Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-25
Double Tracking of Railways Owned
by the State Is Urged by Brown.


the people Of this great Commonwealth
extend TO you a cordial greeting. with
the heartfelt hope that our Almighty
Guide will lead your minds into the
channels Of wisdom and delibera ton.
can not doubt that the people have
shown careful discernment In the choice
Of members Of both Of your houses
hence IT is with confidence that lay
before you the Views which / deem
worthy your consideration. recommend
ing their enactment into laws which
believe will enhance the well-being Of
the State.
These views affecting the proper use
Of the ballot-the freeman's inherited
right-the safety Of person from dis
ease and casualty. the economical. but
5udicious, expenditure Of the peoples
money and the equitable levying Of
taxes for collecting the same, and other
matters are such as experience and OBJ
servation in the Executive Office have
convinced me are necessary for the pro
lection Of the people and their progress
on orderly lines
can not refrain from promising with
the statement that the words Justice"
and Equality" are the bases upon
which is built our governmental struc-
ture without justice government is
mockery, without equality we can not
have a republic. Therefore. II we be
patriots, our life lines. our ambitions and
andeavors cluster around these fateful
words.
Registration Laws Defective.
60 90
tention to the serious defects and I'M
necessary barriers in the registration
law now upon the statute book. The re-
quirement that the registration lists
shall be closed six months in advance
Of regular elections Is more drastic than
that in any other State in the Union,
and imposes unnecessary hardshlps upon
the country people Of this State.
The same barrier to franchise rights
rrr the choice OF State and County Of
hcers prevails In only a less degree
against the voters in the cities. Yet in
their municipal elections, the latter are
allowed as short a time as they desire
for registration. with some Of them
this limit is less than 30 days. Hence.
earnestly recommend that your honor
registration laws as well protect all vot-
ers alike in their proper rights for exer-
csing the franchise.
Under the present law upward Of 20
600 white voters in Fulton County alone
are deprived OF the right TO vote by the
operation Of the law In question And
the total number OF disfranchised
throughout the State exceeds rs 900. The
continuance OF the law. as framed, on
the statute book viii bring reproach
upon the State
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 European
countries has attracted wide attention
within the past twelve months in this
country.
/ attended a conference Of the Gov
ernors at the White House. called by
President Taft, in December 1919. for
the purpose OF discussing this system
Experts appointed by the United States
Government and by the Governors Of
some OF the States are now investigat-
ing this subject in foreign countries
Georgia is represented in this invesu-
cation.
That our people may have direct in
formation uopn this subject, l recon-
memo that your honorable bodies ap-
point a joint committee to whom shall
be added about three or five other ctti-
zens Of Georgia to be named by the Gov
ernor. for the purpose Of securing and
placing before our people the most
available plan Of securing for our far
mers at the lowest rates of interest such
money as they may need for the con-
duct of their affairs
When we realize that in Germany a
farmer can borrow money at a rate Of
interest not exceeding per cent, where
- in Georgia the gross rate paid runs
from II per cent sometimes to even
20 per cent the Importance OF this sub
Ject can be readily realized as being
paramount
Near Beer Tax Evasion.
The law providing for the collection
OF license tax for the sale OF near
beer is so drawn that the payment Of
this tax has been delayed or evaded by
very many dealers
To prevent excuses Tor delay in paying
this tax in future, / recommend that
you place the duty OF its collection upon
some OF the county officers with proper
com pensation therefor and also provide
adequate penalties for failure to make
prompt payment
Prison Commission.
/ would suggest that the Prison Com
mission be given authority and directed
20 inspect jatls. Ii is more important
that persons detained merely for trial
DC I1ARtiiA NhlcA lof IMAM llhk those
already convicted OF crime be treated
we'll
Many good women have urged me to
advocate the enactment OF a law pro-
vidtng for the inspection by women Of
those quarters occupied by female pris-
oners. | deem the suggestion a good one
and well in keeping with the demands
Of actual propriety and broad humanity,
ana as such commend il to you.
In this connection / viii state that II
has been proposed in some circles to re-
conviCts in order to maintain discipline
I-reE pectfully suggest that such a return
TO q practice semi barharOus in it's ma
tire would not be in keeping with the
enlightened spirit Of our modern ciVili
zation.
The point has been raised in the pub
lie press and On some other circles that
TIE State ought 10 allow moderate wages
20 cOnvicts in the penitentiary. such
wages TO be paid to the families Of
these convicts whose protector ana pro-
wider the State holds In confinement.
I scarcely think that we are ready to
take such a step; but in the event il be
seriously considered. ] respectfully sug-
seEt that, inasmuch as the convict is
immured because of his taking the life Of
another, or OF some damage done to
others il wages be allowed by the
State they should be paid mostly if not
entirely. to the family whom the convict
has deprived Of its protector and sup
porter.
Charge TO Jurles.
Experience having shown that in cap
ital cases trial juries from time to time
have requested the presiding Judge TO
recharge them upon certain points where
their memory had failed to retain the