The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-03-18
REGISTRATION IS
 SHORT IN GEORGIA At Least 50,000 Persons Will
 Be Deprived of Votes NO INCENTIVE TO VOTE Hoke smith Has Issued a Card Urging Voters to Register, Which Is Taken
 To Mean That He VIII Run
 For Governor
NO INCENTIVE TO VOTE

| This information is of interest and irn- portance in view of the fact that the reg istration lists. under the new law, close on April 5, and no person registering after that date can participate in any general election held in the state this year. This includes both primaries and regular cleo tions for governor, statehouse officers, congressmen, members of the general as- sembly and others.
 This indicates a shortage of about 74000 in 100 counties as compared with 1908, or a shortage of approximately 100000 for the entire state Within the last few days, however, registration has been pushed rapidly as a result of newspaper agita- ton and knowledge of the fact that the registration books close six months in advance of the general election, which has gradually permeated to remote rural sec- tions of the state.
 The probabilities are, therefore that this shortage will be materially cut down, though those who have been closely watching the situation are of the opinion that there will be at least 5000 fewer voters registered for this years elections than was the case in 1908, when the cam paign was on between ex-Governor Smith and Governor Brown.
 There is. no campaign on now to stimu- late registration, and the average voter must go and register simply as a matter of public duty; but should exciting things develop in the state political situation, and there is plenty of opportunity for it, { will lNo ,nf fOs txyhn xxl 10 they failed to get their names on the books.
 Former Governor Smith has just issued a card addressed to the voters of the state urging them not to fail to register. He takes occasion to give his full approval to the new law, and enters philosophical, discussion of the citizens duty in the mat ter of exercising his right of suffrage.
 When asked If any special significance was attached to his issuance of this state ment. MT. Smith simply stated that he might have something to say in a gen. eral way from time to time on matters of public interest in Georgia.
 Taken in connection with other matters, however. Mir. Smiths statement has been considered, among politicians, as of much significance. It Is looked upon as accum- ulatiye evidence of his intention to make the race for governor in case Governor Brown announces, ,uwhich is now regarded | as foregone conclusion.
 Numerous Georgia counties are getting ready to hold their primaries in April, May and June and to nominate at the same time members of the general assem- bly, despite the fact that 1t has been pointed out that any member of the leg islature nominated otherwise than in the general primary will be in danger of los Ing his seat
 The new primary law forbids the hold ing of a general primary longer than 60 days in advance of the general election. Under this law the general state primary will have to be held after August G. and it is considered that any nomination or members of the general assembly prior to that time will be illegal
 Some of the counties which have had their attention called to this matter have arranged to defer the nomination of rep resentatives and senator's though they still insist upon holding their primaries for county officers and getting that busi- ness done with. This is usually done at the instance of the county officers them selves who are anxious to have their af- fairs settled as early in the year as possible, after which they can take things easy.
 The state executive committee will hardly meet before some time in June whereas it has heretofore been in the habit of meeting in the early spring. But the days of early primaries are over. and there Is no longer necessity for it. It is desirable to allow ample margin of time between the primary and the cleo ton, and speculation now puts the primary date at about the middle to the latter part of August. following the ad- journment of the general assembly 2 Dividends of Neal Bank
 That it will probably be a year before there is another dividend to the 5000 de- positors of the defunct Neal bank, is the Information that comes from the receiv- CTS, the Central Bank and Trust cor poraton.
 It is possible the time may be re- duced. but the chance looks slim nov. The depositors have been paid 50 per cent of what they had in the bank when 1t failed about two years ago The assets have scarcely banned out as well as was predicted by the receiver and others. and 1t is considered now that if the dep ositors should succeed in getting another 20 per cent dividend it will oe about all they can nope for. taking the most optimistic view of it.
 The state. however. which used the bank as one of it's Repositories received all of its money. Final decision has just been forthcoming from the supreme court with | in the last few days to the effect that the state held a first lien on the assets | of the bank for the entire amount of state funds deposited with it over de- positors and every other claimant
 This is an important decision to state banks as well as their depositors. There gre more than 100 state Repositories in | Georgia which from time to time carry deposits of state funds for which the state hold first lien. now definitely os- tablished by court decision, upon all their assets.
 Indications point to the fact that the near beer tax this year is going to make almost if not quite, as good a showing as was predicted for it.
 There are 26 cities and towns in the state in which near beer may be sold un- der the new law, confining the sale to cities and towns of population of 2500 or more
 Only eight of these have been heard | from so far. and the receipts to date are s111 ,3S7. It Is true that these include ths largest cities in which near beer is sold, but further receipts are still to come | from them.
 There is every indication. therefore. that the receipts from the near beer tax will go considerably over $0O00.000. and per hape reach 1850, coo which was as much as the state received from the liquor tax at the time liquors were allowed to be sold in Georgia. So. while whisky is gone officially, the state still gets practically the same income, and will | probably continue to do so until the yrohibitionists succeed in egisat;ng near teer out. They promise to make en effort in this direction at the coming session of the general assembly this summer.
 Two Big Atlanta Banks
 Atlanta now has two &i,oco0Oo banks. l-.. r-1I .I