The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1906-2016, 1913-06-29

money lender. respectfully submit
that this is wrong.
Up to the 18th day of June. 1913,
not one dollar had been paid on the
$3.50, 100000 appropriated to Publ,
Schools.
To the taxpayer who may demur.
submit that if the Constitutional
Amendments limiting appropriations
be adopted in accordance with my
recommendations, the l 1-2 mills ex-
ira taxes to be divided between two
years, will be the most economical and
the wisest investment he can make.
If they be not approved, the State may
expect a heavy increase of the deficit
until sheer necessity will require d
ing law, resulting not only in drain
upon the people, but i'll injury to the
reputation, enterprise and develop
ment of the State.
Should the Legislature deem it wise
to submit an extra levy of one mill for
only one year, the sum raised
would approximate $685., 100000 and
would be of great aid in expediting
the payment of teachers. although 1t
would not permit their monthly pay,
ment, in view of the present deficit in
the Treasury.
Pensions and Schools.
The appropriation for Pensions for
1913 amounts to $1,1S0,000. This is
practically the largest sum ever grant
ed to aid those to whom we are all
debtors. The justice of their claims,
their heroism, their sacrifice, and their
valor. constitute the proud heritage OF
us all. With each succeeding yeai
their number is diminishing, and each
year this may be expected to decrease.
The direct appropriation for Public
is supplemented by the special funds
provided by the Constitution. In the
report of the Comptroller General you
will observe that excepting Public
Schools and Pensions, one-third of one
mill ad valorem tax added to the other
revenues of the State would support
every other State institution, including
the entire civil establishment and the
State Sanatorium, which alone annu-
ally demands nearly $500, 100000.
You will observe by the Comptroller
Genarals report that tax of IL
mills, supplemented by the Constitu-
tional appropriations to education, will
raise the amount allowed to the Public
Schools for 1913 being the largest
amount ever granted for the purpose.
A direct tax of l 1,2 mills will provide
Pensions allowed for 1913, being like
wise practically the largest sum ever
appropriated
Recommendation.
I recommend that you propose Con
stitutional Amendments which shall
provide that the appropriation fol-
schools shall not exceed 2 IL mills in
addition to the Constitutional appro-
priation; and shall not exceed 1 IL
mills. or exceed $1,1S0,OOO 90, annually
for Pensions.
In the event these amendments are
ratified. you will have submitted to
the people a practical plan for pre-
serving the States credit. You will
have applied to the States affairs the
same plan now in force under the Con
stitution in reference to counties,
which are required to specify the pur'
poses for which levy is made. The
diminution of the pension fund may
be expected, because of the rapid di-
m ip1itioD nf fha non cinnprC
The State must be like the father
who educates his children according
to his means and certainly every one
must pronounce you generous when
the apportionment of the rate has been
upon the basis of the highest appro
ity is emphasized by the fact that dur
ing the years for which the appropria-
tons were made, the appropriations
exceeded the revenue practically a
half million dollars.
In this connection, it may be asked
why similar apportionment for every
public purpose should not be made
The answer is obvious In the case of
the State Sanitarium, whose demands
are next largest in amount to schools
and pensions, the State must provide
for the insane, and no Constitutional
limit can nationally be made. The
sinking fund, the interest on the pub
lie debt, the new provision to be made
for refunding the bonded debt in 1915,
cannot likewise be imperiled by the
possible diminution of values through
panic or other financial distress.
The same is true Of the Legislative
expenses, salaries of State House Off
GERS Judges, etc. Other items of ex-
penditure are almost neglible, and the
minute fraction of mill could not
appropriately be made the subject of
a Constitutional Amendment. In fact,
the courts and the entire civil estab-
lishment could be maintained with.
out the imposition of one dollar ad
valorem tax.
Revenue.
1t will be apparent to those who have
had legislative service, that unless
some check of the nature proposed be
made, the increase of revenue will be
of no avail in preventing the financial
embarrassment of the State. Under
the enthusiasm of the moment one
q mn r1arin h