The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-02-28
Georgia's Expenditures For
 Two Years Make Deficit
SURPLUS IS ALL GONE
Rumors Are still FIoaflng Around That Hoke smith VIII Again Rum For Governor Against
 Joe Brown

urer. Hon. J. Pope Brown. Whlch ls now in the hands of the printer, shows Of sSS4,5S2.5s more than was raised during the 12 months of 1869 that was raised by the state during the same period
 From the reports of the state treas- urer and those of the comptroller gen. eral it is learned that during the years 1908 and 1909 the state spent a total of sSS4h5S2.59 more than was raised from all sources.
 The states total expenditures for the two years. according to these reports. aggregated s11,099,S72.57 against re- ceipts from all sources of si0,763, ,2s9.9s.
 In View of these figures. borne out by the reports of both these state of
 icials, it is difficult to harmonize the recent statements emanating from eer- tain quarters that within the same period the states treasury surplus has grown some s4OO,o0o.
 The excess of expenditures over re- ceipts would have been considerably larger had it not been for receipt by the state during this period of ap proxlmately $50, ,0OO buck taxes as the result of certain law suits. This money thus properly belonged to oth- CT years and if it were counted it "ould increase the exec ture to nearly $500,00o.
 Again, If Governor Brown had ex-
 pended the ses,0oO authorized by the legislature for the purchase of eer-
 tain land near Chattanooga for use as
 terminal property of the Western and
 Atlantic railroad, that excess would
 still further have been increased by that amount.
 The legislature made a contingent
 appropriation for the purchase of this property, but when the matter came to
 be investigated Attorney General John
 c. Hart advised the governor in g
 written opinion that as all money in
 sight had cen set ~s'''l = specific
 purposes Interviews which he avail able in thu which
 to make tlY papers on his ret mean time the ol, :. of this property ex- pired and som of the owners sought still further to gouge the state by in- creasing the price. But the governor had no authority to pay more than
 was authorized by the legislature. Hsioreover, in view of the fact that ter minal property will not be needed for
 the state road for some 10 years, and as there are other tracts available, those who understand the situation feel that the governor has acted wisely in not attempting to commit the state to this purchase at this time. He will report the situation to the legislature when it convenes and 1t may then reach further (opclusion as to what should be done in the matter.
 If Governor Brown had spent this money and the state had not collected the back taxes referred to, the state would then be in position of having expended during the last two years $553,5S3.59 more than was raised from all sources during that time.
 But, suppositions aside, the state did actually expend in that time $334,- 5S2.59 more than it received. All of which makes it difficult to understand the alleged surplus in the state treas ury on January 1 of $2,c00 .000 purport- ing to be an increase of s400,000 with in those same two years. How an increased surplus can be built up by expending more than is received is difficult problem to figure out.
 Y It may be said that many obiga- tions of 1907 had to be met in 1908. The comptroller generals report for 1907 shows receipts of s4,S13, 764.83 and expenditures of $4,707.469.59, or an ex- cess of receipts by s1S.2s5,24. But this could scarcely have made up the al- legged increase. ..s--
 According to one claim the state taxes collected in December are for the payment of the states expenses for the previous 12 months, notwith- ct a n 10 fao ot hot fbo 4a, of this money is used for the ex- penses of the 12 months following. But even admitting the claim to be true, 1t Is impossible to see how the sur plus thus figured out could be in- creased by s40o.0o0 while the state was paying out s3S4,0e0 more than 1t took in.
 During the first six months of it's existence each state administration is compelled by law and circumstances to carry out the financial policy of the administration Thus the policies of no administration can have effect on the finances of the state for at least six months after 1t goes into office.
 Presuming that considerable obliga- tions were carried over from 1907 to 1908. 1t is also true that as result of the panic of 1907 extensive collec- tiOHS dlSO Htllt ONcT tO IbVo.
 Governor Brown met far more of the states obligations in 1909 than is usual, but it is also true that the state was prosperous that year and taxes were paid with extraordinary 
 But the interesting question just now is did the state administration preceding the present one create a sur plus in the treasury or increase one already there? If such Is the case, per haps not inappropriately asked, what went with the money?
 The real truth of the matter is. no ioubt, that the excess of expenditures of $334,000 over receipts represents the only difference there Is in the state reasury status as it is today and as It stood January l. 1908.
 Browns Policy Attacked
 There is 8 paragraph in an editorial In the Journal attacking Governor Browns policy in declining to pur- chase certain land near Chattanooga Tor terminals for the Western and At antic railroad, which may possibly be proph etic of political developments In Georgia within the next few months.
 Governor Brown stated his reasons as authorized by the legisla- ture, reasons which. is stated, he will give the legislature in detail when 1t convenes.
 The other day the Journal sent re- porter to ask him why he did not buy the property and his reply was he had not bought it. did not intend to buy 1t and had no further reasons to give at this time. There followed editorial crit icism of his reply which brought forth from the governor the retort that in tho primary of June 1, 1908, the people of Georgia had instructed him not to report to the Atlanta Journal, and he proposed