Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-28
TAX REVISION IS
SLATON' 8 PLEA
IN MESSAGE
New Governor Also Urges Change
in Criminal Code, AboIishing
Defendants Statement,
Continued From Page I.

ss.s7s. 600 which falls due in May and
July. 1915
II refunding bonds were issued In
1915. making the first 100000 fall due
IN 1886 then the sinking fund gould be
made to run continuously and reure
each year. until paid. 100000 OF thls
ser es OF 1915 refunding bonds
This plan would seem advisable IN
order 10 relieve the treasury and the
people Of the increased burden at ihis
time, unless financial conditions az the
time Of the sale OF the bonds ahould De
mand that their redemption begin at an
earlier period IN order 10 eftectnate
their more satisfactory disposition.
Leading bond men In financial CEN
tiers have stated that II they were GER
titled BY some responsible trust com
pany, thus assuring their genuineness,
and guarding against their being coun-
terfelted, and IL their validity were ap-
proved by attorneys who are specialists
In this line, the expense would be more
than repaid In the price that could be
obtained. Certainly no safer invest
meut can be afforded than these bonds
I recommend that through your ap-
propriate committees you consider at
once the matter OF refunding the state s
Indebtedness above referred TO.
Registration Of Voters.
We believe the present regstra-
,tion law should be so amended that
when a voter has once proven his
qualification by registering and
being enrolled. he snail remain
registered voter unless disqualified
for cause due to himself
The foregoing extract from the last
platform upon which | was elected, eN
presses a principle which deserves uni
versal acceptance. II cOntemplates no
change Of the constitution which pro,
vides for the qualification OF the voter.
The farmers Of a neiRhborhood have
duly registered. but the succeeding year
when busy with their crops, they can
not send their taxes to the collector by
some neighbor going TO town, except on
penalty Of being disfranchised.
The travelling men who have regis
tered one year can not send their re-
mlttance the next year to the proper
officer, and 80 II Is with men In every
calling who perform civic duties and
who have overlooked the last day Of
registration, or have been prevented
from registering anew by compelling
reasons. The. professional politician
never forgets IT,
/ 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 disqualihcations provided by
law
Highways.
II Is needless TO impress upon you the
value is an asset OF the entire State.
An intelligent Highway Commission, or
Commissioner, clothed with proper au-
thOrity, could be the means OF untold
benefit In suggesting proper methods OF
building the road adapted to the local
Try or In solving the problems Of engi-
neering which might arise in various
sections.
I call your attention to the Western
and Atlantic Railroad, the lease OF
which terminates in 1919. No one, / ap-
prehend, would or should consider IT'S
sale, but the problem OF it's disposition
should be considered by commission
with directions to report It's recon-
mendations and its reasons therefor.
To delay this matter viii 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 80 shaped as TO pre-
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 60 unpublished
II is an anomaly that a defendant
shouis take the stand. make any state
ment that he sees III. or that his shrewd
lawyer has prepared, and being immune
from cross examination, demand that
they may accept his unsworn state
ment in preference 70 all the evidence
H. the case.
His carefully written statement may
contain all manner Of pretudiced asser-
lions which constitute no defense but
the State is not allowed 10 disprove or
to question them. The jury is by law ID
structed that they may consider them
Without introducing evidence, in order
that his attorney may make the last
speech. he declares that he can prove
assertions by various witnesses, often
Solicitor General TO introduce them This
can not be done because the State can
not vouch for their character
I. therefore. recommend that a law be
passed abolishinR the defendants state
ment, and providing in its place that
he be sworn as a witness II 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
The legislation in Georgia against car
rying concealed weapons has in recent
suggested by the law OF sen-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 a misGeneanor by either Judge
or jury, the deterrent effect Of such a
law would be the saving OF many a
life I earnestly recommend 10 YOU
the consideration OF this question
Banking Laws.
The banks Of a State perform public