Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-01-03
EARLY ILLUSTRATIONS
FAVORED BY H0KE SMITH
Thinks Legislature Should In
stall Governors During First
of Year

31f81 week IN 1nnunrys Instead OF IN
nnidsummer. az new.
tsn-day meeting OF the generai
assembly IN January, TO install the
new Tcwerncr. Organise blth houses.
appoint committees. introdlcs genera
nnd LEGAL legislation and wnen neces-
ea<y. sisof United States senator.
A fc-day session OF the general as
sembly I'm midsummer, or such other
&4nes an may suit the ecnvenieEce OF
the lsgislators. fer the consideration u
1efrrd and local legislation and such
ether matters a. may demand atten-
4znn
Cpnsslldsts the October general sIec-
kIe.% with the congressional elections
C ovembsr. % that all VIII fall on
kha same day In November.
La foregoing represents roughly q
1m.Rklative program that win be pre-
seated 70 the general assembly next
e1nmsT. and which II IL believed will
h4ve the support OF Governor-elect
Hoke Smith. In addition the governor
viii probably recommend 70 the as
asnbly a comprehensive plan for the
Reformation or improvement Of TIE
states fiscal system. so that the treas
10y win se better enabled 70 meet thu
requirement Of the so-caiied lean
months-"
Governor Smith l. strongly In favor
CT the January Inauguration Of the
gcvsrnor. and the consolidation OF the
October and November eiecuons- ~
-aovfnr I'D the date OF the inaugula-
ton 60 January. the Legislature will
cut Off SIR months OF Mr.. Smiths next
terra Of office. but this feature rs not
dispIsasinx 70 the future executive. He
Is believed . be perfectly willing to
sacrifice one-fourth OF hts service 10
accomplish what he believes Will re-
dound to the interest OF the state
By inaugurating the governor IN
January. the. executive wiz then De
enabled % handle the states finances
Cor the entire fiscal year. Under the
present midsummer inauguration. in@
new governor goes In In July IN the
middle OF the fiscal year he Is IN
familiar. usually. with the general
scheme his predecessor has arranged
Ter financing the state. anu ali sorts
or confusion etc. Follows
A January inauguration VIII elimt-
nate the divided responsibility. anc VIII
shoulder uron each executive the 70
Rponsibi1ftv Tor the finances OF both
years OF his term II would. 50 Il is
claimed. give him an opportunity 20
plan during the early months 20 tide
the finances satisfactorily over the
Team months" az September. Octoo~r
and November.
Concerning the tsn-day session or the
legislature IN January. Governor Smith
Is believed not TO have committed
himself. though Il Is known that such
4 suggestion Il being well considered
~ him Z has been pointed out that
strong reasons exist for having short
session or the assembly r. January
whether the date OF the inauguration
Is changed or not The most impor-
tant OF these reasons revolves arounf
Ire election OF United states senator's
when the occasion demands.
Under the present arrangement OF
rnfdsummer seasion OF the assembly
Georgia Il liable . be without full
Representation In the United States
senate from March 20 midsummer OF
any given Sear. The terms or senators
expire on March (, and with miosum-
mer meetings OF the assembly the
vacancy thus occasioned cannot be
FILED az required by law. Heretofore
n the cases OF both Senators Bacon
ara Clay. the then governor appointsd
TIE incumbent 70 serve during the Ia
t~rvnl But the senate has gone on
record a. doubtful IS 70 the regularity
81 thia method. and II IL believed that
No future commission OF this kind win
- accepted. The governor IL without