Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1913-06-29
cations provided by law.

N0SAOAo PAONAoOO ny AdWs
To place the present hardship upon
the people is as indefensible as for
Nero to have rendered it difficult for
the people of Rome to learn its laws
by placing them on wall beyond
their vision.
Highways.
1t is needless to impress upon you
the Importance of our highways. Their
value is an asset of the entire State.
The family that receives its daily mail,
the farmer who hauls his product to
market, the school with it's improved
roads.
student of the subject has declar-
ed that every hard rain in Georgia
damages its roads more than one mil
lion dollars, due to unscientific con-
struction. An intelligent Highway
Commission, or Commissioner. cloth
ed with proper authority, could be the
means of untold benefit in suggesting
proper methods of building the road
adapted to the locality, or in solving
the problems of engineering which
might arise in various sections. This
proposition was embodied in the orig
inai Bill placing convicts on the
roads, and was only defeated by one
vote in the House. It's wisdom has
been recognized by my predecessors
and concur in their recommends
tions.
Western & Atlantic Railroad.
call your attention to the Western
& Atlantic Railroad, the lease of
which terminates in 1919. The wise
disposition of this property requires
the most enlightened craftsmanship,
and in view CT its immense value,
probably three times that of the en-
tire States debt, immediate consid-
Grafton should be given to this splen-
did heritage of our Fathers.
Like any other proposition involving
business judgment, this subject de-
mands painstaking care and investi-
cation. The suggestion has been
made that at its terminals there is
appurtenant much property unneces-
sary for railroad purposes, and which
could be utilized by the State without
damaging the railroad at largely in
creased revenue.
Whether this be true, and if true
what arrangement should be made
with such property, calls for accurate
and detailed knowledge. The Western
& Atlantic Railroad belongs to the
entire State, and during the period of
our darkest hours it supplied with
funds our scanty Treasury and consti-
tuted the guarantee of our school fund.
No one, | apprehend would or should
consider it's sale, but the problem of its
disposition should be considered by al
commission with directions to report
its recommendations and its reasons
therefor.
To delay this matter will mean to put
the State at the ineXcusable disadvan-
tage of unpreparedness when the time
arrives for imperative action.
Criminal Law.
One of the fundamental purposes of
government is the protection of life
and safety of the citizen While our
people are law abiding, the enforce
ment of law must depend upon the
machinery provided by the Legisla-
ture. If the rules of evidence are so
shaped as to prevent the disc 1very
of the truth, and if the State is de-
prived of the means of sitting the
facts, the judges and juries are not
to be blamed if crimes are allowed to
go unpublished.
This practice of making a state
ment under the provision of law now
existing is scarce, if it be OF force
anywhere outside of Georgia. It's a
provision which acquits guilty men
and places almost insuperable obsta-
cles in the way of their conviction.
AS a lawyer defending a guilty man,
l should like the practice. From the
standpoint of legislator, seeking to
render safe the life and property of
the citizen, and charged with the obli-
cation of making proper provision for
the enforcement of the law, believe
it should be abolished.
Leading lawyers of this State, in
terested in the welfare of its citizen
ship, doing large criminal practice,
have urged upon me the wonderful
corrective influence such an act would
accomplish.
|, therefore, recommend that a law
be passed abolishing the defendants
statement, and providing in its place
that he be sworn as witness, if he
desires, but his failure to be so sworn
be not subject to adverse comment
by prosecuting counsel. This is in
accordance with current Federal and
State Law.
Pistols.
The legislation in Georgia against
carrying concealed weapons has in
recent years been conspicuous. I'll
has been suggested by the law oil
self-preservation. Daily we read of
men who have shot others, and have
been acquitted on the old statement
that the deceased threw his hand on
his hip-pocket, and the defendant
shot in fear of his life. When
searched, the dead man was found
generally unarmed.