretofore. and 5000 instead $500 upon wholesale dealers. Atianta's City Prison. Atlanta is in the midst of a pretty row over conditions prevailing at the l city stockade which have more or less involved the commissioner of public works, H. L. Collier. and in which some sensational and interesting revelations are promised. Whether they will be forthcoming or not. is another ques-