The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1910-06-29
MY LOGICAL ARGUMENT HE
URGES CHANGE IN NEW
REGISTRATION LAW.
ROTH DEFECTIVE AND UNWISE

,ondment of Tax Laws, Reor-
IMITATION of State Board of Ed
ootion, Prompt Payment of Teach
&c Reduction in Number of Rail-
road commissioners and an Inher-
,tonce Tax Among the Recon-
mendations.
Governor Browns annual message
no legislature constitutes we'll
10 aaidared review of the political
coon5i+ions of the state and a guide
co olt to needed legislation.
PO1%' nong the things which the gov
az recommends are the follow
ing: 4l,o roais+ro+ion low
amendment of the tax laws so that
.,o HE corporations and wealthy
~ sno owners will pay fairer
lhora of the taxes needed to run the
''",' bond issue of 100000 to pay
.bo e+ate's school teachers promptly.
reorganization of the state board
of education, placing only expert
oncod educators on the board.
The establishment of a state bu-
reau of labor.
reduction of the railroad COM
mission from five to three members.
biennial sessions of the legisla-
ture.
A graduated inheritance tax.
Change Registration Law.
The larger part of the governors
message is devoted to the considera-
tion of the registration law which
requires the books to be closed six
months before the date of the cleo
tion, He insists that this law has
been conclusively proven to be a mis-
take that it has disfranchised thou
sands of honest and upright citizens,
ana should be speedily repealed.
He quotes the federal census of
1900 as showing that there were in
the state of Georgia in that year, eX-
elusive of foreigners not naturaliZed,
274,797 white males 81 years of age
and over. At the usual rate of in
crease, he estimates the present num-
Der of white males or voting age in
Georgia at 1929, 576. Reports indi-
cate. he says, that there are regis
tered today only $4,000 white
voters. Thus over 10000 cannot
vote.
The governor says that in several
counties where white citizens have
failed to qualify as voters negroes
sufficient in number to easily hold
+bc ho1 Of n n olnco1Jy
tested election have qualified.
The effect of the law has been to
permit cities like Atlanta, in the case
Of her 100000 bond issue, to close
her registration books only eleven
days before the election; whereas, in
the country the books are closed six
months before an election. He said:
This places them (the country
people, under a discrimination as
needless as it is unmerited."
He quotes instances in fourteen
Georgia cities and towns where the
result above pointed out has oc-
Cured.
The message, in part, follows:
What the Governor Says.
ITO the General Assembly:
Through the blessings of benefi-
cent Providence the past twelve
months have been replete with pros
perity for our people. The husband
man has received a gratifying reward
Tor the fruits of his toll; the labOrer
IN the city has found employment at
remunerative wages, and those in
DINER
man the average allowance of the
enjoyments of life.
1t is especially gratifying that the
aSperlties which had married the re-
atonshtps with each other of many
u our citizens have been sOftened
OF entirely allayed, and that peaceful
treasures are now the happy lot of
Iue generality of Georgians.
1t is to be sincerely hoped that
,hiS rest from political agitation will
long continue, and that our people
VIII cooperate in friendly accord in
oil endeavors to build up our COM
monWealth and to perpetuate mutual
IoIeration and good will.
-, IN this spirit | commend to you
ue kindred hope that in our conduct
u the peoples governmental affairs
we may hold ever in mind that the
nUhoIeSt is entitled to the same con-
Ssueration as the highest, that equal
It! Is the standard by which we must
measure all, and that fair play is
'"e ireeman's right.
Registration Law.
E.. with the desire to protect, there
oGIe' the rights of the people of Geor-
s,', 1 respectfully call your attention
90 me serious defects and unneces-
roil barriers in the registration law
p Tossed by your immediate prede-
tiSSSor' and repeat the recommended
a o,un made in my first message re-
f Tb"au,ng the provision which closes
ti lv oooks six months before cleo
- IN addition to the reasons 1 ad-
'Uceu IN that message l will add