Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-29
SLATON URGES
MORE CAREFOR
STATE MONEY
. Governor Tells Legislators That
Reckless Passing Of Appropri-
alton Bills Must Stop.
Continued From PAGE I.

Continued From Page I.
Brown. who turned to hand It to his
successor.
With the seal in his hands. John
VI. Slaton became Governor. He re-
peated the oath Of Office after Chief
Justice Fish, of the State Supreme
Court. and half turned. facing the big
crowd. the new Governor.
Applause Greets Governor.
Heavy applause greeted him. AM
applause in which the women In the
balcony Joined, with the deplora BILE
destruction Of gloves and dainty fans
IL was a spontaneous patter Of hands
that greeted Governor Slaton. a DEM
onstration that was sincere, and that
z showing signs OF tagging at times
r was lifted and revived by an enthusl-
astic yell from the throat Of a Iowa
Slaton man in the hall. There was no
dignity or regard for the summer
heat at that moment, but a very evil
dent desire to pay tribute TO the big
smiling man who was the new Gov
eraor.
The applause subsidized. Governor
Slaton launched into the delivery ~
his inaugural address. He held the
typewritten manuscript In his hands
but do not once refer to H. Al this
there was a murmur Of common,
John NJ. Slaton was doing something
different.
The address was Of considerable
q length. but delivered in the clear.
forcible method that is Governor S'a
tons, II was followed with the silent
interest of everyone. II was a whole
some appeal for sane administration
Of the States affairs--wholesome and
CHEEKY.
THE progress Of the world has been
accomplished by the optimist,' was
the typical utterance with which il
began.
slaton Sounds Warning.
Recountins the advantages that
Georgia has 10 offer, and the institu-
TORS which have been established )yl
the State government the new Gov
ernor sounded a warning. which be-
came the keynote OF his address.
In the enjoyment OF all these bene-
fits" he said I'VE have failed 10 bear
in mind that for these blessings en-
joyed by our citizens for the first
time. money must be paid. and we
have overlooked the fundamental |
principle, the disregard OF which
means financial dishonor, that our
appropriations must not exceed our
revenue.
Il desire to impress upon you with
all the force at my command that II |
is imperative for you TO make an IN
vestigatlon into the financial condi-
ton OF the State, 10 consider the
reasons occasionlng the present sit
uation. and TO take steps for the inn
mediate correction of the evil
Governor Slaton outlined the hnan
rfa4 progress Of the State since the
days OF Reconstruction. II remained
FOR recent Legislatures. he declared
to burn the candle Of the states reve-
. nues at both ends.
-rhe appropriations OF 1871 exceed
ed the revenues he said, and you
will observe that while appropriations
were being increased. sources OF revc- |
nue. were being lessened, ana no pro- |
vision was being made TO supply the |
deficit"
He denounced the system under
which the legislator Is Influenced. by /
a desire to maintain public favor To
vote for appropriation bills for which |
he sees little revenue.
States Credit Suffers.
Woe 10 him. he said. who, In
connection with popular appropria-
ton. makes the prosaic suggestion
that the State has not the money. He
is stamped in the Legislature and at
b home as an enemy Of the people. The
system Is wrong
~ The legislator has made himself a
favorite with his constituency by yot- |
ing for every popular appropriation, |
and nothing suffers but the States |
credit When the crisis arrives no |
i, one can put his hand upon the one !
, who caused H. He has yielded TO the /
insistence Of those who have pressed !
upon him the necessity OF each APP |
preparation. and has escaped the con- |
demnation and miscoustruction of an |
UNPLEASANT refusal The situation ie |
unfair TO the legislator and TO the |
state
The Governor suggested remedies.
One was the proposal Of constitu-
tional amendment for an extra as
= EeFsmeut of one mill for one year. and
r. half a min for each succeeding year,
in order that school teachers be paid
with promptnese The delay in the
payment Of teachers salaries, he said.
was a CRYING shame 4 direct tax uf
one and one-half mills win provide
pensions allowed for 1918. he said.
Il recommend that you propose
constitutional amendments which
shall provide that the appropriation
: for schools shall not exceed two and
!. one half mills In addition to the con
!, stitutional appropriation he said
j "and shall not exceed one and one
q half mills or exceed S1,lS0.000 an
= nually for pensions
u Suggests inheritance Tax.
He suggested an innovation in rev
. eHNe- EtAllltHs III Allt NAttkt bl an III
= heritance tax. claiming that four
= ffths of the States derive revenue
from this source and that 81 IS oper-
ating with success.
A maximum occupation tax OF 5000
for corporations of capital stock more
than 81 100000. ne suggested. with the
!. tax on corporations of less capital ad-
s iusted accordingly. The rational
rs equalization Of taxes he Endorsed too.
Z. as means for the production Of a
81 more substantial revenue.
- Other Endorsements made by him
Il were: Consideration by the Legisla-
ti Jure Of the matter of refundinE the
= States bonded Indebtedness. a law
F for permanent registration Of voters.
e the appointment Of a highway com
mission, consideration by a commits
sion Of the Western and Atlantic Rail-.
road problem, and the recommended
. ton of a law abolishing the defend
- ants statement in criminal procedure.
and providing in its place that he be
-,,Us-n as a witness, If he desires, but
that his failure TO be so sworn be not
subject TO adverse comment by the
prosecuting counsel.
Laws against pistol carrying, laws
lnEuTing bank GpuositOrs against i'm