Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-28
TAX REVISION IS
SLATON'S PLEA
IN MESSAGE
= New Governor Also Urges Change
in Criminal Code, AbOIishing
Defendants Statement,
Continued From Page I.

s2s7s 600 which falls due in May and
July. 1918.
II refuudiug bonds were issued Boo
b 1915 making the FIRST sI00 900 fan due
in 1885. then the sinking fund could Pc
made 10 run continuously and reilfe
each year. until paid SlVoupO OF lhi7
series Of 1915 TefuudiuE bonds.
This plan would seem advisable f
order 10 relieve the treasury ana .he
people NJ the increased burden an ille
time, unless financial conditions az Lh"
time of the sale of the bonds should de
u mand that their redemption begin "a an
earlier period in order 20 eHeciuaLe
! their more satisfactory disposition.
Leading bond men IN financial cen
tiers have stated that 10 they were GER
tlfed by some responsible trust com
VI pany, thus assuring their genuiueness,
p and guarding against their being coIh-
" terfeited. and IN their validity were ap-
proved boy attorneys who are specialists
N this line the expense would be more
than repaid in the price that could De
obtained. Certainly no safer invest
meut can be afforded than these bonds
] recommend that through your APP
propriate committees you consider al
once the matter Of refluding the states
. Indebtedness above referred To-
Registration Of Voters.
We believe the present rcEiStra-
tion law should be 80 amended that
when a voter has once proven his
qualification by registering and
btfNE tNTuliel5 ne AfldH Itilaih q
registered voter unless disqualified
a-. for cause due 90 himself
The foregoing extract from the last
platform upon which ] was elected, eN-
presses a principle which deserves uni
o. versal acceptance II contempates no
change OF the constitution which pro-
vides for the qualification Of the voter.
The farmers Of a neighborhoOd have
duly registered, but the succeeding year
when busy with their crops. they can
not send their taxes 20 the collector by
, some neighbor going 10 town, except on
penalty Of being disfranChised
The travelling men who have regis
tered one year can not send their re-
mittance the next year to the proper
officer, and so IL is with men In every
calling who perform civic duties and
who have overlooked the last day 81
registration, or have been prevented
VI from registering anew tN compelling
. reasons. The. professional politician
h. recommend that tho present, regis
~ tration law he amended 10 correct the
d. Injustice indicated IL would always be
provided that the voter must have paid
his taxes and not subjected himself 10
any Of the disqualhcations provided by
law
Highways
II Is needless 10 Impress upon you the
Importance Of our highways. Their
value is an asset Of the entire State,
IN Intelligent Highway Commission. or
Commissioner, clothed with proper au-
fnOTitts tONlQ ne the means OF NiiN'lN
benefit In suggesting proper methods OF
building the road adapted 20 the local
ity. or In solving the problems ot engi-
neeriug which might arise In various
sections
.-. call your attention 10 the Western
and Atlantic Railroad, tie lease Of
which terminates IN 1913 No one, | an
prehend. would or should consider Its
sale but the problem OF It's disposition
should he considered by commission
( With directions 10 report It's recon-
and It's reasons therefor
To delay this matter viii mean 10
q aput the state at the lnexcusable dis
advantage Of unpreparedness when the
!. time arrives for Imperative action
The Criminal Code.
one OF the fundamental purposes 81
? government is the protection OF life
and safety ~ the citizen II the rules
Of evidence arc so shaped as to pre-
vent the discovery Of the truth. and Il
the state is deprived " the means OF
Sitting the facts, the judges and turies
are not TO be blamed n crimes are al
lowed 10 go unpublished. a.
n is an anomaly that defendant
should lake the stand, make any state
nent that he sees ~ or that his shreWd
lawyer has prepared, and being immune
from cross eXamlnaupn, demand that
D the judge shall charge the Jury that
they may accept his unsworn state
ment in preference 20 all the evidence
s. in the case.
His carefully written statement may
contain all manner Of prejudiced asser-
tions which constitute no defense. but
the State is not allowed TO disprove or
8 10 question them. The jury is hy law ig-
r. struCted thar they may consider them.
Without introducing evidence, In order
that his attorney may make the last
d. speech he declares that he can prove
assertions by various witnesses. often
disreputahle men, and challenges the
solicitor General 10 introduce them This
q can not be done because the state can
not vouch for thFlr character
l. therefore. recommend that law he
passed abolishing the defendants state
ment, and providing in its place that
he be sworn as a witness II he desires,
but his failure 20 be so sworn be not
subject to adverse comment by prose-
cutting counsel This is in accordance
with current Federal and State law.
The legislation in Georgia against car
,rying concealed weapons has in recent
q suggested by the law Of self preserva-
s., ton Daily we read OF men who have
shot others and have been acquitted
on the old statement that the deceased
threw his hand on his hip pocket. ant
the defendant shot I'M fear OF his life
4" When searched. the dead man was fOunC
. generally unarmed.
II the carrying NJ concealed weapon,
= were made a felony. subject 90 be re,
. duCed to q misdemcanor by either iudg,
or jury. the deterrent effect OF such q
law would be the saving Of many
life. ] earnestly recommend 10 yol
the consideration Of this question.
Banking Laws.
The banks of "a State perform public