Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-29

J 600. 900 capital and over be $500 per an
mum, and the tax on corporations Of less
capital be adjusted accordingly.
Equalization Of taxes, either through
the enforcement Of present laws, or new
correctives, so that each may bear his
proportiOnate burden, would not mean
the increase Of taxes upon any one now
performing his duty, but would rather
mean the tightening Of his unfair por-
ton Of the load. ! commend this sub
jet TO your attention.
Bonded Debt To Be Refunded.
An additional reason for establishing
and maintaining the States finances on
sound basis is the necessity of max
ing provision for more than one-halt of
tho entire bonded debt Of the State, ma
turing in 1915. This is an imperative
duty resting on this Legislature.
No sinking fund was provided by law
TO retire the bonds aggregating 3s,679.-
600 which are due in 1916. The entire
States debt is So, 452, 500, which does
not include the obligations to the Uni
versity. amounting to 1921, 500. and the
landscrip fund OF $4,000.
Ali the debt OF 81, 452, 500 Is provided
for. or win be provided for. by the sink
ing fund required to be raised annually
until the debt Is paid on. except the
I SO 679 900 which falls due In May and
II refunding bonds were Issued in
1915, making the first 500, 900 fall due
in 1895. then the sinking fund could be
made 70 run continuously and retire
each year. until paid, 100000 of this
series OF 1915 refunding bonds.
This plan would seem advisable in
order to relieve the treasury and the
people OF the increased burden at this
time, unless financial conditions at the
time OF the sale of the bonds should de-
mand that their redemption begin at an
earlier period in order to efrectuate
their more satisfactory disposition.
Registration Of Voters.
We believe tho present registra-
ton law should be so amended that
when a voter has once proven his
qualification by registering and
being enrolled. he shall remain
registered voter unless disqualified
for cause due to himself.
The foregoing extract from the last
platform upon which | was elected, eX-
presses principle which deserves uni
versal acceptance. II contemplates no
change OF the constitution which pro-
vides for the qualification OF the voter.
l recommend that the present regis
tration law be amended to correct the
Injustice indicated. II would always be
provided that the voter must have paid
his taxes and not subjected himself TO
any Of the disqualitications provided by
law.
Highways.
II is needless to impress upon you the
Importance OF our highways. Their
value is an asset Of the entire State.
An intelligent Highway Commission, or
Commissioner, clothed with proper au
thority, could he the means of untold
benefit in suggesting proper methods Of
building the road adapted to the local
ity, or In solving the problems of engi-
neering which might arise in various
call your attention to the Western
and Atlantic Railroad, the lease OF
which terminates in 1919, No one, l ap-
prehend, would or should consider Its
sale. but the problem Of its disposition
should be considered by a commission
with directions to report it's recon-
mendations and its reasons therefor.
To delay this matter will mean to
put the State at the inexcusable dis
advantage of unpreparedness when the
time arrives for Imperative action.
The Criminal Code.
One OF the fundamental purposes Of
government is the protection OF life
and safety OF the citizen. II the rules
OF evidence are so shaped as to pre-
vent the discovery Of the truth. and II
the State is deprived Of the means OF
sitting the facts. the judges and juries
are not to be blamed II crimes are al
lowed TO go unpublished.
II is an anomaly that a defendant
should take the stand, make any state
ment that he sees Mt or that his shrewd
lawyer has prepared. and being immune
from cross examination, demand that
the judge shall charge the jury that
they may accept his unsworn state
ment in preference TO all the evidence
in the case.
l. therefore. recommend that a law be
passed abolishing the defendant state
ment. and providing in its place that
he be sworn as a witness il he desires,
but his failure to be so sworn be not
subject to adverse comment by prose-
cutting counsel This is in accordance
with current Federal and State law
NgE 10 ian
rying concealed weapons has in recent
years been conspicuous. 1t has been
suggested by the law Of self-preserva-
ton. 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
II the carrying Of concealed weapons
were made a felony, subject to be re
duCed TO misdemeanor by either judge
or jury. the deterrent effect Of such
law would be the saving OF many
life. ! earnestly recommend to you
the consideration OF this question.
Banking Laws.
The banks Of a State perform public
functions, and as Sucn are properly sub
Jected to governmental supervision. The
bankers Of the State. with the desire Of
maintaining a high standard Of respon-
sibtlity and Of affording guarantees
ds1lhSA improvement mana cement. I1d[
imperil the money Of the people. recon-
mend legislation looking TO the accom-
plishment Of these objects. l commend
this subject as one worthy Of your Sc
riouS consideration.
My predecessors have recommended
the creation OF the position OF State Au-
ditor. and in this recommendation I
heartily concur. His services could be
utilized in checking the cost of new
buildings for which requests may be
made by the various institutions Those
who have served on the appropriations
committees are aware Of the inadequate
facilities Of the State in arriving at the
amount Of the necessary expenditures.
The Constitution.