Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-08-06
FACTS VERSUS FOOLESHNESS
ON GEORGLA,S TREASURY

Either from ignorance or spite and doubtless
from BOTH certain Reactionary grumbers seek
ing to ndict the Progressive Democracy of Georgia
for the present depletion of the States finances.
They would have it appear that in the days of Ter
rell the treasury dript and burst like summer
laden hive, but that during the Hoke Smith admin
istration, and as a result OF the forwardlooking
policies then established the exchequer oegan to
frost and shrink until now we have reached very
winter of discomfort"
Nothing could be further from the truth and the
record AS every observant citizen knows there is
today crucial need of devising some means where
by the States income will measure up to it's de-
mands. This is the problem of the hour, and one
which, in behalf of common interests, must be
solved. But it only be solved by business sense
and true patriotism, never by political nonsense
and partisan babbe.
The present condition of the treasury is not
chargeable to any person or to any faction but
simply to the circumstance that for several years
past the states expenses have been stead
lily growing while at the same time its revenues
have decreased, or at least have remained station
airy. These increases have been inevitable The Leg
slature has not been extravagant in its appropria-
tons; the contrary it has dealt sparngly as it
could with the needs of public institutions and the
claims of important enterprises The commonwealth
has not spent more than it could fairly afford, but 1t
has reached the point where it must provide more
adequate sytem of finance in order to the need
ed income and to move prosperousiy forward.
The Reactonaries are on treacherous ground when
they venture comparison of the states finances un-
der their own regime and under the Progressive pol
icies When Hoke Smith, entered upon his first CUB
ernatoria term that succeeding the Terrell admins
tration, he found the treasury almost empty In the
very outset it necessary to pass an urgent de-
fciency bill in order to meet the unpaid pension
claims of the Confederate veterans. The public
school teachers had been paid and in divers other
respects the financial condition ominous as it
well could be- Despite these handicaps, when Cover
nor Smith retired at the end of his first term all the
pensions had been paid and the cash treasury balance
had increased some two hundred and fifty thousand
dollars Despite the net loss of two hundred and
enty thousand dollars from liquor licenses in 1908
there was paid from the treasury five hundred thou
sand dollars for educational work than had been
paid in 1906 In the light of such a record, what be-
comes of the silly gossip that it the Progressive
order that started the states financial embarrass
ment. One of the distinctive features of the Smith
administration was it's exceptionally able management
of finances under exceptionally difficult conditions
1t was under the Terrell regime that the treasury
went dry and it was then, too that the tax rate
limited to five mills, thus closing the way to more
revenue in times of emergency. Since then, we
have said there have been continual looping off of
sources OF income and accompanying increase in
expenses
The private lease of convicts has been abolished
an act thoroughly commendable, but it reduced the
revenue some four hundred thousand dollars. The
prohibition law resulted in further decrease of in
come. Mr. McElreath, chairman of the House COM
mttee on appropriations states that the total loss of
revenue from these two sources, during the period
from January the first, 1909, to January the first
1912, was ore million, one hundred and ffty-two
thousand, seven hundred and eighty-one dollars
In the meantime the needs of the state have been
growing The appropriation to the common schools
was increased two hundred and fifty thousand dol
lars in 1909 then the Legislature submitted to
the people Constitutional amendment providing
for the payment of pensions to soldiers with property
AS a result of this amendment there mas been paid
to these pensioners approximately three hundred
thousand dollars year than heretofore.
Thus with increasing expenses and decreasing
revenues we have been burning the candle at both
ends. But it is obviously false and foolish to say
that this state of affairs is due to the laws and
policies of Georgia's Progressive Democracy And
the repetition of this idle cant will not bring
whit nearer the solution of the problem Let rise
above this petty and spiteful craftsmanship and fac
ing a business question in a businesslike manner,
people.
Roosevelt says the souths leaders in the third party