Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-07-04

y SMITH
fore been upon. the treasury
Our ad valorem taxes have been made
payable so late in the year because the
state is largely an agricultural state
await the sale of fall crops before re-
quiring the payment OF taxes.
This reason does not apply to the
corporations making their returns to the
comptroller general and do not believe
IL would be any burden upon them TO
change the time for the payment OF their
taxes until September 1.
INCREASE BORROWING POWER OF
GOVERNOR.
Z In addition to this suggest that the
borrowing power of the governor be IN
creased to 100000.
When the constitution of 1877 was
adopted and the limit OF $4,000 placed
On the borrowing power Of the governor
the amount OF business done by the
state was very much less than II Is
now, so that a borrowing power OF
$500 900 will relatively be less now than
5000, 900 was in 1877.
OF course, IT should be provided that
the governor make only temporary loans
and that he pay off the loans when the
ad valorem taxes come into 1.4s --~as-
ury.
INACCURATE GOVERNOR IN JANU-
AIRY
In this connection, also, ! desire to
urge the Importance of changing the
time for inaugurating the governor and
installing the new state house officer TO
the first of January.
The governor is required to manage 70
a large extent the finances OF the state.
Our fiscal year runs from January 10
January l. The same governor snouio
have the opportunity to plan and man
age the finances of the state Tor the
entire fiscal year
There are many things connected with
the governors olIice and with the state
house Officers which are all in the midst
of execution on the first OF July.
Take for instance the returns, assess
ments ana aruitrations connected with
!. q property of those corporations which
make their returns to the comptroller
general The work is done from the
first of May to the first of September
1t is most unfortunate to change OH
GERS during this period
Again, consider the movements OF the
military. They go into camp usually
in July. All the arrangements must be
made for them to go into camp prior TO
that time and yet the money to be used
to meet their expenses and the physlcai
handlinr- of the encampments depend up
on the Judgment of the governor VINO is
in charge after the first o. July.
other reasons could be given but do
not deem them necessary.
l urge that the legislature meet the
second Tuesday in January Immediately
after the biennial election and hold then
a short session at which both houses
can organize, the results of the election
no declared and the governor and state
house officers installed. Twice out OF
six years 1t will be necessary also Tor
the legislature to elect a United states
senator.
At this first short term of the legis-
lature, committees could be appointed
and bills introduced. Eight or Ten Gays
would be ample for this short term, art
er which the Legislature could adjourn
to q summer session.
While this would cause three sessions
Of the legislature, there would be no
necessity for increasing the number OF
days that legislature holds, ana tne
increased expense to the state wouio
be but nominal. The advantage IN the
management OF the business OF the state
would be very great
REMODEL COMMON SCHOOL LAWS.
For several years the teachers or Geor-
g1a have been urging modification OF
the laws applicable to our school system
Last year a bill passed the house Du'
failed of action by the senate. Again DillS
have been carefully prepared looking To-
wards an Improvement in our school sys
/ tenn. / will not consume the time to ais
cuss these bills in detail but believe
measures substantially upon the line OF
/ the bills prepared at the instance of the
teachers of the state should be adopted
GOVERNORS MANSION.
An important business question which
will be efore you will be the disposition
/ to be made of the governors mansion.
Two years ago suggested its sale and
/ expressed the opinion that probably Il
would bring $500 900. At that time this
price seemed high. Now we have beer
I offered $350,000 for 1t. This simply Illus
trates the growing value of the property.
believe the wise course is to lease
l the property for a long term OF years
! II the property were sold and according
to the terms of the constitution the pro
! ceeds applied to the redemption of the
bonded Indebtedness of the state, the pur'
chase of the bonds could scarcely be had
on a basis of more than 3 1-2 per cent
The property can be leased on basi!
much larger than this. and when the
lease is over the people of the state viii
still own the property. We may not live
/ to be present when the lease closes, bu
we have had many blessings from oul
ancestors and we can afford to do some
thing for our descendants. 1t is hard Il
estimate what this property would b
worth at the end OF 80 years.
WESTERN AND ATLANTIC RAIL
ROAD.
No more important business problem II
presented to the state than the Western
and Atlantic railroad.
favor the extension OF this road t.
the ocean. Four years ago / suggested
that convicts could be used for this pur