Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1913-06-26
Re,iIing Governor Reviews Affairs
Of State.
ANNUAL MESSAGE TO ASSEMBLY
Governor Dwells at Length Upon
Compulsory Arbitration, Labor Con-
ditiOn and the Strike Troubles of A
Few Months Ago in State.
Atlanta, Ca. June Is, 1913.

sponsibilities of legislation for the
welfare of the people of this great
commonwealth, extend to you a cor
dial greeting, with the heartfelt hope
that our Almighty Guide will lead
your minds into the channels of wis
dom and elaboration. | cannot doubt
that the people have shown careful
discernment in the choice of members
of both of your houses, hence it is
with confidence that l lay before you
the views which | deem worthy your
consideration, recommending their en-
actment into laws which | believe will
enhance the we'll being of the state
These views affecting the proper
use of the ballot-the freeman's in
herited right-the safety of person
from disease and casualty, the eco
nomical, but judicious, expenditure of
the peoples money and the equitable
levying of taxes for collecting the
same, and other matters are such as
experience and observation in the ex
ecutive office have convinced me are
necessary for the protection of the
people and their progress on orderly
lines.
Registration Laws.
First for consideration, | call your
attention to the serious defects and
unnecessary barriers in the registra-
ton law now upon the statute book.
The requirement that the registration
lists shall be closed six months in ad-
vance of regular elections is more
drastic than that in any other state in
the union, and imposes unnecessary
hardships upon the country people of
this state. The same barrier to fran
chse rights for the choice of state and
county officers prevails in only less
degree against the voters in the cities.
Yet, in their municipal elections, the
latter are allowed as short time as
they desire for registration. With
some of them this limit is less than
thirty days. Hence, earnestly rec
ommend that your honorable bodies
make such changes in the registration
laws as will protect all voters alike in
their proper rights for exercising the
franchise.
Building of Public Highways.
The building of good roads is I'M
doubtedly one of the main factors in
the marked progress the state has
made in material development during
the past four years. Yet, as this
progress is mostly due to the use of
the states convicts, the state has the
right to require such handling of the
convicts as will generally benefit all
the people while increasing the facili
ties of the several counties.
recommend that the office of COM
missioner OF public highways be es-
tablished, and that it be filled with an
experienced civil engineer, at salary
and travelling expense, etc., to be fixed
by law.
DOuble-Tracking Railroads.
The increasing population ard eA
banding commerce of the state of
Georgia have now reached the point
where the peoples needs will soon de-
mand that the main lines Of the lead
ing railroads of the state be double
tracked. This is required for the
greater safety of the millions of pas
sengers and the enormous amounts of
freight transported. The single tracks
of some roads are now becoming al
most inadequate to modern require
ments. With the double tracks not
only would life and property be bet
ter protected, but speed, comfort and
practically all advantages would be
materially enhanced.
State Auditor.
l respectfully call your attention to
che great need of an up-to-date sys-
tenn of auditing accounts, and recon-
mend that you establish the office of
state auditor with such clerical force
as is found needful. / am confident
that an auditing department, with the
authority to supervise all eXpendi-
lures, would save many times its cost
each year.
Farm Credit System.
The farm credit system which has
wrought such extraordinary results
for good to the dwellers upon the
farms in Germany and some other Eu-
ropean countries has attracted wide
attention within the past twelve
months in this country.
That our people may have direct
information upon this subject, rec
ommend that your honorable bodies
appoint joint committee to whom
shall be added about three or five 9TH
er citizens of Georgia to be named by
the governor, for the purpose of Sc
curing and placing before our people
the most available plan of securing
for our farmers at the lowest rates
of interest such money as they may
need for the conduct of their affairs.
Inheritance Tax.
desire to here repeat the sug-
gestion / made to your predecessors
in 1909, viz: FIJI
Over three-fourths of the states now
have laws providing for an inheritance
tax. A proposition to impose ma
tional inheritance tax has lately been