The leader-enterprise. [volume] (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1912-1915, 1913-06-30

of growing wealth than the present"
But the state governments fiscal sys-
tenn has not developed with the times
l and the growth of our commonwealth.
, The period is approaching, if it has
not already arrived, when the system
must be reformed.
, Some method should be adopted
whereby the states finances will be
rehabilitated and precautions should
be taken to guarantee that at no time
expenditures will be permitted to
exceed the revenues. Our system OF
raising taxes has been improved but
little since the present constitution
was adopted. General wealth and
, the concentration thereof, having in
: creased to such a great extent and
our population becoming so diversl'
} fed, the method of levying taxes has
been reduced to the obsolete and in
efficient. The burdens of government
, should be placed in equal proportions
: to the benefits conferred and the pro-
lection enjoyed. All property should
bear in squa measure its share OF
taxes None should be taxed excess
sively and none should be permitted
to escape taxation.
We recommend that the legislature
at it's next session make provision
for putting into practical effect the
above undeniably correct principles
of government"
) The foregoing extract from the
Democratic creed must meet the ap-
prevail of all. At this time, with the
} necessity upon this legislature of pro-
viding for the refunding of over one
half of the states entire bonded DEBT
no revolutionary plan of dealing with
our financial system can be attempt
ID. Whenever it is done, If such
courses would be deemed wise, every
] feature of the new scheme will be
subjected to attack on coonst1tutlnal
: grounds in both state and federal
| courts. No radical experiment should
3 courts. No radical experiment
should be made at this time,
. No objection, however, can be Of
fered to a fair and conservative at
. tempt to justly apportion government
t tai burdens, without imperilllng the
: general income.
" II can not be denied that injustice
S is done when one man pays taxes on
= ten per cent of the value of his pro
9 perty, while another pays on tlfty per
= cent.
Equalization of taxes, either
0 through the enforcement of present
S laws, or new corrective, SO that each
: NAV bear his propOrtionate burden
9 would not mean the increase OF taxes
t upon any one now performing his
+ duty. but would rather mean the light
Q ening OF his unfair portion OF the
d load
: Public Economy.
a In closing this part of my message,
S 7 beg to call your attention to the
l. fact that | have emphasized more
than the raising of revenue the ne
r cessity of economy. The fundamen'
J. tai doctrine that the exaction OF a
n larger sum from citizens than is
Z necessary for the maintenance OF
r government is tyranny, is often over
It looked in legislative assemblies. Bun
e the function of government IN con
II tributing to the welfare and happl
s ness of the citizen is constantly en-
n larging. With this broadening OF
3 the field of its activities within con
1t servative limits is found not only an
g increasing elevation of citizenship
e but an accompanying growth Of
n material prosperity.
o Bonded Debt to Be Refunded.
S. An additional reason for establish
u ing and maintaining the state mn
ances on a sound basis, is the neces
p sitv of making provision for more
S than one-half of the entire bonded
Il debt of the state, maturing in 1918
It This is an importive duty resting on
3 this Legislature.
Registration of Voters.
d "There is nothing OF more import,
e ance than the protection OF the purify
0 of the ballot, for upon the FRANCHISES
0 of the citizens the liberties OF all
d must depend for perpetuatlon. How
T ever, the citizen should be encourag-
f ed to exercise the privilege OF Volc-
S ing his opinions in the conduct OF
S his government. Severe and unnec-
i essary restrictions should not De
4 countenanceds
Il eve believe the present registration
g law should he so amended that when
q voter has once proven his qualifica-
a tion nv registering and being enroll
cd he shall remain a registered voter
v unless disqualified for cause due 10
i himself. Permanent registration Woulo
Y stop the confusing difficulties now De-
v setting the voter and provide SAFE
q method for protecting the integrity OF
@ the ballot. We trust the next legls-
Q lature will amend the present law
Highways.
II is needless to impress upon you
s the importance of our highways. Their
u value is an asset of the entire state
e The family that receives its daily mail
, the farmer who hauls his product 70
d market. the school with its improved
> facilities, are all debtors to good
II roads.
e A student of the subject has declar
g ed that every hard rain in Georgia
r. damages it's roads more than one NIL
l. lion dollars, due to unsc1entlhc con
,. struction. An intelligent highway com
II mission, or commissioner, clothed WITH
n proper authority could be the means
d of untold benefit in suggesting proper
@ methods of building the road adapted
% to the locality. or in solving the prop
a lens of engineering which might ARISE
r in various sections. This proposition
o was embodied in the original bill plac
+ ling conivcts on the roads, and was
o only defeated by one vote in the
n house. Its wisdom has been recognlz
Is ed by my predecessors and concur II
Il their recommendations.
oI Western and Atlantic Railroad.
FE