Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-01-20

Cov-eaect E4oke Smith. IN a statement
Wednesday. calls the attention Of the
pablo, and especially the legislators. TO
several measures that may come up for
consideration next summer. the question
q finance being important among them
TIE suggestions are highly pertinent, and
aEr. smith asks consideration and eriti-
cfsm which win aid in securing wise leg
iaati0n. He gives out suggestions a 70
I'VE measures and says that he will
snbrnit measures on rural schools and
agricultural progress later.
Briefly. Mr.. Smith says first that the
management or the finances Of the state
can Be improved. and that 3 provision
should D made to meet every appreprtas
ton. Especially those for teachers sala-
rses. - plan to meet this he sslg-
eeets that the borrowing power Of the
governor Be Increased to $4,000. and the
time for the payment. of taxes BIZ rail-
roads and public. service companies adj
xanced. to September /. he says that
tnls. would werk no hardship on the com
panses. ard would bring <E5Onoo more
40 the state treasury = a time when
e - sadly needed -
Continuing. he advocates that. to fur
ther far1itate the. handling OF the states
business. the governor. comptroller gem
erai and treasurer be made finance
board with general supervision over the
collection Of taxes, the deposit OF money
II banks and the borrowing OF money. IL
nhCemsary-
He also suggests that the time of the
Inauguration OF the governor and the
state house officers &c changed efreu
June TO- January !. This would give
them charge Of the business Of the
state Tor the entire fiscal year. instead
Il only half a year
THAT October elections should be aban-
noned. and that all state house officers
who are now elected in October be elect
"a IN November at the same time that
kongressmen are elected. i also the
opinion or the governor-elect.
Fo1lowiug - the statement given out
z.ss-sss - e-zfsss, IN which he sets forth
Ass views: go.
! wfsh % ask consideration by TIE pub
&c. and especially BY the legislators.
or measures which may come before the
legislature next summer.
~ desire Il to obtain that criticism
which vii aid in securing wise action.
There are other measures especially
nextalning to rural schools and agrieul-
turz1 progress which will submit later
aan-
sex fer cooperation free from parti-
80 bias. thai We may accomplish the
greatest possible service for the people
Ct the state.
The present system Of managing the f.
nauces Or the state can be improved and
provision should be made ~ which every
arpropriation. and especially those for
keachers' salaries. win be promptly met
i suggest the following plan:
l. Increase the borrowing power Of the
governor. or those 20 whom the borrow
lnw power Is entrusted, to 10000 each
year. TIE money 10 be borrowed for i'm
lied time and paid back as soon as there
L money n the treasury from the c0llec-
lion o. taxes 10 pay IL back So
Z Advance the time for the payment OF
taxes ~ railroads and public service com
ranies to September l. ~ftt'
u support Of these two suggestions ]
wish to call attention TO the fact that
nur taxes now are payable December -.
Appropriations are made for each year
depending &c q considerable extent for
their payment upon the al va.orem taxes
due December %.
The current income OF the state. outside
81 the ad vzlorem taxes. viii meet cur
rent expenses other than the sppropria-
tons - pensions. schools and payment
q interest on the public debt
TIE state has q surplus with which II
begins the year Of over s2.o0oo0o. This
viii meet the amount due to pensions, the
appropriations to schools and the interest
On the public debt. until about August /
Prom that time on the funds OF the
state sc short and IL is impossible 20
meet the appropriations to the public
schools
BORROWING POWER
The annual borrowing power OF the
state was limited by. the constitution OF
1s77 70 xsao.0oa The volume OF business
dous ~ the state. that is 70 say. its rev.