Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-25
Double Tracking of Railways Owned
by the State Is Urged by Brown.
Continued From Page 1.

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 hardships upon
the country people of this State.
The same barrier to franchise rights
the choice of State and County Of
hcers prevails in only 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 80 days Hence, I
earnestly recommend that your honor
able bodies make such changes in the
registration laws as well protect all vot-
ers alike in their proper rights for exer-
cising the franchise.
Under the present law upward Of TO-
GOO white voters in Fulton County alone
are deprived of the right to vote by the
the total number of disfTanchised
throughout the State exceeds $4,000, The
continuance of the law as framed, on
the statute book will bring reproach
upon the State.
Farm Credit System.
wrought such extraordinary results for
good to the jewellers upon the farms
in Germany and some other European
countries has attracted wide attention
within the past twelve months in this
/ attended a conference of the Gov
ernors at the White House, called by
President Taft in December, 1912, 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 investi-
That our people may have direct in
formation uopn this subject, / recon-
mend that your honorable bodies APP
point q joint committee TO whom shall
be added about three or five other cit-
sens 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
tners 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
farmer can borrow money at a rate of
interest not exceeding per cent, where
as 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 q 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 for delay in paying
this tax In future, l recommend that
you place the duty of It's collection upon
some of the county officers with proper
compensation therefor and also provide
adequate penalties for failure to make
prompt payment.
Prison Commission.
would suggest that the Prison Cons
mission be given authority and directed
to inspect jails. 1t is more important
that persons detained merely for trial
De properly cared for than that those
already convicted of crime be treated
well
Many good women have urged me to
advocate the enactment of a law pro-
viding for the inspection by women of
those quarters occupied by female pris-
oners. ! deem the suggestion good one
and well in keeping with the demands
of actual propriety and broad humanity,
and as such commend 1t to you.
In this connection / will state that II
has been proposed in some circles to re-
store the practice of whipping female
convicts in order to maintain discipline.
| respectfully suggest that such a return
to a practice semi barbarous in its ma
ture would not be in keeping with the
enlightened spirit of our modern ctvili-
zation.
lie press and in some other circles that
the State ought to allow moderate wages
to convicts in the penitentiary, such
wages to be paid to the families Of
these convicts whose protector and pro-
WIDER the State holds in confinement
scarcely think that we are ready to
take such a step; but in the event it be
seriously considered. / respectfully sug-
gest that, inasnuch as the convict is
immured because of his taking the life of
another, or of some damage done to
others, II 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 Jures.
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
instructions in his charge, | respectfully
suggest that It be required that in all
capital cases the presiding judge SHALL
after reading his charge to the jury,
hand a copy of 1t to the foreman to be
taken into the jury room for considera-
ton in their deliberations
1t is a known fact that a number of
the trial judges of this State, after con-
viction by jurtes, pass sentences in con-
formity with the law and then suspend
them, such suspension to last during
this procedure by these judges has been
vet the practice is persisted In. l do not