Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-06-08
GOV. SMITH TO LEAVE
A FULL TREASURY
He Will Turn Ship of State Over
To Gov.Elect Brown With
Plenty of Money and Few Oh
legations to Meet.

The stories of the great deficit" in
the state treasury have been dissipated
by an investigation of the states fl
'nances, and it appears that Governor
elect Brown, when he assumes office.
will find the treasury in better shape
than il has been in years. Governor
Smith, despite unusually heavy and eX-
traordinary expenses, will leave much
more money to the credit of the state
than was in the treasury when he sue
ceeded Governor Terrell
The records of the treasury depart
ment show that, not only will the out
going administration leave more money
to the credit of the state than 1t re-
ceived $rom the preceding administers
tion, but that 1t has been confronted
with curtailed means for acquiring
cash; yet. it appears, it has paid more
to the soldiers in pensions, more to the
soldiers home, more to the common
schools. and more to numerous state
institutions than has ever been paid
before in the states history.
When the legislature met on June p,
1907, and Governor Smith assumed office,
there was in the treasury 1915, OOO in round
figures; when the legislature meets this
month, and Governor-elect Brown as
sumes Office there will be in the treasury
$475. 900, with fewer obligations by many
thousand dollars than confronted Gov
ernor Smith. In a word. the new governor
will have on hand 100000 more money.
and many thousands of dollars less to
pay out than did Governor Smith.
SOME DETAILED FIGURES.
Already this year, Governor Smith has
paid to the old soldiers in pensions 1885,
900, whereas up to July in 1907, when he
went in office. only $s4s,OOO had been paIu
to pensioners, and $4,000 was still due
them.
1t appears also that on other fixed OBJ
legations the state, this year up to date,
has paid about So, 600 more than had been
paid for the same period under the pre-
ceding administration. Every obligation
has been met as IL has matured, and
Governor-elect Brown will find no indebt-
ednesses hanging over, and requiring his
attention.
Comparing last year, 1898, with 1906. II
is found that the state, in 1908, has paid
for additional purposes-common schools
largely more than was paid for the same
purposes during 1906. towit: 1908. the
school fund.- as shown by the treasurer S
report. was S2.206, 000 as against 81, 1876. 500
in 1905. These figures do rot represent
the exact appropriation for each year. but
correspond, approximately, to the war
rants drawn on the state treasury and
paid.
FURTHER COMPARISONS.
A further comparison shows that In
1908 the state paid out in pension 1892, 900
whereas in 1906, under Governor Terrell,
only 1000 was paid out for the same
purpose.
Searching further the report of the
treasurer, il is shown that in 1905 educa-
tional institutions, other than the COM
mon schools. including the state agricul-
tural college at Ath ms, and the eleven
district agricultural schools, received $685.
coo from the state, whereas, in 1906, they
received nothing. The Soldiers Home, In
1908, received $4,000. as against $1,000 in
1906. The state sanitarium, at Milledge-
willie, received, in 1908. $4o5, 900, as against
$3.50, 900 in 1906.
The states revenue, 1t appears, was
curtailed for 1908 by many thousand dol
lars, as a result of the prohibition law
which cut off revenue to the extent OF
S242, 900 from liquor licenses, whereas the
'near-beer' license for 1905 amounted to
only 1880.