Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-07-21
HOLD DOWN APPROPRIATIONS,
SAYS GOVERNOR TO ASSEMBLY
Gov Smith Points Out in Special Message That Appopra
tons for 1911 viii Exceed Years Revenue by S227,149
Public Buildings and Contingent Funds Too Low Endorses
Auto Horsepower Tax

50, 100000, which was the surplus De.
cember 81, 1903
Our current revenue outside of ad va
loren taxes just about equals our cur
rent expenses. Pensions and appropri-
atfons to public schools are being me,
according to our present practice from
ad valorem taxes. With only surplus
of $1,S50,000 the first of January, after
the pensions are paid in the early
spring, this surplus will be reduced tc
S650,O0O which Will be all that will be
available for paying public school teacn.
ers until the fall of next year.
i urge that appropriations be held
down in future to the yearly revenue OF
the state, and, in the meantime, that
every effort be made to increase the rev.
enue Of the state so that the excess OF
appropriations for the present fiscal
year may be met by an increase of rev.
enue.
AS one means of helping to accom-
phsh this result I suggest license tax
per horsepower on automobiles some
what commensurate with the burdens
which automobiles place upon the pub
lie roads of the state
HOLD THEM DOWN.
I desire to suggest further thar o,,r
two big APPROPRIATIONS for pensions ana
Tor public schools be not Increased dur
ing the next two years. They now con-
sumo thTee-fourths Of 4he entire reva.
nue. of the state.
NO one believes in public schools mora
than l do, but we ought not to make an
preparations for them and allow the
counties to employ teachers based upor
these appropriations unless we provide
the revenue to meet the appropriations
and to meet them promptly.
I rara .,,xr
erence to advancing the time for the
payment of taxes by the corporation
which make their returns to the comm
itroller general and also for an increase
o. the borrowing power of the govern
or. OF course,s this borrowing power
should be limited to a temporary short
time loan.
The difficulty about determining jus,
how appropriations for a particular
year In the past compared, is due to the
fact that our treasury department state
ments are made up annually on Decem-
Der 81 showing receipts and disburse-
ments during the preceding fiscal year.
YEARS OVERLAP.
Our appropriations, although made for
a particular year. are to a considerable
extent paid dufihg the six months fol-
lowing, and our revenues though fixed
AOh q particular year are alSO corrected
in considerable part during the six
months following.
The treasurer has agreed in future to
have kept an account In which will be
entered a record of the payment of all
'appropria tons made for a particular
year, whether paid during that year or
paid subsequently,, and also a record of
all revenues fixed for a particular year
whether collected during that year or
collected subsequently. This win make
1t practicable to see at a glance how
the appropriations for a particular year
compared to revenues for the same year.
Such an account can be practically COM
plete by the first of July or the preced-
ing year and it will make It possible to
see almost at glance exactly how APP
preparations for a given year compared
with the revenues for that year. 1 have
suggested to the treasurer that he keep
this account because from experience
/ know how helpful it will be. both in
preparing revenue scheme and in fixing
the amount of appropriations.
HOKE SMITH. Governor.